The Quotation of the Week (November 27 - December 3, 2016)

A quotation of John F. Kennedy on 'diversity,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Doodles © Jerome D'Costa (Nov. 4, 2016)

The Quotation of the Week (May 3 - 9, 2015)

A quotation of Goethe on 'deception,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Doodle (A snake: January 16, 1995) © Jerome D'Costa

The Quotation of the Week (April 26 - May 2, 2015)

A quotation of Charles Caleb Colton on 'religion,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Doodle (Going to the church: June 23,1994) © Jerome D'Costa

The Quotation of the Week (November 24-30, 2013)

A quotation of Margaret Thatcher on 'politics,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

A doodle by Jerome D'Costa (Dhaka: September 29, 1994)

The Quotation of the Week (October 6 - 12, 2013)

A quotation of Henry S. Haskins on 'faith or religion of another person,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

A doodle of a man (Toronto: August 15, 2013) © Jerome D'Costa

Merry Christmas!

Mary with baby Jesus

Doodle (Dhaka: January 1, 1993) © Jerome D'Costa

Today is the Christmas Day, the day of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity. 

On this day, may the joy and love of Christmas be with you and your near and dear ones!

To read more on Christmas, visit my past blog posts at: Today Is the Christmas Day!

A Doodle: FACE

A doodle of a face

Doodle (Dhaka: January 30, 1993) © Jerome D'Costa

The Poem of the Month (May, 2012)

Doodle (Dhaka: February 4, 1994) © Jerome D'Costa

Gossip

“Oh, do you know?”

“Oh, did you hear?”

“Do you know what happened?”

“I’ve something interesting to tell you!”

These are all introductory talk to get the attention of the listener.

The content of the talk veers on hearsay, made-up stories,

Incomplete information, a mixture of truths and half-truths,

Innuendos and insinuations galore,

Embellished and unflattering news about one’s neighbour.

Although this is the product of an active mind of the gossiper,

It’s cooking up of stories about the gossipee.

This way, the gossiper gives away his or her inner self,

Which is disrespectful, vindictive and short.

The gossiper has “I’m-better-than-thou” attitude,

Who wants peace of mind, an emptying of the jar

By vomiting all the lengthy tales accumulated inside.

The peace of mind comes for a while only,

But again, as if by default, he or she engages in the same practice.

Gossiping is such a waste of time, energy and creativity.

It is so much of demeaning of oneself and stooping down below the gossipee,

In spite of having better things to say and better things to do --

That would really uplift oneself to a more humane level.

A Doodle: Fish

A doodle on hilsa fish

Doodle (Dhaka: March 5, 1993) © Jerome D'Costa

Doodle: A Bangali (Bengalee) Woman

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A Bangali (Bengalee) woman
Doodle (Dhaka: November 22, 1994) © Jerome D'Costa

A Doodle on AIDS VIRUS

In the early 1990s, the AIDS virus became

quite widespread in the world

Doodle (Dhaka: April 28, 1994) © Jerome D'Costa

Shame on the United Colors of Benetton!

A doodle on "Shame on the United Colors of Benetton!"

Doodle (Toronto: November 17, 2011) © Jerome D'Costa

The United Colors of Benetton (UCB), a well-known Italian clothing fashion company, started its advertising campaign this year with the theme of “Unhate.” The intention of this campaign, according to the company’s head Alessandro Benetton, is “the reconciliation and acceptance” in the face of increased hatred in the world. 

This campaign portrays digitally manipulated shocking images of world leaders, who are opposed to each other, deep-kissing on their lips. Large colourful images include those of Pope Benedict XVI kissing Egypt’s imam Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed El-Tayeb, US President Obama kissing Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez, Israel’s Premier Benjamin Netanyahu locking lips with Palestinian National Authority president Mahmoud Abbas and so on. 

The Vatican vehemently protested against this portrayal of the Pope and the imam, and , as a result, the company removed the pope and imam’s image from its display and campaign. 

In the past, the United Colors of Benetton also had its annual campaigns where it used other types of shocking images. In one year, it showed an image of a Catholic priest deep-kissing a Sister (nun).

Vatican spokesman Reverend Federico Lombardi said:  “This is a grave lack of respect for the Pope.” He also called it offensive to the “sentiments of the faithful” and “a clear example of how advertising can violate elementary rules of respect for people in order to attract attention through provocation.”

Alessandro Benetton in a statement said that the campaign is “solely to battle the culture of hate in all its forms. We are sorry that the use of an image of the pontiff and the imam should have offended the sensibilities of the faithful in this way.”

Some Observations on the 2011 Ad Campaign of the United Colors of Benetton

The United Colors of Benetton has been losing money for the past several years. This year, in the face of economic crisis in Europe and some other parts of the world, this company wanted to regain its market by ultra-shock valued advertising campaign. In reality, this campaign proved to be cheap, brute and short. The owner and his cohorts in the company displayed a shocking lack of respect for persons of position who have hundreds and millions of followers. They also gravely lack in regard for cultural and religious sentiments of people. 

To express "reconciliation and acceptance," two persons' hugging could be tolerated, but in some cultures kissing on lips and deep kissing at that is considered a heinous and most vile act.  

This company did not display manipulated photo of Alessandro Benetton lip-locking with his rival company’s owner or CEO expressing “reconciliation and acceptance.” Instead, it took on other leaders.

The shock and awe method may generate a cheap and temporary laugh and excitement, especially among some youth, but it cannot have a lasting effect. This year’s ad campaign exposed the hate of this company in a naked manner. Instead of the “Unhate campaign,” it turned into a hate campaign. 

If this company’s thought-level and moral ground is so low, what can people learn from it? Sadistic fun has a limit to it. Is this the beginning of the end of the United Colors of Benetton?

A Doodle: A CROWDED BUS IN DHAKA

A crowded bus in Dhaka

Doodle (Dhaka: May 21, 1994) © Jerome D'Costa

The Poem of the Month (October, 2011): HALLOWEEN

A Halloween doodle

Doodle (Toronto: Oct. 31, 2011) © Jerome D'Costa

Halloween

By Jerome D'Costa

Trick or treat?

Trick.

Trick or treat?

Treat.

Trick or treat?

Trick and treat.

That's the suspense

                of the Halloween.

The Poem of the Month (August, 2011): NATURAL DISASTERS

A doodle on the 1992 cyclone in Bangladesh

Doodle (Dhaka: November 21, 1992) © Jerome D'Costa

Natural Disasters

By Jerome D'Costa

Natural disasters come, natural disasters go

Unexpectedly, beyond any human reach.

To some, disasters come from God

As trials or punishments,

To others, they are part of

The Nature’s cycle of vagaries.

For the last few decades,

Natural disasters are occurring

At a frequent rate,

With ominous ferocity and calamity.

Some say, mankind with its greed and self-centeredness,

Mistreating the Nature and its environment

In a naked and unabashed manner.

As citizens of this world

We need to lead our lives most responsibly

So that our man-made global warming

Might not trigger the Nature’s frequent furies.

Doodle: AN UNKNOWN ANIMAL

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An unknown animal came up in my doodle
Doodle (Dhaka: February 29, 1992) © Jerome D'Costa

Doodle: THE FACADE OF A CHURCH

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The facade of a church
Doodle (Dhaka: May 22, 1994) © Jerome D'Costa

Doodle: BANGLADESH IS A GOOD COUNTRY

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Doodle (Dhaka: July 19, 1991) © Jerome D'Costa

Doodle: A Saddened Face

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A Saddened Face
Doodle (Dhaka: April 18, 1995) © Jerome D'Costa

A Doodle: A Young Man

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A young man
Doodle (Dhaka: January 20, 1994) © Jerome D'Costa