Memorial Day

Yesterday was observed all over USA as Memorial Day - a day set aside to honor and pay homage to soldiers who died fighting wars for their country.

In previous years, the only reason this day was significant for me used to be that this was the first Holiday and possibly a long weekend in close to five months since the start of the year, and that for most recreational places, this day marked the opening for summer season. This year would have been no different but for a dame who goes by the first name of Barbara.

While looking for a book in our local library, I came across a copy of The Guns of August written by Barbara W. Tuchman. An absorbing and detailed account of the events leading up to the start of the First World War and the first month of it. As I read that book, I became painfully aware of two facts - one that my knowledge of European History is, to put it mildly, only minimal; and two that how a small spark can quickly escalate into a conflagration of full scale war.

One can argue about the pros and cons of going to war or blame one belligerent or another, but the saddest, most poignant fact of any war remains that young soldiers die. In the World wars - they died by the millions - wiping out a significant chunk of an entire generation. Many of them may not have really understood the reasons they were firing or being fired upon - yet were duty-bound to lay down their lives when commanded to do so.

Young people, usually being the most curious and open-minded, many of the combatants would likely have socialized with or even formed friendships with their counterparts from the enemy side, had it been an exchange student program or a tourist visit, instead of a campaign of war.

Reading the account of the battles and the high casualties of that war and subsequent ones, one cannot fail to recognize the lethal potential of human ingenuity and innovation - when applied to destruction. But even more lethal is the ego and political ambition of a few people - whose decisions and actions affects vast swathes of population - thereby changing the course of world history.

This memorial Day, I offer my personal salute to every soldier of any nationality, who made the supreme sacrifice fighting honorably in a war.

I hope that at some point in the unfolding history of humanity, we find a way to settle differences without wars. Actually this may be a near impossible wish, given the way nation states have formed and with the multitude of ways people find to include some and exclude others from their world view.

So, while we are wishing the impossible, let us try a grander vision -
We hope that someday humankind as a whole is composed of truly independently thinking, responsible individuals who do not need the crutches of assumed identities and who can look beyond the histories of collectives past to a future where there is only one group encompassing all living beings.

Lessons for budding CEOs from Barack Obama

A year ago, nobody would have even imagined that a colored guy with a name like Barack Obama, middle name Hussein, would defy all laws of Political physics and perform a feat equivalent to climbing the Mount Everest in the Democratic Party.

Though, he had his advantages - a fawning media and a party establishment that quickly resorted to the PC course to avoid being branded racist, there is no denying the fact that Obama possessed certain qualities that were fundamental to his "brand".

Of course there are those that swear by his nearly divine political abilities of unifying, healing and performing other miracles that would involve bending the wills of opponents numbering almost half the population of US.
For the rest of us mere mortals, there are some lessons to be learned from the Obama phenomenon. Especially those who seek power in any organization can learn a few tricks. Here are some of my observations.

1. Never wait your turn to lead.
No matter how rigid the existing hierarchies, there is a fair chance they will yield if you boldly sieze the initiative.

2. Build a strong coterie of supporters.
Your case for leadershis is only as strong as the Organization you have built that turns on your commands. Foster loyalties among capable people for this.
Corollary: Don't just keep people around for loyalty or old times' sake.

3. Always appear above the fray.
Never get embroiled in gritty, down and dirty political fights. Always let your underlings handle such hatchet jobs.

4. Always appear nice.
Even when you sting an opponent like a crazed bee, appear cool and charming like a floating butterfly (a la Mohammad Ali).

5. Never be too specific on details.
The less details you provide of your plans and positions, the less you expose your flank to criticism and attack on vulnerabilities. Vague ideas expressed in few feel-good words and phrases will always work. ("Hope", "Change"...)

6. Be ready to smartly adopt and co-opt others' ideas.
This will be of immense help when people start looking closer.

7. Never jump in and volunteer answers to problems and questions.
Watch and wait for eager know-it-alls to jump in and spend their charges. Let them fizzle before you take over. Waiting too long risks belying indecision or inertia.

8. Get noticed.
Quiet and capable people who are too nice to talk about it usually make excellent also-rans. Talk about your achievements and attempts loud enough for people to take notice of you.

If you have noticed other things as well, please contribute.

(I would have posted a picture of Obama, but two dark and handsome dudes on the same page would be too much ;-)

Happy Birthday - Dear "Acquaintance" :-)

It's the birthday of someone I know - a casual aqauaintance. Well! I suppose it is more than casual, because I have known him for as long as I can remember. Still, either of us would be hard pressed to refer to the other as a friend.

Our respective lives have run a fairly parallel course. We grew up in the same neighborhood, took the well-beaten path out of childhood to adolescence and before we knew it, we were staring at the adult versions of ourselves. We did our mandatory drafts in school and College with only intermittent interest in the goings on, took up jobs thereafter and continued on in life.
I saw him get in and fall out of friendships and relationships good and bad and then saw him fall head over heels in love. This would have fueled my interest some more, except that cupid's arrow got me too before long and who cares about others when in love? :-)

We see each other practically everyday, but meet infrequently. And then too, the conversation - if any - stays on casual stuff. Nothing too personal or meaningful.

So, why am I here talking about this fellow today?
Well! for one, it's his Birthday and for another, I have heard him refer to it as a sort of midpoint of life, by what calculation he reached the conclusion not having been specified. We are sticking to our policy of not meddling with the reasoning of others.

Anyway, here's wishing you a Happy Birthday dear acquaintance!
Hopefully, at the midpoint of your life, you look back and feel satisfied and happy on more counts than not. We hope also that looking ahead, you have high hopes and big plans towards the objective of achieving happiness. Last but not the least, we hope that in your ruminations over the past and plans for future, you don't forget about living in the present - which is nothing but the future unfolding itself in it's unending, continuing story.
Having known of and observed each other as long as we have, should we now, know more about each other? In other words- is it time, at mutual halfway points, to become friends?

Thank Heavens for little girls...

How do you define the wonderful mystery that is a little girl?

Start with the ephemeral dew drops on rose petals, imagine the wonder of vast open skies with myriad shapes of clouds floating about, sprinkle the twinkle of your favorite star and catch the spirit of a butterfly flitting about the woods and you begin to get a glimpse into the little darlings that God bestowed upon us.

Look into the liquid eyes of one and without saying a word she will make you want to laugh and cry at the same time as the looks etch her endless stories on your heart. You come away believing in oases of innocence in a cynical world. Oases, inhabited by tender infectious smiles with guileless confidence of carrying the day - any day.

Listen to the sweet chatter of one and you can get lost in the music of wonderment and idyllic imagination. Stories are woven on the go, with fact and fiction melded effortlessly into a delectable aural dessert that swells nothing but the heart.

Little helpers of the angel of happiness, they soothe our minds and beckon our souls into a better and sweeter reality of life with nothing but caressing little fingers, sweet kisses, smiles and sometimes even pouts of indignant reproach.

From all appearances little girls do seem to grow up, but care to look just a little deeper in your hearts and little girls stay little everyday.... :-)