Tuesday, 29 September 2015

Changing Map of Humanity


The borders of war torn Middle East will force every shopkeeper around the globe to stock new updated maps.  Whether the nations will recoup the lost forts and cities from ISIS is uncertain as the night boat ride across the Aegean sea. But the recent exodus of refugees to the fenceless borders of Europe proves once again that at the end of the day what every hapless family value is freedom from tyranny, war and bloodshed, whether its in the name of power or religion. The world media is worried at the slowness of Europe’s response to the issue at hand. Media is also slowly waking up to the deadpan silence from the Muslim world, be it in Asia or Middle East.

Every country needs to have its act together before accepting a population who had a life lived in a far away country so different than theirs. The host country thereafter has to share all their resources and opportunities they have planned for their own population forever. Given the worlds experience with religion and its share of confrontation more than peaceful co existence, its natural that Europe feels threatened with a mass exodus they are witnessing now. Europe no longer marries and procreates as they used to. So the worry of a diminishing tribe of David is certain. Also Europe does not have a successful tale of assimilating migrants and asylum seekers over the last many decades. Parts of Europe are already reeling under that pressure and some streets of Europe no longer look like Europe. Natives, signboards, street food have all made way to an embolden migrant narrative.

Borders get redrawn time over and civilisations sometimes get routed forever. More than ever before, we need to allow humanity to lock faith and beliefs within the walls of a place of worship to save the freshly baked bread that welcomes the world every morning.

Wednesday, 2 September 2015

Tips - the tipping question

Last night after dinner at a restaurant, we were at the same cross roads again. Unsure what would be appropriate?
The Americans demand it! The Japanese find it undignified to accept it. As the Europeans don’t agree on most of the charters of the EU, they don’t take a specific stance on this too. Indians are a clumsy lot, not sure how to handle it; how much to leave behind – TIPS! 



Well, just like most of the cultural flash points started off by the colonial British, this too seems to have stemmed from the gentry trappings of English dining etiquettes. What started of as a gesture by aristocrats to leave behind small change known as ‘vails’ to their host’s servants, the practice soon caught on to coffee shops and restaurants. Seems like the British took it wherever they went and left behind among many other things when they finally left.

So do we really have to pay TIPS? Because someone somewhere interpreted it as, ‘To Insure Prompt Service’, does it really mean we have to leave behind not just some change but a percentage of the bill, irrespective of whether we were satisfied with the service or not? Or are we supposed to just pay for the food and service promised by restaurants and not really bound to bear their staff cost? I find a stronger case with the fuel station attendants and the courier guys who are out in these humid hot days. They deserve it more.


The restaurants serving liquor in UAE are allowed to charge 10% service charge. So we didn’t have to bother much and fiddle with the bill. The restaurant manager had the last laugh!