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WHY NOT BLACK?
Her question was earthshaking, Like a volcanic eruption, Like a giant wave, Like a heavy flood.... No, I can't answer her question, nor the nature can.... Because I don't know who created this tradition, Who wanted this and not that... I can't tell her that god created this, because I'm not a regular visitor of god. My mouth shattered with utter silence... But once she asked again, "Why rainbows are made without 'black' colour?"
God Bless America
God Bless America, a phrase used so poorly by those who reside in such a baren and divided country to boast our so-called pride in our nation. How have we come from such humble, honest beginnings yet turned to such violent, bloodbath conflicts? To this day, we still struggle to unite the nations of this world and unite our people. Instead of loving our neighbors, we harbor resentment and fear against them. How long will it take for us to remove the covers we have placed on our eyes, and truly see what it takes to change the world than destroy it. When will our nations cease to exist as...
What is the 'new normal' for youth with #ThisAbility? The hidden lessons from COVID-19
Love as a consciousness state
Over the years, I have struggled a lot with society’s obsession on happiness. Everywhere I look, I see motivational speeches from different people (some are public figures and others aren’t) about how you can be happy all of the time and life can be very simple if you just take their workshop, class, lecture, etc. And the reason why I struggle with it, is because I agree that sometimes life is breathtakingly beautiful and you don’t even want to blink because if you do, you are afraid you’ll miss it. However, there are the other times. The dark times. The days in which you wish there were a...
People Get Ready
“People Get Ready” is a music album released in 1965 by The Impressions, performed by Curtis Mayfield. It’s glaring bold themes are linked to the struggles of “freedom” and “slavery” while incorporating faith in God. In the decades since the 1960s this song has evolved, and has been performed, covered and reinterpreted by many different talented artists, within different genres of music. It is a song that initially influenced the Rhythm and Blues music more than other genres. The famous Human Rights Activist, Martin Luther King Jr. named the song the unofficial anthem of the Civil Rights...
My Reimagined World after COVID-19
I want to reimagine the whole world. I want that our future to be brighter. In my world, after the coronavirus, there would be no prejudice among people. I really want to see people look at themselves and take time to learn. Take the time to get to know ourselves and others better, because only this can lead us to a cohesive, responsible, understanding, adult, and lovable society. I don’t want to experience prejudices anymore. I want the world to accept itself and others, so that people can live in peace. I wish they could be fulfilled and self-forgetfully happy, as all of us really want that...
When I lost my hope
When I lost my hope I believe the Stars to give me hope. When I fell down to the ground I believe the Sun to give me strength. When I lost my way I believe the Moon to guide me. When I cry in sadness I believe my Love to wipe my tears. When I sleep in dying bed I believe my Mom to hug me once more; And call me 'My Son'. To go to Heaven is my last hope And my Father is waiting for me there.
The Change Starts With YOU
Talking about change, I am reminded of Rosa Parks who refused to give up her seat for a white man, and by doing so, she violated the law of segregation in Alabama, and got arrested for the same. Her case was then taken up by the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) and they formally challenged the legality of segregation, knowing the risks all too well. But this did not stop her from demanding basic human rights. She could have chosen to do just as she was told and be oppressed for decades to come. But, she stood up for herself, and by doing so, she stood up for...
Happiness has no borders
I am happy to support my LGBT friends, they are creative and sensitive, brave and inspirational. I feel so sad to know what they went through. How long will humanity divide and hurt each other if everyone equally deserves happiness and love? No one should be bullied and feel trapped. Equality = Happiness.
FAWAKA with You(th): Most people underestimate the impact COVID-19 has on Youth Mental Health
As the coronavirus continues to spread across the world, everyone is trying to adapt to this ‘new normal ‘in their own way. Adapting in these challenging times can especially be difficult for young people. UNICEF Suriname recently conducted a Youth KAP survey to get more insight into the level of COVID-19 knowledge of young people and how this has impacted their lives. This blog series is a follow up to the key findings of the youth survey aimed at getting the stories behind the data. FAWAKA translates to “How are you doing?” in ‘Sranan Tongo’ (Surinamese Creole language). In this week’s...
The new virus
It is impressive how 2020 can still manage to qualify as one of the craziest years of my life. I know maybe my life has not been that broad, but I can assure you this year will forever remain in my memory. There is no doubt these are difficult times for humanity’s future, everyone’s lives turned upside down abruptly, and to be honest a spark of hope was created when hundreds of governments united to fight the common enemy, a disease. Any type of change is considered scary, but as a society we managed to stay together and tackle our global challenges. Now everyone’s reality has changed again. I...
Echo
In those unending days which screamed for a little pace, I stayed silent while fighting my inner disappointment, I was unable to search for the reason I wanted to face. Why I feel sad? Why I can’t spend a moment without a thought which is raising my inner demon? I loved how binging over my phone screen kept my brain busy, But how to find serendipity with just me! There are times when I feel insecure about myself. It’s when I am not able to find peace with oneself. It does not generally mean that I am depressed. But there is some wound which I need to heal to keep my progress. Waiting for...
Perspective
I might be standing on a plot of land with a few trees and it seemingly wouldn't look like a very photogenic place, but as soon as I look down and focus on one single strand of grass, it yields an entirely different picture. By going close to one of the stalks of grass and focusing on its purple seeds dripping and slightly bent with fresh rain droplets, I now have a totally new photograph of the same exact scene. One perspective shift results in an entirely different picture, yet the subject in both the pictures would be the same. Let us consider a situation where I am locked inside my house...
People are meant to cross your way, but not stay
So it happens like this - A person enters your life on one day, You both talk, and finally get close to each other. Then one day, That person leaves you without any explanation, Or an explanation that seems quite unjustifiable. I know how it feels, The person with whom you shared your secrets, With whom you shared your phobias, is now gone. There would be times, When you'd fall apart, when you'd weep, And when you'd feel constant affliction for a long, long time. But one day would come, When you'd start pretending, when you'd start to pretend That all this doesn't bother you anymore, and you...
World without wars and weapons
How horrendous is it inside the war zone? The echo of anguished cry and silent moan Resonates all over but can’t be heard As the war is noisy and jarred. On the Earth where flowers blossom, I see stains of blood. This bizarre sight gives me viperish dreads. Deepens my fright with sleepless nights. The purity of the soil gone. Father no more for a newborn. Hearts shattered and lives thrown. Endless tears on cheeks rolling down. Malice caused for the love of his nation, Turns out to be fiendish for humanity. Ain't the right way to express his affection, By harming another country. Killing and...
Imposter Syndrome and How It’s Suffocating Too Many of Us
It wreaked havoc on my life before I realized that it had even taken root in my mind. It tore my life apart, and I didn’t even see it. So allow me to tell you about my story of imposter syndrome— so that you may prevent it from demolishing yours. It really all crashed into burning shambles a couple months ago when I had gotten back home and received an big essay grade from my AP Language class. I opened the email: the PDF froze, then loaded, and I hurriedly scrolled down to the bottom as blue marks flew by. An 80. In a completely unexplainable and absolute meltdown, I ran upstairs and. Broke...
The Art of Trusting Yourself
Trust. What is it? You probably think “ This girl is joking, of course I know what trust is.”. Yes, you’re right! You know that, but do you know what it means? “Both are the same” you’ll say. And even though I’m here to tell you otherwise, can you see how you’ve just trusted yourself with the smallest matter? Your instinct is so strongly grown inside of you, that you have just expressed your opinion concerning an important aspect of your life in front of a…stranger?! Well, if you ask Wikipedia or the dictionary, they’ll both tell you that trust is, and I quote: “to believe that someone is good...
The Good & The Bad
Being in lockdown for so long has given me a chance to reflect upon myself as well as to understand others around me. And one thing I have inferred from this long journey, is that none of us are born with a lot of love in our hearts and neither are we born with a lot of hate. We choose what we want to portray ourselves as; the good or the bad. It's very important that we choose our actions and our reactions, especially in these hard times when our mental health is being impacted so much. I urge all of you to have a relaxing day and self reflect on what you've done so far and how you can do...
Through Thick & Thin #SelfCare
We are all known to the phrase “health is wealth”, and it indeed in itself displays the significance of health. We all struggle with different problems in our lives, be it social, mental, physical or emotional. Similarly, many of us have also been victims of depression, anxiety, stress, violence, etc. But amidst all of this we forget to nurture ourselves. Since I’ve been in school, I myself have been under a lot of academic pressure, and stress. I have also lost a lot of friendships over these years. I am not been able to confide in people easily because in modern times it is difficult for one...