China sure will be the talk of the global town all this year. First, it was the anti-protestors stance then the earthquake and now the Olympics. Seems like they are trying a little too hard with the historical sporting event, maybe with the intention to make the world forget the demerits that the country has been laced with over time.
Let’s take a quick look at some of the absurd steps that China has taken to make the 2009 Olympics a ‘grand memory’.
1.    The fireworks ceremony held at a jam-packed National Stadium on August 8 was not all that it really looked like. The much touted incredible event was a mere illusion. After a controversy broke out over the issue, the game organisers admitted having used a series of illusions that even included a pre-taped footprint shaped fireworks segment.
2.    The venue managers were given instructions to use volunteer cheerleaders to fill empty seats in the stadium. A consequence of which was that the athletes’ families were unable to obtain the tickets for some events.
3.    But the most insensitive one of them all was when a seven-year-old girl was replaced because officials felt that her face was not suitable for the opening ceremony. An older girl was asked to lip-synch the Ode to the Motherland instead, which was recorded in the voice of the youngster.
4.     And didn’t we hear a few days ago that the Chinese authorities have asked girls with plump legs to wear black stocking.
What do I say about the facade that is being presented to the world? I wonder what exactly China is trying to prove here.
via ibnlive

Niketa and Harsh Mehta have been in new for the last two days with their 24-week foetus that they want to abort. The High Court has still not decided the fate of the foetus diagnosed with congenital heart disease. The existing law does not permit abortion more than 20 weeks after conception. This has led to quite a nationwide debate as the mother of the unborn child says, “I just want a healthy child. I don’t want it to suffer. Even if you do not consider the suffering me and my family will go through, at least think of the miserable life the child will be forced to lead.” Even their doc Nikhil Datar stands by the appeal with a medical reason. “The child will have to be fitted with a pacemaker the moment it is born, which will have to be replaced every four years.
In my opinion, the Mehtas are not justified in taking the life of their unborn child. C’mon won’t more than half of our nation come forth to abort their female foetuses saying, “Oh, it is so difficult for a girl to have a normal life in our country. They are molested, raped and discriminated against all the time. I don’t want a miserable life for my child.” The argument is as shallow as the one offered by the Mehta missus. Life should be given a chance to take its own course because miracles and breakthrough medicine do happen all the time. I can’t seem to understand what the Mehtas are panicking about? I even hear some activists willing to adopt the unborn kid.

Via CNNIBN

Ever heard of the School Climate? No? Then you sure must have not read ASCD Executive Director Gene R. Carter’s latest column Is it Good for the Kids? The column talks about a high school in Baltimore struggling to make it to the surface as an unhealthy climate, chaotic classrooms, rowdy students and oblivious parents try and pull it down. No wonder 50 percent of the school’s 9th graders drop out by the end of their first year and the test scores are much below average. That is how Carter brings forth The School Climate Challenge by emphasizing the role of a whole school to nurture a whole child who is eager to learn, is healthy both mentally and emotionally, has a strong civic sense and is ready to face the world. According to Carter and the Center for Social and Emotional Education along with the Education Commission of the States, a whole school is one that collaborates with its community to deliberately build and sustain a positive school climate.

The column also offers suggestions to schools on creating positive climates like taking the pulse of the school’s current climate, using school climate evaluation results to develop and implement an improvement plan, incorporating school climate measures into a richer accountability system, and promoting community participation in improvement efforts. A very interesting approach, I must say, and workable too. Wotsay?

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Well before I say what I wish to through this post, let me tell you the reason that got me started. During a research I happened to see this amusing yet meaningful ad campaign. It spelt, among other things, parental love, the pain (in literal sense), and the excitement that parenthood involves. Have a look at the advertisement.

I am sure most of you would agree when I say that we do not need any special day to express our love for our mothers. Loving is a continual process or rather, a way of living. I don’t wish to sound pedantic but for each one of us, they are our first teachers…the academy shifting from their lap to their knees. I think a mother’s love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible. Please let me extend it our fathers too. Our parents lay the building blocks of the kind of human being we grow up to be. Not anyone but our parents are the most affected by our success and failures…yes, even more than ourselves.
I remember that once after a long and hectic day at work, I was relieved to find a vacant seat in the local bus. My eyes rested on a father-daughter duo. They were seemingly new to the city.

This person pointed the India Gate to his darling daughter but his eyes were admiring the smile the lit up his daughter’s face. Not even once he spared another look to the monumental document of our modern history. For him, the excitement and happiness on the angelic face of his daughter meant the world. A silent prayer from my heart went to God to bless them. On each day of our lives, our parents make deposits in our memory banks. We owe them…our lives, our being, our smile, our beliefs,…everything. Can never thank God enough. Can we?