Malaysian Wives of Bangladeshi Migrants Form a Club

Malaysian wives of Bangladeshi migrant workers in a gathering in Kuala Lumpur on December 5, 2015

L-R: Malaysian wife of a Bangladeshi migrant and their child

Photos courtesy: The Daily Star, Dhaka

In early 199os, Bangladeshi migrant workers and professionals started to work in Malaysia. Now their number is nearing 600,000.

Gradually, these Bangladeshis began to marry local women and have children. Feeling the need for a common forum, some Malaysian wives formed a club, called 'Kelab isteri' (Cute Wives' Club), in 2014, for promoting family values, for having a unity of voice, and for letting their children  connect with culture and tradition of both Bangladesh and Malaysia. Presently, this club has about 200 members. 

For more details on the club and the inter-marriage situation in Malaysia, please read the following:

• Crossing divide (Malaysian wives of Bangladeshis form a club to let their children connect with culture, tradition of two countries) (The Daily Star, Dhaka)
• Malaysian women happy with Bangladeshi husbands (en.ntvbd.com)
• Malaysian wives clebrate bonding with Bangladeshis (en.ntvbd.com) 
• Photos of Cute Wives' Society (en.ntvbd.com) 
• Bangladeshis make fortune with hard work, not only marrying Malay girls (bdnews24.com)

Another Call for Designating February As the 'Bangladesh Heritage Month'

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A poster on "Make February the 'Bangladesh Heritage Month'"
Layout & design (Toronto: January 31, 2010) © Jerome D'Costa

Two years ago on February 3, I had proposed to the Government of Bangladesh that the month of February be designated as the 'Bangladesh Heritage Month.' We are making another call this year for the same purpose. We draw the attention of the Government of Bangladesh in general and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs in particular to be proactive in realizing this vision. We also give a clarion call to the intellectuals and cultural stalwarts in Bangladesh to lend their weighty support to the government regarding this matter.

We suggest this month as 'Bangladesh Heritage Month' so that all the peoples' groups (Bangalees and other ethnic groups), all the religious communities (Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and animists), and all the language groups are encompassed in it.

The month of February is the most appropriate month for this purpose. This heritage month will serve as an awareness building and educative month about our heritage as well as an opportunity for displaying our heritage in its myriad forms. At this particular time, this is very much needed when we are being deluged by foreign cultures through the TV, Internet, movies and the like. First, we need to be rooted firmly in our own heritage and then only can we be enriched with other cultures.

In fine, we repeat our call for designating February as the 'Bangladesh Heritage Month.'

The Violent Culture in the USA -- 3

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An image showing a gun = violence
Image design (Toronto: Jan. 16, 2011) © Joachim Romeo D'Costa

Where There's a Gun, There's a Violence

Mankind is amenable to the seven "deadly sins." These "sins" are: Pride, Envy, Gluttony, Lust, Anger (Wrath), Greed (Covetousness), and Sloth (Acedia or Laziness).

All these "sins" or proclivities make many people weak and they are tempted to do unlawful things in life. The gun-related violence is one of them.

It only takes common sense and life experience, not university degrees, to understand that guns and weapons bring about more violence in the society. These serve as a tool to vent one's anger, take one's revenge, give vent to one's hatred and so on.

When a person possesses a gun, he or she gives the idea of violence a place first in his or her mind -- whether to defend himself or herself, whether to hunt a bird or animal. The idea of opposition first takes over that person's mind. That opposition may be an animal or a person. The idea that is in that person's head, is realized when he or she actually uses the gun or weapon. The use of the gun or weapon just doesn't come instantly from the vacuum, it was incubating in that person for some time waiting for a cause or trigger.

Bangladesh Is a Prime Example of What Happens When a Gunless Country Turns Into a Gunful One

Many of you know of the Bangladesh Civil War or War of Independence in 1971. At that time Bangladesh was called "East Pakistan" and present Pakistan was "West Pakistan." In East Pakistan, before this war, the most lethal weapon or gun was the ordinary hunting gun. Who owned those guns? Mostly, some moneyed people -- few politicians, businessmen, village chiefs and certain criminal elements, called dacoits (robbers). In a dozen village or so, there was hardly one gun owner. So, violence by a gun was a rarity. Burglary by breaking into a house would be a big news at that time.

In 1971, with the deadly crackdown by West Pakistani soldiers and some of their East Pakistani collaborators, about 10 million East Pakistanis fled the country to take refuge to India. It was a golden opportunity for India to weaken its neighbour and arch enemy -- Pakistan. It began to give training to young and energetic East Pakistani refugee youths on guerrilla warfare and ultimately provided thousands and thousands of assault rifles and other weapons to them. These guerrillas (muktijuddhas) got a real taste of successful use of these weapons for five to seven months.

When East Pakistan was liberated with the ultimate fielding of the Indian army in December, 1971, the government of independent Bangladesh asked the muktijuddas to lay down their arms and deposit them with the nearest government offices. Many deposited them, but some in all corners of the country did not. Their reasons being self-defense from local enemies (pre-war, war or post-war rivals -- political or otherwise) and ill-motives (making easy money by robbery, hostage-taking, etc.). Guns give a false sense of power and security. That has been proven in Bangladesh. With the easy availability of these guns, a reign of terror started immediately after the independence in December, 1971. Murder, mass murder, or mayhem -- whatever you want to call -- became the regular fare. In the first few years of independence, it was a normal affair for one person to ask another: "Who was shot today?" or "How many were killed today?" Bangladesh newspapers were full of those reports. At present, the gun-related murder is less than that of the early post-independent period, but regular gun-related deaths are ever present now. The theory of "guns = violence" is proven in the case of Bangladesh. It is a good example of how an innocent region can turn into a violent one with the introduction of easily available guns.

Americans Need to Rethink of Their Gun Policy

In the last 234 years, Americans left a tremendous contribution to world advancement, civilization, invention and discovery, but in the realm of gun violence its contribution is also unparalled. Gun violence is a sign of immaturity and emotional infantilism, even though committed by educated or literate people. It's being proven time and again that easy availability of firearms is never a healthy policy.

Americans need to ask their conscience whether the Second Amendment's sanctions still make it right and good for the greater number of Americans to acquire firearms so easily. A country's constitution is made at a certain time taking into consideration the prevailing situation of that time. If the situation changes, the constitution also can be changed to suit the new situation. Men and women make a country's constitution and laws, they can change those, too, to fit another era or situation.

Some people say that the Second Amendment is in the Constitution of the USA and it can't be touched. Not necessarily. In Pakistan, radical Islamists brought amendments to their constitution to include the existing Blasphemy Laws. It's now well-known how those blasphemy laws are being misused by a certain quarter to suit their whims and punish their rivals. The minority communities in that country is a regular victims of these infamous laws. Being in the constitution does not mean that the interests of the greater number of a country's citizens will be served.

A country's constitution should serve the people and not the people serve the constitution. Americans need to look at this under the new circumstances and new thinking and decide what to do about it. It's they and only they as a whole who can decide what's overall good for them and their country and act on it as responsible persons. Instead of mourning after a gun-related violent incident, they should take preventative measures for the greater good in future. Our prayers are with them.

For Further Understanding of the Violent Culture in the US

You may read the following for deeper understanding of this violent situation in the USA, because what happens in the USA affects the world, too. The gun violence is the extremity of the other types of violences in the society.


A) Gun Violence in General:

• Gun Violence in the United States
• Violence in the United States
• Hate, Violence and Death on Main Stree USA
• US Gun Violence by Numbers
• Statistics: Gun Violence in Our Communities
• Why Is America So Violent?
• The USA Is the World's Most Violent Industrialized Country When It Comes to Mass Shootings

B) Political Violence:

• Political Violence in America

• Political Violence in the United States

C) Domestic Violence:

• Domestic Violence Fact Sheet

• Fast Facts on Domestic Violence
• Statistics on Domestic Violence in the United States

D) Violence Against Children:

• The Signs of Violence and Neglect Against Children
• Sexual Abuse Statistics
• Sexual Abuse/Trauma

E) Teen Violence:

• Teen Violence
• Ten Hard Facts About School Violence
• Teen Violence, School Shootings...Teen Suicide

F) Media (TV, Film, Video Games) Violence:

• Television Violence: A Review of the Effects on Children of Different Ages
• Teen Violence...Internet Addiction...TV Violence...
• Violence in Today's Media Base and How It Is Growing
• TV & Film Violence
• Children & Television Violence
• Violence, Media (Position Paper)
• Why Do Hollywood and TV Keep Showing U.S. Violence?
• Video Games: A Cause of Violence and Aggression
• Violent Video Game Effects on Children and Adolescents

G) Gun Control Efforts in the USA:

• Are Gun Control Laws Strict Enough?
• Gun Control Policy Issues
• Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
• Real Solutions to Gun Violence
• Gun Control
• Blair Holt, Other Gun Control Efforts, on Horizon
• Videos on Gun Control Efforts in the USA

(The End)

The Violent Culture in the USA -- 2

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The arms terminology, commonly used in the USA,tells a lot about the violent culture of that country
Layout & design (Toronto: Jan. 15, 2011) © Jerome D'Costa

The US Constitution Guarantees Possession of Guns and WeaponsThe Second Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees an individual's right to keep and bear arms. This Amendment is considered very sacrosanct by the pro-gun lobby. That's why it is extremely difficult in the USA to change this right of keeping and bearing arms.

Guns Kill Their Presidents, Too

Guns know no class and race. They kill the poorest, people of middle class and also high society people. They kill the illiterate and literate alike. In the 235 years of US history, there were 44 presidents. Of them, four U.S. presidents have been assassinated. They are (1) President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865): He was shot at a close range at a theatre by John Wilkes Booth, a drama actor and Confederate (the southern States that had tried to secede from the US union) spy. (2) President James Abram Garfield (1831-1881): He was killed by Charles Julius Guiteau, an American lawyer. (3) William McKinley, Jr. (1843-1901): He was killed by an anarchist, named Leon Czolgosz. (4) President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963): He was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald with a rifle.

Mass Murderers & Serial Killers Shook the Conscience of Americans, Yet There's No Restrictions on Guns and Weapons

Mass murderers and serial killers also tainted the US history with their gun and other weapon related crimes. Opponents of easy proliferation of guns could not do anything yet to restrict guns and other hand-held weapons.

Educated Mass-murderers in Schools and Universities

In recent past, students of certain schools, colleges and universities fell victim to fellow students' bullets. In Littleton, Colorado, Columbine High School murders were committed on April 20, 1999 by two of its students. On April 16, 2007, one student shot dead 32 fellow students at the Virginia Institute of Technology and nearby State University in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Besides these, there were many other school shootings in the USA in the past.

Gun & Weapon Production and Sale Are a Multi-billion Dollar Business

There are literally not dozens but hundreds of manufacturers and distributors of guns and other lethal weapons in the USA. This business brings in billions of dollars. The USA is also the topmost exporter of guns and other sophisticated weapons in the world. Many governments in different continents are its clients. One must remember that the US is the ultra-capitalist country. The main motive of capitalism is making profit as much as possible. If gun and weapon sale is restricted, they can't make enough profit.

The Pro-Gun Lobby's Influence Among Politicians Is the Strongest

The pro-gun lobby in the USA exerts the strongest influence among law makers and politicians. They want to ensure that guns and weapons sale and distribution are as free and easy as possible. The National Rifle Association (NRA) is a strong proponent of easier guns and other arms sale and possession. This organization's influence is as strong as ever.

(Continued)

The Violent Culture in the USA -- 1

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The cartoon depicts the gun-loving culture
of the Americans
Cartoon courtesy: Michael de Adder
Published in Metro (Toronto: Jan. 12, 2011)

The United States of America (USA) is in mourning now. The mourning is for the January 8 shooting and killing of six persons who have been shot dead at close range when attending a political event organized by Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords near the Safeway supermarket in Tucson, Arizona. There is also anger for these senseless deaths as well as 13 other people, at the same venue, who have been wounded.

Jared Lee Loughner (22) went to the venue and without any warning began to shoot first at Gabrielle Giffords and then at others with his 9mm Glock multi-bullet-holding pistol. He fired 15-20 rounds of bullets before he was overcome and arrested.

Among the dead were Federal court judge John Roll and a 9-year-old school girl Christina Taylor Green. Congresswoman Giffords, although fatally wounded in the head, is very likely to survive. Her husband, Mark Kelly, is now in the space station as the NASA shuttle commander.

President Barack Obama condemned the shooting terming it as an "unspeakable crime." He also said: "This is a tragedy for Arizona and a tragedy for the entire country." Local sheriff Dupnick blamed the toxic and violently-charged political environment of Arizona for this tragedy.

Gun Violence As Old As the Country

The USA was born through the use of guns. Thirteen colonies in the eastern part of the USA were under the British. The colony-dwellers, mostly Europeans -- of British and some other country origin, were unhappy at the treatment they received from the British authority. As a result, discontentment started. The colony-dwellers declared independence in 1776 and finally won the war. The newly-independent country was named the United States of America (USA).

Guns Needed to Protect the Newly Independent Country

From its birth, the USA needed guns and weapons to protect its citizens from the defeated British forces who were still present in their Canadian possessions in the north, the Spanish in the south-east and west, the French in south and the so-called "Red Indians" -- the original inhabitants of this country, and also from wild animals.

Later they also needed guns and weapons to expand their territories. The "Wild Wild West" stories, that you see in the American movies, are stories of their expansions. They expanded their territories later by defeating the Spanish.

Guns Available Like Corner Store Lozenges

Guns and weapons have been available in the USA for purchase and sale like corner store lozenges and treats. Anyone can buy and sell them. This situation, with some restrictions, is still valid. Their easy availability in the USA is affecting Canada, too, in spite of its stricter laws. Criminal elements in Canada acquire these in the USA and smuggle them to Canada for illegal sale and distribution. Canada, in the last few years, has been experiencing an increased gun-related crimes. Most of these guns were illegally acquired.

(Continued)

Caribana Festival Marks the Caribbean Culture in Toronto -- 2

Here is more photo coverage 

of the Caribana 2010 festival in Toronto:

Photo by Mary D'Costa

Photo by Mary D'Costa

Photo by Mary D'Costa

Photo © Jerome D'Costa

Photo by Mary D'Costa

Photo by Mary D'Costa

Photo © Jerome D'Costa

Photo by Mary D'Costa

A Caribbean food stall near the parade

Photo © Jerome D'Costa

Another Caribbean food stall

Photo © Jerome D'Costa

Ornaments being sold during the parade

Photo © Jerome D'Costa

(The End)


(To go to the First Page of this write-up, please click here)

Caribana Festival Marks the Caribbean Culture in Toronto --1

The two-week Caribana festival came to an end yesterday with several kilometre long street parade on the Lakeshore Boulevard in Toronto. More than a million spectators witnessed the event from both sides of the road. Spectacularly colourful human-driven floats, Caribbean festival costumes and music and dance were the highlights of the parade. Spectators also could taste Caribbean delicacies from numerous roadside vendors.

Caribana -- a festival of Caribbean culture and tradition -- is the north America's largest cultural show held every year in Toronto since 1967. Initially, immigrants from the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago, organized this festival in a limited way. Later immigrants from other islands also joined them. Now it is an institution in itself drawing thousands of tourists from all over the world. Toronto businesses earn millions of dollars during this festival period.

Colourfully costumed dancers, called Mas players, dance in tune with different Caribbean music blared from powerful speakers placed onto large trucks. Dancers' costumes imitate the exotic colours of plumes of birds found in the tropical climates.

Those, from different cultures, initially get a kind of shock when they view the scantily-clad dancers because in their own cultures back home such public display would be considered quite sensual and sensitive. Canada is a country that encourages and supports multiculturalism. Different cultures and languages are allowed to flourish here. Canada truly believes in the unity in diversity.

Several hundred years ago, black slaves from different African countries were brought to the islands of the Caribbean Sea, situated in the south-east of the USA and north-west of the South American continent. Since the slaves came from hot-climate countries of Africa to the warm-climate islands of the Caribbean Sea, their costumes also have the minimal appendages. As such, the cultural expressions have also developed in such a way that they consider such clothing as purely non-sensual and normal.

Now let us view some photos of the Caribana parade.

Photo (Toronto: July 31, 2010) © Jerome D'Costa

Photo by Mary D'Costa

Photo by Mary D'Costa

Photo © Jerome D'Costa

Photo © Jerome D'Costa

Photo © Jerome D'Costa

Photo © Jerome D'Costa

Photo by Mary D'Costa

Photo by Mary D'Costa

Photo © Jerome D'Costa

Photo © Jerome D'Costa

(More)

Bangladesh Heritage Month: A Proposal

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Map Courtesy: www.worldatlas.com

We have seen why and how the people of African origin observe the "Black History Month" in the USA, Canada and Britain. In this light, I like to propose that people of Bangladesh officially observe the Bangladesh Heritage Month.

What is Heritage?

Heritage means something handed down or inherited from one generation to the other, something that makes us what we are. Heritage gives us an identity as an individual, as a group, and as a nation. Heritage is a legacy, a tradition.

Heritage encompasses a wide variety of subjects: people (the majority Bengalees as well as other dozens of religious and ethnic minority groups in Bangladesh), land (special geological formations, rivers, and hills), history, cultures, languages, oral expressions and traditions, religions, professions, socio-religious customs-rites-festivities, landscapes, infrastructures (archaeological sites, historic buildings, and important places of worship), other landmarks (architecturally impressive or unusually tall buildings, large bridges, preserved forests, and huge ancient trees), music, fables, lores and legends, tools and implements, costumes, foods, arts and crafts, dance, drama, film, ancient manuscripts, and books and publications.

February is the Appropriate Month

February is the most suitable month for observing the Bangladesh Heritage Month because in this month people of Bangladesh actively engage in cultural and historical events in honour of the language martyrs who gave their lives on February 21, 1952, in support of Bangla (Bengali), which was excluded from being one of the national languages of the then Pakistan (composed of East Pakistan -- which in 1971 became Bangladesh -- and West Pakistan).

Ways to Observe the Heritage Month

• The Bangladesh Government first needs to officially declare February the Bangladesh Heritage Month.
• Educational institutions can take up special programmes (lectures and discussions for awareness building regarding Bangladesh heritage, essay competitions, and cultural programmes).
• Radio, TV and newspapers deal with different aspects of Bangladesh heritage.
• Lectures, seminars, meetings and cultural programmes in different organizations and clubs.
• Visiting historic places and archaeological sites.
• Government and private patronage of the history and culture of the religious and ethnic minority groups.
• Presently, History and Social Studies books mainly deal with the majority Bengalee population. From now on, these books should give equal importance on the religious and ethnic minorities because of their contributions to the country as well as their unique religious variety and cultural richness.
• Encourage more foreign tourists to visit Bangladesh in February when the weather is sunny, mild and soothing.
  
• Publicize the Bangladesh heritage in the outside world through books, films, dramas, and cultural troupes.