Sunday, July 23, 2006

MODERN IMPERIALISM

Imperialism is a policy of extending control or authority over foreign entities as a means of acquisition and maintenance of empires. This is either through direct territorial conquest or settlement, or through indirect methods of exerting control on the politics and/or economy of other countries. The term is often used to describe the policy of a nation's dominance over distant lands, regardless of whether the nation considers itself part of the empire. The "Age of Imperialism" usually refers to the New Imperialism period starting from 1860, when major European states started colonizing the other continents.

The term 'Imperialism' was initially coined in the mid to late 1800s to reflect the policies of countries such as Britain and France's expansion into Africa, and the Americas.

Imperialism draws heavy criticism on the grounds that historically it has been frequently employed for economic exploitation in which the imperialist power makes use of other countries as sources of raw materials and cheap labor, shaping their economies to suit its own interests, and keeping their people in poverty. When imperialism is accompanied by overt military conquest, it is also seen as a violation of freedom and human rights.

Effects of Imperialism -

Imperialism is when a mother country takes over a smaller nation or colony for political, social, and/or economic reasons. Imperialism has been a major force in shaping the modern world. The effects of Imperialism have been interpreted from a variety of viewpoints. This major Imperialism occurred during the late 19th Century and early 20th century. It had more negative effects in the modern world today then positive effects.

A positive effect is seen in document one called "Modern Progressive Nations," it shows how the larger nations gave to the smaller colonies. The nations built them roads, canals, and railways. Showed them the telegraph, newspaper, established schools for them, gave them the blessing of their civilization, and overall made them economized. They were part of modern culture after this occurred. Another positive effect is seen in document three called "Colonial Governments and Missionaries. " It shows how the colonial governments introduced improved medical care, and better methods of sanitation. There were new crops; tools and farming methods, which helped, increase food production. These changes meant less death to smaller colonies, and overall improve the state of living. They now could live longer and have better sanitation compared to the earlier imperialism.

A negative effect is seen document two-called "Colonization." In the picture you can see that the colonies doing the mother country’s hard work did not civilize the smaller colonies. They were put to work as cheap labor. They had no freedom, had to do what the mother country said since it has so much towering power over them, they were exploited and were taken advantage of. Another negative effect is seen in document four called "Missionaries." In this quote you can see that when the white people came to the Africans they had nothing but power over them. They came with the Bible and no land, and instead took their land and forced the religion Christianity upon them. In document five-called "The White Man," another negative effect occurs. In this little tale or quote, David Diop talks about how the whites came and killed the innocent. This had many negative effects on Africa such as the African's were put to work as slaves but more like cheap labor. Many of them dies from this, they were resettled, exploited, weren't taken at their free will and took all of their land. The last negative effect can be seen in document seven called "The German Cartoon." This cartoon shows how severely the presence of imperialism affected such continents as Africa. The man in the machine is being forced to drink hard liquor and alcohol, they were corrupted and given evil minds, their money was all taken away, and most of all religion was forced upon them.

Imperialism is never considered as a good cause and effect. At first when it occurs it may seem as a positive effect, but in the long run, for example in this case it was a negative effect. All Africans and Asians were heavily exploited and were given no rights to do anything even though the mother countries gave them modern culture. Colonies inside colonies would fight because they wanted independence and have their own government and rule. There were many ethnics group that had nationalistic feelings but could not accomplish anything and become a free nation because of Imperialism. The mother country's that did the taking over were only after a few things and unfortunately did happen to accomplish what they were after. They wanted raw materials, markets for goods, national glory, balance of power and they also felt as though they needed to help smaller nations as though it was their burden, which Europeans called "White Man's Burden." In their point of view they thought they were helping people but really all they were doing was hurting the smaller colonies. Mother countries were destroying ethnic groups and causing civil wars between smaller nations. This newer modern Imperialism was never productive.

When a mother country took over a smaller colony for economic, political or social reason, they were Imperialistic. As shown they changed the modern world plenty and pretty much made it a harder world to live in at that time. It all depends on which viewpoints you may look at. Some may think it was a positive thing but overall, it only led to things in this world that were negative. Even thought the modern Imperialism occurred no more then 100 years ago, it still affects us greatly, and how our nation is broken down.

Various adventurers in the US and UK undertook semi-private campaigns disguised as strategic attacks on Britain's enemies. The gradual, insidious annexation of Uganda and Kenya were directed against Germany and France. The 19th century United States dabbled in imperialism as a means of securing military potential: possessed of tiny military might, with a navy barely worthy of the name, Washington saw a chain of tiny bases across the Pacific as less an expression of "manifest destiny," as a providential investment in future capital exports. Here, then, was a sort of strategic imperialism of another category: bases to enable, ensure, and preserve, global economic access. Britain and the USA were, along with the other imperial powers of the day, pre-occupied with this third category of strategic imperialism: (c) defense of economic potential. While all imperial powers, from pre-history onwards, have pursued this category with vigor, the USA, England, and Holland surpass all others in continuity and professional single-mindedness. Others dabbled in it; Japan, for two generations, prosecuted it with a zeal that certainly inspired awe; Germany has undertaken a financially shrewd foreign policy, that was repeatedly trumped by ideological ambitions within Europe; but the USA, England, and Holland are unusual in being almost single-minded about it.

The way that leads us and all humanity out of the danger that world imperialism signifies for the productive and cultural community of nations and so for the fate of civilization is rejection of the policy of feeling and instinct and return to political rationalism. If we wanted to throw ourselves into the arms of Bolshevism merely for the purpose of annoying our enemies, the robbers of our freedom and our property, or to set their house on fire too, that would not help us in the least. It should not be the goal of our policy to drag our enemies into our destruction with us. We should try not to be destroyed ourselves and try to rise again out of servitude and misery. That, however, we can attain neither by warlike actions nor by revenge and the policy of despair. For us and for humanity there is only one salvation: return to the rationalistic liberalism of the ideas of 1789.

It may be that socialism represents a better form of organization of human labor. Let whoever asserts this try to prove it rationally. If the proof should succeed, then the world, democratically united by liberalism, will not hesitate to implement the communist community. In a democratic state, who could oppose a reform that would be bound to bring the greatest gain to by far the overwhelming majority? Political rationalism does not reject socialism on principle. But it does reject in advance the socialism that hinges not on cool understanding but rather on unclear feelings, that works not with logic but rather with the mysticism of a gospel of salvation, the socialism that does not proceed from the free will of the majority of the people but rather from the terrorism of wild fanatics.

Sunday, May 07, 2006

Do I knw myself????

There's nothing in the way I walk that could tell you where I'm going,
There's nothing in the words I speak that can betray anything I'm knowing,
Don't think about the way I dress, you can fit me on a labelled shelf,
Don't pretend that you know me 'cause I don't even know myself,
Ooh I don't know myself.

I don't mind if you try once in a while,
I don't mind if I cry once in a while,
The doors aren't shut as tight as they might seem,
I'm just trying to fight my way out of this dream.

Don't listen to the words I say, weighing up if I'm enlightened,
Don't shiver as you pass me by, 'cause mister I'm the one who's frightened,
The police just came and left, they wanted me and no one else,
Don't pretend that you know me 'cause I don't even know myself,
I said I don't know myself.

I don't mind if you try once in a while,
I don't mind if I cry once in a while,
The doors aren't shut as tight as they might seem,
I'm just trying to fight my way out of this dream.

Do you remember me, I don't remember you,
Do you still love me, you know I think you do,
I have been gone, and some prison warden knows my scream,
I'm just trying to fight my way out of this dream.

There's only five who know my real name,
And my mother don't believe they know it,
What she called me is the way I'm staying,
And no one'll ever know it,
Come on all of you big boys, come on all of you elves,
Don't pretend that you know me 'cause I don't even know myself,
I said I don't know myself.

I don't mind if you try once in a while,
And I don't mind if I cry once in a while.

Lord Jesus, Let Me Know Myself

Lord Jesus, let me know myself and know You,
And desire nothing save only You.
Let me hate myself and love You.
Let me do everything for the sake of You.
Let me humble myself and exalt You.
Let me think of nothing except You.
Let me die to myself and live in You.
Let me accept whatever happens as from You.
Let me banish self and follow You,
And ever desire to follow You.
Let me fly from myself and take refuge in You,
That I may deserve to be defended by You.
Let me fear for myself, let me fear You,
And let me be among those who are chosen by You.
Let me distrust myself and put my trust in You.
Let me be willing to obey for the sake of You.
Let me cling to nothing save only to You,
And let me be poor because of You.
Look upon me, that I may love You.
Call me that I may see You,
And for ever enjoy You. Amen.

HIGHLIGHTS OF BUDGET 2006

Finance Minister P Chidambaram presented the Union Budget for 2006-07 in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

One of the main highlights of the budget is that no changes have been made in personal and corporate Income Taxes.

Also, the one-by-six scheme for mandatory filing of tax returns has been abolished and an increase in the Securities Transaction Tax across the board has been proposed.

The finance minister did not bow down to the demand of the industry to withdraw the Fringe Benefit Tax. However, he has modified it to remove some glitches in implementation.

Chidambaram also ruled out withdrawal of Banking Cash Transaction Tax.

Small cars cheaper

Custom and excise duties on a number of items, including small cars and aerated soft drinks have been slashed.

In all, 16 more items like ATM operations and luxury class air travel have been brought under the service tax net.

The finance minister also raised the excise duty on cigarettes by 5 per cent. While the proposals on direct tax are expected to yield Rs 4,000 crore, those on indirect taxes are expected to yield Rs 2,000 crore.

Budgetary support

During his speech, Chidambaram pegged the fiscal deficit for 2006-07 at 3.8 per cent of GDP at Rs 1,48,686 crore and revenue deficit at 2.1 per cent at Rs 84,727 crore.

Chidambaram also raised gross budgetary support for plan to Rs 1,72,728 crore, an increase of 20.4 per cent. Out of this, the central plan will receive a support of Rs 1,31,285 crore.

He estimated the total expenditure for the coming year at Rs 5,63,991 crore. The total revenue receipts have to be placed at Rs 4,03,465 crore and revenue expenditure at Rs 4,88,192 crore.

Defence allocation has been increased by Rs 6,000 crore to Rs 89,000 crore with allocation for capital expenditure raised to Rs 37,000 crore.

Social sector

With the UPA government’s emphasis on social sector spending, the budget gave a major thrust on taking forward the Common Minimum Programme.

The Bharat Nirman Programme has been allotted a hike of 54 per cent in its budgetary support. Further, Rs 12,041 crore has been allocated for northeastern region and Rs 4,813 crore for mid-day meal scheme.

Total allocation for rural employment, including under the employment guarantee act, has been fixed at Rs 14,300 crore.

Rebates announced

The finance minister announced that fixed deposits in banks with at least five-year maturity will get rebate under income tax for savings.

The Income tax exemption of Rs 10,000 in pension funds under 80 CCC has been removed and brought under rebate under Section 80C within the overall ceiling of Rs one lakh.

In the quest for equity, the minister increased the Minimum Alternate Tax on corporates from 7.5 per cent of book profit to 10 per cent.



You Can Be Whatever You Want to Be


There is inside you
all of the potential to be whatever
you want to be
all of the energy to do whatever
you want to do.

Imagine yourself as you would like to be,
doing what you want to do,
and each day, take one step
towards your dream.

And though at times it may seem too
difficult to continue,
hold on to your dream.

One morning you will awake to find
that you are the person
you dreamed of
doing what you wanted to do
simply because you had the courage
to believe in your potential
and to hold on to your dream.



My True Love

I'd thought I'd seen everything
With so much I'd been through.
I'd had it pretty rough
Up until the day I met you.

You took away my sadness
And kissed away my tears
You held me very tight
And carefully eased my fears.

You always cheered me up
Even on the dreariest day.
It's funny how you knew
The right things to say.

You gave me inward courage
And helped me to my feet.
You gave me a reason to go on
When my life was incomplete.

On those days I felt sadness
In the depths of despair.
I knew I could count
On you to be there.

You gave me new confidence
And taught me to love.
There's one thing for sure...
You were sent from above.


You always picked me up
When I was feeling down.
And you were my best friend
When no one else was around.

You shared my pain
And made me smile.
You assured me that
You'd walk that extra mile.

I opened my eyes and began to see
Things from a different point of view
It makes me wonder how I ever lived
Without your love so true.

I stepped out of winter
And the ice began to melt.
I walked into springtime
Where tender love was felt.

You took away bad dreams
And replaced them with good.
You had faith in me
When no one else would.

When I'm with you
I feel so at ease.
You make me as comfortable
As the leaves on the trees.

Today if the sky were to fall in
Everyone would be so afraid.
But I know now I could survive
Because my courage will not fade.

Because of your steadfast love,
I now have a newfound hope.
And because of your encouragement,
I now have the ability to cope.

I thank God for you every day
And for the love that you've given me.
At first we were just friends...
Now we're soul mates for all of eternity.

Thank you for having faith in Me.

Peace I Seek YOU

From the turmoils of perturbed mind
from the bottom of my disturbed heart
Peace, its you that I seek
Its about you that I speak

With every relation so fragile
and desperation to keep them alive
Promises broken, confession spoken
All this and more to keep thyself high
Whom am I fooling, whom am I seeking

And, when a brother of mine is dead
All I manage is a small sigh
Engulfed in blood and hatred
All I see and hear is lies and lies
Whom am I fooling, whom am I seeking

With feelings so strong to try and try
To help her who is left to cry
My limbs fails me and I despise
That the mind thinks and heart cries
Whom am I fooling, whom am I seeking

Whom am I fooling, whom am I seeking?
I seek you peace, I really do
I never realized I long for you
Now that I do, I just want you
In death atleast, I seek you



Simple Living High Thinking
It has often been conjectured, “Which came first; the chicken or the egg?” and the same can be questioned in respect of “Simple Living, High
Thinking.” Does simple living result from high thinking or vice versa, is high thinking reflected in simple living? In reality, they are not two different
concepts, but two sides of the same coin. They are complementary and you cannot have one without the other. The ideal example of this adage is
none other than Mahatma Gandhi. He was a man of high ideals, with thoughts that transcended the beliefs of mere mortals. When others were
thinking of getting rid of the British Raj by violence and bloodshed, this “Man of Peace” could think only of peaceful marches. His weapons were
silence, non-co-operation and other physically harmless but mentally and morally lethal weapons-and they worked.
Why did this man have so many followers? His speeches were not flamboyant; his attire was certainly not impressive in the normal sense of the term –
in fact he was known as the “Naked Fakir”. Obviously, it was not his external attributes that made him great, but the simplicity of his lifestyle, his
mannerisms, and his thoughts – all of them raised him above even the greats of his time.
This is how our lives should be; not to emphasize on the superficial that is transitory, but on deeper values. If we have simplicity in our lives, even our
thoughts will not be complicated by outside influences. We will be able to think in terms of ideals and visions unhampered by the intrusion of opinions
of others and this high thinking will be implemented in our lives. It will be a virtuous cycle of high thinking begetting simple living and simple living
reflecting high thinking. A circle that no one can destroy but everyone can join.