UDHR

Awake My Soul - Mumford & Sons
Can't Go Back - Blink-182
Destroyer - Of Monsters And Men

To become sensitive to the sensibilities of human sentiments

Structured lives need to be dismantled and happenstance takes priority. To let the mind roam about and lay a new path for itself. The governance of our minds is in shambles. Its time we check out the principles of self governance for its sake, while respecting the boundaries of societal structures which are themselves human constructs. However flawed they are, we must see them as opportunities to tackle and soldier on.

To read the universal declaration of human rights and do everything we can to uphold its values. How it starts off with a heroic tone

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world

Article 26 has:

Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms

It didn't come for free. We must remind ourselves of that.

Count your privileges

Down on the Bowery - Damian Lewis
World Outside - The Devlins
Sinnerman - Nina Simone
Welcome to the Black Parade - My Chemical Romance

If we start counting our privileges, where do we start ? 

The above question in part arose when I came upon "Pedagogy of the Oppressed". One thing led to another and I happened to read this. While I don't really follow politics, I gravitate more towards the philosophical foundations upon which the modern world lies on. The author mentions about "Ideological dualities" and I sort of understand and now see it almost everywhere. Including me! I constantly flip the metaphorical switch to keep things on an even keel. Its a powerful feeling to know and feel the conflicting ideas residing in our mind, constantly battling and waging internal wars. It also reminds me of Mark Fisher's "Capitalist Realism" which I also now see everywhere. I'm intentionally leaving out the specifics of what "everywhere" means, just so I can circle back at some point and see how it forces me to (re)evaluate what it signifies.

"I file against myself, I represent myself, I convict myself, hereby expanding the full scope of the legal desert, because the judgment's built in. The only thing left is forgiveness and I grant that to myself." - Roman J Israel

Inventing on Principle

Song for Zula - Phosphorescent
Broken Horses - Brandi Carlile
Disintegration - The Cure
Good Luck - Broken Bells
The Veil - Peter Gabriel

A dear brother said along these lines - "If the collective conscience of all humanity were to be squeezed and bottled, do you think you have something to add to it ?"

I didn't have a proper answer then, but just to temper the conversation I said - "Maybe. Maybe not. But since I'm an optimist, I feel there is something brewing inside me and I can feel it coming."

Its been a few months since that came up on a hot summer afternoon. I didn't let the question recede into the background noise of every day busyness. I gave it a life to see how it grows over time. But since growth can be a slow process, I gave it wings with an aerodynamic edge. It rammed into a wall of impatience.

Is the mere act of existence not adding anything ?
Are modern societal arrangements conducive to the acts of search, creation and discovery ?
Are we distracted always and not paying attention to the decaying rhythm of life ?

More thoughts will follow soon.

Inventing on Principle