A Tiny Glimpse Into Our Vast Universe

10,000 Galaxies

Date: 01.16.2004

Galaxies, galaxies everywhere - as far as NASA's Hubble Space Telescope can see. This view of nearly 10,000 galaxies is the deepest visible-light image of the cosmos. Called the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, this galaxy-studded view represents a "deep" core sample of the universe, cutting across billions of light-years.

The snapshot includes galaxies of various ages, sizes, shapes, and colors. The smallest, reddest galaxies, about 100, may be among the most distant known, existing when the universe was just 800 million years old. The nearest galaxies - the larger, brighter, well-defined spirals and ellipticals - thrived about 1 billion years ago, when the cosmos was 13 billion years old.

In vibrant contrast to the rich harvest of classic spiral and elliptical galaxies, there is a zoo of oddball galaxies littering the field. Some look like toothpicks; others like links on a bracelet. A few appear to be interacting. These oddball galaxies chronicle a period when the universe was younger and more chaotic. Order and structure were just beginning to emerge.The Ultra Deep Field observations, taken by the Advanced Camera for Surveys, represent a narrow, deep view of the cosmos. Peering into the Ultra Deep Field is like looking through an eight-foot-long soda straw.

In this image, blue and green correspond to colors that can be seen by the human eye, such as hot, young, blue stars and the glow of Sun-like stars in the disks of galaxies. Red represents near-infrared light, which is invisible to the human eye, such as the red glow of dust-enshrouded galaxies.

The image required 800 exposures taken over the course of 400 Hubble orbits around Earth. The total amount of exposure time was 11.3 days, taken between Sept. 24, 2003 and Jan. 16, 2004.

Image Credit: NASA, ESA, S. Beckwith (STScI) and the HUDF Team

Source: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/display.cfm?IM_ID=1463

Happy Holidays From Me (and NASA) to You!

Image from NASA website

Wafa Sultan Expresses Her Views On Islam

Here is a clip from a debate between Wafa Sultan (a former Muslim from Syria, now living in the U.S.) and a male Islamic cleric. Click here for Wafa Sultan's biography.

Love is All We Need

Hilarious Atheist Comedian

Click here for hilarious videos and podcasts about religion made by British comedian Pat Condell.

Click here for his official website. Read the FEEDBACK section to see just how 'tolerant' and 'kind' religious people claim to be

FOX News Doesn't Like Atheist Take on Christmas

Click here for another display of name-calling and desperate attempts to defend their religious views by FOX News anchors. 

It's not disrespectful to show another perspective.

Jon Stewart Talks with Mike Huckabee

Click here to read about and watch a revealing conversation between Jon Stewart and Mike Huckabee about Conservatives' opposition to gay marriage.

Banned Book List

I keep a running list of books, words or general subjects that I want to look into and have just decided to start a 'Banned Book List'. I hope to read the majority of books that have been banned, challenged or burned because of their content. How ridiculous is that? People getting violent because they don't agree with someone else's thoughts? 

Here is a list of the Top 100 Banned and/or Challenged Books of the 20th Century, assembled by the American Library Association.

*Look at the description of the reaction to Salman Rushdie's book "Satanic Verses"

A Conversation with a Muslim

While walking downtown on a snowy Saturday afternoon I came across three men handing out pamphlets under an umbrella that read "Free Information on Islam". I walked past them, but then turned around and came back realizing that I had never really had a theological conversation with a Muslim before. Sure, I've read a lot about Islam and have watched lectures about it, but I wanted to speak to another human being who truly believes in its claims. A lot of atheists like to make fun of or belittle religious people, but I think everyone deserves respect. Religion needs to be discussed, not mocked. 

I approached their kiosk as the cold wind snapped across my face and said, "Hi! What is all this?" A younger man with a beard handed me a pamphlet and said, "Free information on Islam, have you heard about it before?" I smiled and said "Yes, I have." He laughed and said "Ah, so you live in this world!" (meaning there has been a huge spotlight on Islam for quite awhile now) 

The man was about my age, maybe a bit older and was white. The other men had darker skin and did not speak English. So, I directed my questions to him. 

"Well, I have a lot of questions for you. First, how do you feel about how Islam has been portrayed in the media?"

"It's a real shame. You know, controversy sells right, so people in the media paint Islam in a negative light for ratings or whatever. It's really misunderstood. People generalize about Islam based on a handful of violent people, that's why we're here today so that people can see what Islam is really about."

"Well, what about jihad? That's in the Quran right?"

"Well, jihad means 'struggle'. Like, here today, we are standing out in the cold for hours handing out pamphlets and it's a struggle. But we do it for Islam. But, jihad can be meant in other ways too, for instance if someone invades our countries and tries to change our values and beliefs, then we will call for a jihad then as well."

"What about women in Islam? For example, I recently read Ayaan Hirsi Ali's memoir where she talked about domestic abuse and the subjugation of women in Islam."

An annoyed look took over his face at the mention of this former Muslim's name.

"About her, I won't even really comment. Basically, she took her own negative experiences and used them to generalize about Islam as a whole. There are some other women doing the same thing where they take their own personal stories and use them as ammunition against Islam. But, as far as the status of women goes, men and women are seen as equal. However, we believe that they have different roles since they are made up differently physically and psychologically. Women are their own independent selves and men are expected to provide for them and their family."

"Okay, I have another question for you. How would you react if, say, your brother decided he didn't believe in all of this anymore and that he was renouncing God?"

"Well, first of all, I don't have a brother. But, if I did, this would mean he wasn't a true Muslim. We believe that God is the Creator, he is everything. Life would be worthless without him and believing in him."

"So you think that life would have no value without believing in God?"

"Yes, absolutely. Like me, for example. I was baptized a Christian, but the beliefs about the Trinity never made much sense to me. Eventually, I left Christianity and didn't believe in God at all. But then, I learned about Islam and it all just made sense. I said, God if you are there show yourself to me, and he did."

"And how did God reveal himself to you?"

"Just by observing the beauty and the balance of the Universe, there's just no way that there isn't a Creator. There are so many complex and beautiful things in this world that there just has to be a God, I don't think that we just came from nothing, that we're the products of a chemical reaction."

"Well, I don't really agree that life would have no value without believing in God."

"Well, on an individual level, what is the point of life then? If there is nothing after you die, then life is meaningless."

"Well, not really. By knowing that this is my one shot at life and that there isn't some kind of paradise waiting for me after I die, I live to the fullest every day."

"Exactly, so people just do whatever they want, when they want, with no regard for others because there's no higher power or ultimate goal."

"Not exactly. I am loving towards others because I truly care for other people and if everyone just did whatever they wanted all the time, we would destroy ourselves. I take care of the planet and of others so that future generations will benefit."

We continued to talk for a bit more, but I realized how late it was and had to be on my way. I picked up several of their pamphlets (with titles like "Unveiling the Mystery: Hijab", "Life After Death" and "Status of Women in Islam") and thanked him for talking to me. I put out my hand and the man that I had been speaking with moved back saying "This is something we don't do in Islam. Men and women don't touch until they're married." I smiled, pulled back my hand and said "At all??" They laughed and an older man said "She's the first one!" (I'm assuming he meant that I was the first person to offer to shake their hands) So, I put my hand to my heart and bowed saying "Thank you so much for speaking with me. Bye!" I walked away feeling uplifted and enlightened. I truly recommend everyone to engage in respectful conversations with religious people. It reinforced my non-belief while also allowing me to connect with another human being whose whole life revolves around belief. 

I left with the man's card indicating he is the Vice President of the Canadian Dawah Association. He explained to me that Dawah means a place where people can share their beliefs and values with others. No one pushes their beliefs on others, it's a forum for people to share ideas. They have a website: 

www.cdadawah.com 

The pamphlets also have a website:

www.whyislam.org

And a phone number:

1-877-WHY-ISLAM

I hope to stay in touch with this man, as well as attend one of these Dawah meetings. 

I will let you know how it goes.

Also, isn't it interesting how many converts there are to different religions? Especially people who might have 'fallen off the right path' (ie, getting into drugs or drinking, etc.). They 'find God' and completely change their lives. What is so appealing about God to people who have 'lost their way'? It provides hope, comfort, answers. When people can't deal with life, they turn to God because he says "Don't worry, everything will be alright." 

What do you think?

How To Find Thought Provoking, Funny and Interesting Websites

We all know the internet is full of important information, funny videos and smart ideas. However, it's sometimes hard to sift through the crap to find the good stuff. Here is a wonderful tool to use to find websites under such categories as science, art and bizarre:

Stumbleupon.com

Have fun!

Right vs Left

As protests continue in the United States opposing Proposition 8, conservatives and proponents of the right-wing are fighting back with some very interesting rhetoric (ie. calling the protesters 'radicals', 'extremists', 'fascists', etc.)

Click here for a clip showing Bill O'Reilly (the infamously mean, prejudice and ignorant Fox News correspondent) and Newt Gingrich (an American author and former politician) discussing the protests and then a candid rebuttal by a progressive and liberal 'Young Turks' correspondent (check out their website for more daily videos). 

It's definitely worth a watch.

How Our Education System Squashes Creativity

I have been frustrated with our education system for a long time but never knew really why. In this lecture Ken Robinson (a British author and educator) explains why he thinks our rigid and stagnant education systems stifle the developing minds of children. He says that intelligence is diverse and should not be measured in just one way or based on a hierarchy of academic subjects (with Mathematics at the top and Arts at the bottom). 

How do you measure intelligence? 

Is creativity valued in our education system and in our society?

What is the difference between intelligence and creativity?

Click here to listen to this enlightening lecture!

Old vs. New (?)

        Some argue that the debate over Proposition 8 (and many other political and social issues) revolve around a generational gap where older conservatives cling to 'tradition' and fear change while a younger generation is challenging the norm and refusing to remain stagnant. 

        Here are some commercials from the "No on Prop 8" campaign parodying the PC (old) vs Mac (new) idea:

No on Prop 8 PSAs Spoof Mac vs. PC Commercials 

*Thanks to Meg for suggesting this post!

Proposition 8 Controversy

Overshadowed by the historic election of the first African-American president, the passing of Proposition 8 went mostly unnoticed. The state of California (as well as Florida and Arizona) amended its constitution to only recognize marriage as being between a man and a woman. Same-sex marriages were made legal in California back in May, 2008 after several Supreme Court Judges ruled it unconstitutional to only recognize heterosexual marriages. After much campaigning and organizing (and financial support from many churches, republican organizations and conservative groups) it was left up to the people of California to either overturn or support the ruling. By a close margin, Proposition 8 was passed and only the marriage between a man and a woman will be recognized. Protests have erupted across the country with passion on both sides. Here are some video clips showcasing the arguments for those in support of and those against gay marriage:

YES for Proposition 8:

Proposition 8 made simple

Where do babies come from?

Confusing School Curriculum

Young adults explain why they are voting Yes

Main website:  www.protectmarriage.com

NO for Proposition 8:

Keith Olbermann's special comment on gay marriage

Video blog by Sam Harris (not the author of the same name)

Senator Feinstein: Prop 8 is about discrimination

Sarcastic commercial to ban divorce

Main website:  www.noonprop8.com

Decide for yourself.

Ben Stein's "Expelled" Controversy

One of the most important things to keep in mind at all times and in any situation you find yourself is to remember to listen. 

Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Bill Maher and many more sometimes forget to listen to other people's views and perspectives. I almost feel like there's some kind of clique that they are in and ridicule anyone who thinks differently from them. But, the main point to make here is that religion has been carefully cushioned and protected from criticism for so long and this is the first real time in history that people are outright questioning and dismantling it. And I completely agree with what they are arguing and truly believe that religion, and its critique, should be at the center of our conversation as a global family. However, I am really concerned about how these incredibly smart and funny atheists are trying to make their point. Ridicule and arrogance will not win the fight against dogmatic religion and the indoctrination of children. In fact, I fear, it might do quite the opposite.

Here are a few clips and articles outlining a recent controversy concerning Ben Stein's movie "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" which argues that Intelligent Design (ie the belief that God designed and created the Universe and every living being within it) is a legitimate theory that should be included in the teaching of science to students. 

Click here for the trailer of the movie

Click here for an interview with Ben Stein on CNN with Glenn Beck

Click here for another interview with Ben Stein on FOX News

Now, click here for an article written by Richard Dawkins about being tricked into being in a movie pushing for free speech as well as addressing the many claims the movie makes (please take the time to read the whole thing)

And click here for a clip of Dawkins and PZ Myers discussing being thrown out at the premiere of the movie

Click here for a sort of critique of Stein's interviews and his attempt to link Evolution with the Holocaust

This movie actually led to the launch of a website dedicated to addressing the many claims that the film makes

Now, I want to make a very important point here. Many people disagree with atheism and Darwinism because they see them as just another dogma or another type of 'religion'. So, let's look at the definition of those two words:

Dogma:

1. That which is held as an opinion; a tenet; a doctrine.

2. A formally stated and authoritatively settled doctrine; a definite, established, and authoritative tenet.

3. A doctrinal notion asserted without regard to evidence or truth; an arbitrary dictum.

"dogma." Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary. MICRA, Inc. 06 Nov. 2008. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dogma>.

Religion:

1. The outward act or form by which men indicate their recognition of the existence of a god or of gods having power over their destiny, to whom obedience, service, and honor are due; the feeling or expression of human love, fear, or awe of some superhuman and overruling power, whether by profession of belief, by observance of rites and ceremonies, or by the conduct of life; a system of faith and worship; a manifestation of piety; as, ethical religions; monotheistic religions; natural religion; revealed religion; the religion of the Jews; the religion of idol worshipers.

2. Specifically, conformity in faith and life to the precepts inculcated in the Bible, respecting the conduct of life and duty toward God and man; the Christian faith and practice.

3. (R. C. Ch.) A monastic or religious order subject to a regulated mode of life; the religious state; as, to enter religion. --Trench.

4. Strictness of fidelity in conforming to any practice, as if it were an enjoined rule of conduct. [R.]

"religion." Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary. MICRA, Inc. 06 Nov. 2008. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion>.

Now, what needs to be stressed here is that Science is not offering another kind of 'truth' (or an absolute 'Truth'). In fact, science continuously self-analyzes and critiques every hypothesis in order to get closer and closer to theories and laws that could explain our surroundings. Atheists are not pushing for another doctrine or claiming to know the 'truth, the way and the light'. They are arguing that relying on unsubstantiated claims and belief without evidence to explain our highly complex Universe is simply not good enough. Not only do they critique theism, but everything. Nothing is free from critique to an atheist and that's why it is nothing to be scared of or intimidated by. 

Atheists don't claim to know everything. They are simply courageously standing up and saying "We don't know everything, so let's explore our Universe together free from the chains of any omniscient, omnipotent deity."

Bill Hicks and Abortion

Click here for Bill Hicks' commentary on abortion. I really wish he was still around.

Best line:

"Please.. give me the Satan worshipping family down the block..  The ones that have the good albums."

Center for Inquiry

Click here for a short clip from from well-known atheists, secularists and free thinkers in support of the Center for Inquiry. You can check out the CFI in Toronto at 216 Beverley Street for more info.

"The Root of All Evil?" with Richard Dawkins

In a clear and honest documentary Richard Dawkins argues that religion leads to a warped sense of morality and indoctrinates children around the world. 

Click here to watch

Best line of the whole documentary:

"But that's your belief, how do you know that it's right?"

"It's a faith issue. I mean, why do you not believe?"

"Umm.. because of evidence."

I Love the Whole World! Boom De Ya Da Boom De Ya Da!

Watch the Discovery Channel's commercial celebrating this wonderful planet of ours!

*look real close for Stephen Hawking...

love the mountains

I love the clear blue skies

I love big bridges

I love when great whites fly

I love the whole world [Les Stroud]

And all its sights and sounds

Boom-dee-ah-da, boom-dee-ah-da

Boom-dee-ah-da, boom-dee-ah-da

I love the oceans

I love real dirty things [Mike Rowe]

I love to go fast

I love Egyptian kings

I love the whole world

And all its craziness

Boom-dee-ah-da, boom-dee-ah-da

Boom-dee-ah-da, boom-dee-ah-da [Richard Machowicz]

I love tornadoes [Joshua Wurman]

I love arachnids [Bear Grylls]

I love hot magma

I love the giant squids

I love the whole world

It's such a brilliant place

Boom-dee-ah-da, boom-dee-ah-da [Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage]

Boom-dee-ah-da, boom-dee-ah-da [Stephen Hawking]

Boom-dee-ah-da, boom-dee-ah-da

Boom-dee-ah-da, boom-dee-ah-da

Boom-dee-ah-da, boom-dee-ah-da

Sam Harris talk at Idea City 2005

Click here for a short talk given by Sam Harris (Author of The End of Faith and Letter to a Christian Nation) at Idea City in Toronto back in 2005. 

He talks about religion and how it should not be given such false 'respect' and should no longer rest outside of the realm of criticism and questioning. I strongly believe that religion is the most important and fundamental topic that we as a species need to discuss and critique at this moment in our world's history. Enjoy!

We Are One Planet with Carl Sagan

Click here to watch a brief heart-gripping talk with Carl Sagan (1934-1996) from his epic PBS series "Cosmos: A Personal Voyage" which aired in 1980. This clip came at the end of the 13 part series and encapsulates Sagan's frustrations and hopes for a planet gripped in the arms of the Cold War. 

Sagan was an extraordinary scientist, astronomer and astrochemist who marveled at the beauty and wonder of the cosmos. Exploding stars, black holes, colliding galaxies left him in awe of our insignificantly small place in an incredibly vast universe. From this appreciation of the wonder of our universe came a strong frustration with how humans willfully and purposelessly destroy our precious planet as well as each other. He strongly believed, with a passion impossible to ignore, that there is a pressing need for humans to realize that we are all one species on a small, modest planet floating in an infinite and expanding universe. If we place ourselves in that context wars, weapons, arguments, stress and everything else that we waste our energy on can be seen for what they really are: destructive and futile. He was an astronomer as well as a humanist and hopefully his love for other human beings as well as for our overwhelming and awe-inspiring universe will continue to be passed on to future generations.

hu·man·ism        (hyōō'mə-nĭz'əm)    
n.  

1. A system of thought that rejects religious beliefs and centers on humans and their values, capacities, and worth.
2. Concern with the interests, needs, and welfare of humans: "the newest flower on the vine of corporate humanism" (Savvy).
3. Medicine The concept that concern for human interests, values, and dignity is of the utmost importance to the care of the sick.
4. The study of the humanities; learning in the liberal arts.
5. Humanism A cultural and intellectual movement of the Renaissance that emphasized secular concerns as a result of the rediscovery and study of the literature, art, and civilization of ancient Greece and Rome.

"humanism." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 14 Oct. 2008.

He Left Too Soon: Bill Hicks

Bill Hicks (1961-1994) was one of the funniest, smartest and most courageous human beings to walk this planet. He was never afraid to question or criticize our existence and how a lot of us simply drudge our way through life without realizing how precious, and fleeting, it really is. He was (and still is) a relevant social critic who ruffled people's feathers and offered a different way of looking at our world.

He died too early, at the age of 32 from cancer. His spirit, tenacity and unblinking straightforward discussion of pertinent issues will be remembered for many years to come. 

Here are some clips of his hilarious and engaging performances:

"By the way, if anyone here is in advertising or marketing?.... Kill yourself."

Gays in the Military

"Play from your fucking heart"

Fundamentalist Christians, Fat Americans and Dinosaur Fossils

'War on Drugs'

One of the greatest discourses ever spoken:   It's Just a Ride

*Note: Bill died in 1994, notice how relevant his critiques are for today? Even the names of people and places (Bush, Iraq, fundamentalist Christians, etc.) are the same as the issues we face today. 

How far have we come? 

Are we still in the same place?

"Zeitgeist"

Click here to watch Zeitgeist, a movie available online with its creators encouraging people to organize free screenings of the film. Many important issues are brought up in this film, as well as some 'conspiracy theories'. 

Zeitgeist: the general moral, intellectual and cultural climate of an era; Zeitgeist is German for "time-spirit"; the spirit characteristic of an age or generation.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, "Is Islam Compatible With Liberal Democracy?"

Ayaan Hirsi Ali was brought up as a Muslim in Somalia but always had her questions and doubts about the faith as well as its practice. She never agreed with the unequal status of women in an Islamic environment and so when she was arranged to be married to a stranger she sought refuge in Holland. There, she was exposed to different ideas, people and worldviews. She attended university and eventually joined the Dutch government working on immigration issues, specifically the integration of immigrants into their new culture (one of the most pressing issues of our time). When she was in Denmark she teamed up with Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh to make a short film (click here to view) dealing with issues many women face within the Islamic faith (unequal status to men, physical, sexual and emotional abuse, etc) and it angered the Islamic community so much that Van Gogh was murdered in the street with a note stabbed into his chest warning Ali that she was next. 

Why so much anger when someone questions their faith? 

Click here to watch her talk about her book "Infidel" and whether she thinks Islam is compatible with liberal democracy. 

I really admire her courage and conviction in standing up and questioning the Islamic faith as well as its practice. However, her language and 'West is the Best' attitude might be more hurtful than helpful. She simply needs to extend her critique to every religion when she speaks, not only Islam, and Muslims might realize that she isn't attacking only their faith, but religion in general (particularly when there is violence in the name of 'faith'). But, that doesn't come across in this talk and some of her remarks will undoubtedly be taken the wrong way (particularly the 'War on Islam' comment).

Watch for yourself and think for yourself. 

"Bullshit" with Penn & Teller

Click here for an episode by the magician turned social critic duo Penn & Teller on the 'war on drugs'. 

Personally, this program rubs me the wrong way because of the incredibly aggressive approach they take on many important issues. Also, it usually lacks focus and does not build any real argument or thesis. They do not always provide where they get their 'data' and mostly rely on insulting interviewees to prove a point. This program, like everything else, needs to be viewed with a critical eye and questions like "Who are these guys?", "What are their backgrounds, educations, certification, experience in these fields that they are 'busting open'?" and "What is their motivation for arguing for or against certain issues?" should be running in the back of your mind. 

Always remember to question the author as well as the content.  

"The Unbeliever Knows His Koran Best"

Here are some lines from the Persian (modern day Iran) poet Omar Khayyam's (1048-1122) famous collection of poems called the Rubaiyat. They have been translated by many people, so there is speculation about the accuracy of these words reflecting Khayyam's true views of religion and God. Omar Khayyam was brought up Muslim and it is clear that he renounced the notion of an afterlife and of a Creator overseeing the Universe. He was also an astronomer, mathematician and philosopher. Enjoy!

The bird of life is singing on the bough

His two eternal notes of "I and Thou"--

O! hearken well, for soon the song sings through,

And, would we hear it, we must hear it now.

The bird of life is singing in the sun,

Short is his song, nor only just begun,--

A call, a trill, a rapture, then--so soon!--

A silence, and the song is done--is done.

Yea! what is man that deems himself divine?

Man is a flagon, and his soul the wine;

Man is a reed, his soul the sound therein;

Man is a lantern, and his soul the shine.

Would you be happy! hearken, then, the way:

Heed not To-morrow, heed not Yesterday;

The magic words of life are Here and Now--

O fools, that after some to-morrow stray!

Were I a Sultan, say what greater bliss

Were mine to summon to my side than this,--

Dear gleaming face, far brighter than the moon!

O Love! and this immortalizing kiss.

To all of us the thought of heaven is dear--

Why not be sure of it and make it here?

No doubt there is a heaven yonder too,

But 'tis so far away--and you are near.

Men talk of heaven,--there is no heaven but here;

Men talk of hell,--there is no hell but here;

Men of hereafters talk, and future lives,--

O love, there is no other life--but here.

Gay little moon, that hath not understood!

She claps her hands, and calls the red wine good;

O careless and beloved, if she knew

This wine she fancies is my true heart's blood.

Girl, have you any thought what your eyes mean?

You must have stolen them from some dead queen.

O little empty laughing soul that sings

And dances, tell me--What do your eyes mean?

And all this body of ivory and myrrh,

O guard it with some little love and care;

Know your own wonder, worship it with me,

See how I fall before it deep in prayer.

Nor idle I who speak it, nor profane,

This playful wisdom growing out of pain;

How many midnights whitened into morn

Before the seeker knew he sought in vain.

You want to know the Secret--so did I,

Low in the dust I sought it, and on high

Sought it in awful flight from star to star,

The Sultan's watchman of the starry sky.

Up, up, where Parwin's hoofs stamp heaven's floor,

My soul went knocking at each starry door,

Till on the stilly top of heaven's stair,

Clear-eyed I looked--and laughed--and climbed no more.

Of all my seeking this is all my gain:

No agony of any mortal brain

Shall wrest the secret of the life of man;

The Search has taught me that the Search is vain.

Yet sometimes on a sudden all seems clear--

Hush! hush! my soul, the Secret draweth near;

Make silence ready for the speech divine--

If Heaven should speak, and there be none to hear!

Yea! sometimes on the instant all seems plain,

The simple sun could tell us, or the rain;

The world, caught dreaming with a look of heaven,

Seems on a sudden tip-toe to explain.

Like to a maid who exquisitely turns

A promising face to him who, waiting, burns

In hell to hear her answer--so the world

Tricks all, and hints what no man ever learns.

Look not above, there is no answer there;

Pray not, for no one listens to your prayer;

Near is as near to God as any Far,

And Here is just the same deceit as There.

But here are wine and beautiful young girls,

Be wise and hide your Sorrows in their curls,

Dive as you will in life's mysterious sea,

You shall not bring us any better pearls.

Allah, perchance, the secret word might spell;

If Allah be, He keeps His secret well;

What He hath hidden, who shall hope to find?

Shall God His secret to a maggot tell?

So since with all my passion and my skill,

The world's mysterious meaning mocks me still,

Shall I not piously believe that I

Am kept in darkness by the heavenly will?

How sad to be a woman--not to know

Aught of the glory of this breast of snow,

All unconcerned to comb this mighty hair;

To be a woman and yet never know!

Were I a woman, I would all day long

Sing my own beauty in some holy song,

Bend low before it, hushed and half afraid,

And say "I am a woman" all day long.

The Koran! well, come put me to the test--

Lovely old book in hideous error drest--

Believe me, I can quote the Koran too,

The unbeliever knows his Koran best.

And do you think that unto such as you,

A maggot-minded, starved, fanatic crew,

God gave the Secret, and denied it me?--

Well, well, what matters it! believe that too.

Richard Dawkins lecture at UC Berkeley

Click here for a lecture by the British scientist and author Richard Dawkins outlining his major arguments against God and religion from his book The God Delusion. He is very well spoken, incredibly intelligent and funny. It's a great talk that will hopefully offer a different perspective on things that people usually accept as 'just the way things are'. 

God Debate between Christopher Hitchens and Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

Click here to watch a debate between Christopher Hitchens (a British/American writer) and Rabbi Shmuley Boteach concerning the existence of God and the validity of religion.

Christopher diCarlo Lecture "The Relations of Natural Systems"

Click here for a lecture by Christopher diCarlo, an Assistant Professor of Health Sciences and Criminology at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology called "The Relations of Natural Systems". DiCarlo is a strong advocate for free-thought, humanism and reason. It's a wonderful lecture, enjoy!

Evaluation of Cross Cultural Solutions Program Dharamsala, India May 3 - June 14, 2008

 by Pam Walls      

            The main purpose of this formal evaluation is for the CCS staff in New York, as well as in Delhi and Dharamsala, to be made clearly aware of the positive and negative aspects of the CCS program in Dharamsala. The volunteers who took part in the program over the six weeks that I was in Dharamsala (May 3rd to June 14th, 2008) expressed many grievances about their experience, as did I. This essay will allow me to clearly summarize what really goes on at the CCS program in Dharamsala, India. I will discuss the Pre-Departure and Preparation process, my placement at Anganwadi Sidhpur, Accommodation, CCS Dharamsala Staff, Cultural Activities and 'Perspectives Programming' and the cost of the program. I will then finish will several recommendations that I propose should be implemented into the CCS Dharamsala program.

       I hope this paper is taken seriously and is carefully read by staff members at all levels within CCS. I do not want to offend anybody, but certain things need to be brought to light in order for CCS to maintain its integrity as one of the world’s leading NGOs.

Pre-Departure and Preparation Process

      First, I will start with the Pre-Departure and Preparation for our placements. Sarah Pole was very attentive and informative during the pre-departure process. However, her advice/information was sometimes inappropriate or incorrect, ie telling me it would be okay to wear t-shirts and long pants to my placement which turned out to be incorrect. Needless to say I was left with a heavy suitcase full of shirts that I could not wear except for weekends. All in all, the predeparture process was well done and Sarah was always there to answer my questions.

       However, and this is a big however, almost every single volunteer expressed the great frustrations with not being fully prepared for their placements. While I understand that placements cannot be scheduled too far in advance, having only one week to prepare for your placement is just not enough time. Not only that, but during that one week there is hardly any real forewarning or explanation as to what will be expected of you at your placement. Furthermore, the ‘orientation’ in Delhi (there was no orientation in Dharamsala besides Anil giving a quick introduction to the program) did not provide us with proper tools or skills for our placements. I will discuss recommendations for a more informative and appropriate 'orientation' later on in the paper. I will now provide an example to help illustrate how incredibly blindsided most volunteers were with their placements:

                One volunteer named Jodi Johnson was told she would work with a local Youth Group and would discuss various issues that were important to them. Besides that cryptic and vague explanation she was not given much more information. So, she arrived at the Centre for her first day where she was placed in a small room with about 8-10 teenagers and young adults who sat on the floor and stared at her blankly waiting for her to do something. She was not told what was expected of her and she was not given any materials (and while I know there is a ‘resource room’, Jodi did not know exactly what she was getting into, so how would she know what materials she would need?) She eventually discovered that she was expected to teach English to this group of young people. Jodi has never taught before and was completely blindsided by this position. 

                However, she is a very resilient and intelligent person, so she rose to the challenge and worked very hard every night to prepare an hour and a half lesson every day for 6 weeks. This was not explained to her in advance and the workload that was expected from her was simply too much. Furthermore, there were several books in the ‘resource room’ that could have been of much use to her, yet they were never made known to her. After much digging through the shelves, she found the materials she needed all on her own without any help or guidance from the CCS staff. These materials (ie books specifically for teaching English to non-English speakers) should have been made known to Jodi on her first day and I am still confused as to why they were not readily available from the beginning. In sum, Jodi worked incredibly hard and eventually found the placement incredibly rewarding thanks to her wonderful class, but she received no pat on the back or recognition from any CCS staff member. Her dedication and hard work were never recognized and this was an incredible shame.

My Placement: Anganwadi Sidhpur

        I would like to stress how much I enjoyed my placement at the Sidhpur daycare. The women who work there are wonderful, although there was a frustrating language barrier between us. I tried my personal best to learn as much Hindi before coming to India, as well as setting up my own lessons with Monica (this was not offered to us, I made the initiative to have these lessons). However, it would help everyone (the children, volunteers and workers) if the women were offered English lessons as well. I will discuss that idea further in the Recommendations section.

        I was very fortunate to have known the wonderful children at Sidhpur. They gave me so much joy and made me grow as a person. I remembered what it was like to be a child and I will carry the wonderful moments that I had with them forever.

Accommodation

       The accommodation at Dharamsala was very nice and very comfortable. However, some of the volunteers expressed that it was almost too nice and almost felt that our 'luxurious' housing put us on some sort of pedestal above other community members. I will discuss this further in the Recommendations section.

CCS Dharamsala Staff

         Now I want to be very honest and clear in this section because I believe it is the most crucial point: the integrity of the Dharamsala staff. I left my CCS program 2 weeks early almost primarily because of clashes with the Dharamsala staff, and in particular the Program Director Anil. It is quite a long story about what happened between he and I, so I will try to clearly summarize it here:

          I was made aware of a child in Deb Jarrett's daycare who had severe burns on his arms and that the Anganwadi worker said that they were not an accident, but that they were a form of punishment. So, during Deb's feedback interview with Anil, she told him about the young boy and he brushed her off. When I spoke with Anil afterward, I asked about the boy and he claimed that Deb never brought up the subject (which was not true), so I asked him to look into the situation. He promised me that he would go to the daycare to see what was going on within the next few days, but he made sure to tell me that 'these things' are not the community's business and that it is the sole concern of the parents.

         So, over the next week whenever I would ask Anil if he went to the daycare he would say that he hadn't because he didn't have enough time. A few days later, he said that he went, but that the young boy was not there and that he had not been there for several days. It seemed as though he felt the subject was closed, but I continued to press the issue as I felt nothing had been resolved or even really looked into.

         I set up another meeting with Anil and told him very clearly that something needed to be done. A child is clearly being abused in one of your Partner Programs (and the fact that he was being abused was confirmed by a doctor several weeks later) and yet Anil was not interested or affected in the slightest. As far as I am concerned, it should have been a top priority for CCS because this was a clear opportunity for the organization to invoke 'positive social change'. However, Anil had the attitude that this was none of our business and in fact told me to stop asking 'why' and to 'not fight the system'. This was a hard blow to me because I signed up with CCS on the basis that the organization was a pioneer for social change and one that would challenge a static system that condones or ignores violence and violations against basic human rights.

          So, after many frustrating and fruitless conversations with Anil, primarily concerning the young child with burns on his arms, I felt helpless and trapped and knew that my time with CCS was done. I felt like I was not in fact a catalyst for social change, but that I was seen simply as a 'development tourist' who "should come to have fun and not really try to change anything" (as Anil said to me in one of our meetings). Anil sees the CCS program in Dharamsala almost as a 'summer camp' for adults. He enjoys playing games with the volunteers, but never engages in real discussions with them. He has the opportunity to evoke real dialogue and discussion with many Westerners, yet seems uninterested most of the time. This was probably the most frustrating and disappointing aspect of the program.

           The general mentality of the CCS staff in Dharamsala is that they are running a business. Lalit, Anil's assistant, is not an educator, an activist, a development worker. His sole purpose of being there is to schedule people and keep the business running smoothly. He is a very uninspiring person and is extremely condescending to the volunteers and to the female CCS staff members. In fact, both he and Anil (as well as most of the male staff members) interact with the female volunteers in a very flirtatious way. They are not 'father figures' in the slightest. However, the female staff workers are treated as if they are the least important members of the team. One time, Lalit was teasing a female volunteer who got so fed up with him that she threw water on him. Instead of him cleaning it up, or asking the volunteer to clean it up, he made Monica come and wipe down the table and the benches while he continued to finish his lunch. This mentality of intimidation and condescension towards females is always present and quite unsettling.

            Needless to say, there was not very much 'meaningful cultural exchange' between the staff and volunteers. Most volunteers had to try very hard to have any sort of real discussion with any staff member (ie setting up their own meetings with Anil or trying to catch a staff member when they were not busy), yet the staff members hardly ever asked us about our own culture, or families, or opinions on various things. With this being said I would like to note that there were several very helpful and kind staff members, such as Vicki, Monica, Anju, Mukesh, Lalu and Pummi. They are wonderful people whom I respect very much. Monica and Anju helped me with my Hindi, Vicki was always there for anybody who needed him and Mukesh, Lalu and Pummi are very hard workers who deserve more recognition.

Cultural Activities and ‘Perspectives Programming’

         While the idea of 'Perspectives Programming' is wonderful in theory and on paper, it simply did not transcend into real learning experiences. While some activities were very interesting and highly rewarding (ie Jaya's discussion about various issues in India and the talk with a Buddhist Lama), the majority of activities were more like field trips in the sense that the staff members were our chaperons and were not engaged at all. For example, we went to see the Kangra Fort and were simply given a hand out to explain what we were looking at, but it was completely nonsensical and was written in such broken English that I had no idea of the history of the fort. We were basically dropped off there so that we could take pictures and the staff could check it off their list. Another example is Anil's 'lecture' on the education system in India which was not a lecture at all, but more of a casual description. He did not bring any notes or seem prepared in any way and did not create an environment where the volunteers felt comfortable enough to engage in a discussion (he is very intimidating and most volunteers were generally afraid to ask questions or challenge what he says).

           Another complaint made by several volunteers was that there were not enough activities because after the first 3 weeks they simply repeat themselves. Since I was signed up for 8 weeks, I felt extremely cheated because I was under the impression that there would be many various activities to choose from throughout my entire stay. Therefore, I did not repeat the activities that I had already done, so for the last part of my stay I simply did not have any 'Perspectives Programming' activities.

           Another complaint was that other activities throughout the community were not made known to us. For example, on one of the last days that I was in Dharamsala I discovered that the Tibetan Library offered free classes on Buddhist philosophy every morning. This, and other interesting activities were never made known to us and this was very unfortunate. In fact, some volunteers, myself included, felt that Anil and Lalit's animosity toward the Tibetan community (because they feel that the Tibetans get all the money, the best houses, motorcycles, etc.) was the main reason we were not made aware of such activities. In fact, the first day we were in Dharamsala, Anil made sure to express the supposed animosity between Indians and Tibetans. However, I never witnessed this contempt within the community, but it was apparent from Anil and Lalit. In fact, on one of
our excursions Lalit went so far as to say that "no one wants them here. We want them to go back to Tibet."

Cost of the Program

           This was perhaps one of the greatest concerns of the volunteers, as well as myself. I strongly believe that participants of the Dharamsala program are greatly over-charged. Many people supported me financially in this endeavour and I don't think it was necessary to have to fund over $4300 to participate in this program. Besides food, accommodation, transport and staff salaries there are no other expenses to be covered. If there are consistently 15-20 volunteers and they each pay at least $2000 then the CCS Dharamsala program make an incredible amount of money. I understand that some money goes to 'administration' costs, but even so with the exchange rate into Rupees, there just is no way that it should cost as much as it does. If someone can give me a detailed run down of where exactly those thousands of dollars go, it would be much appreciated. I tried to ask Anil where exactly all the money goes and he said that the NY office takes a huge chunk of it. He said that he writes up a 'budget' and is given however much money he needs from the NY office. I will explore this further in the Recommendations section.

Recommendations

Orientation: Full Day Workshops

            There is a definite need for a more thorough and placement-specific orientation upon arrival in Dharamsala. The orientation in Delhi is interesting and well-done, but it is an introduction to India as a whole and does not delve into what is expected of us at our specific placements nor does it offer skills or training for those placements. There should be full-day workshops in Dharamsala specifically aimed and garnered for the various placements (ie the workshop for daycare workers would be different from those placed in a school). This is extremely critical for the Anganwadi workers because from the moment a child is born until about the age of 6 is the most crucial time for the development of a human being. This is the time that social, emotional and physical developments occur and these need to be properly nurtured. Even the most well-intentioned person can have very serious negative effects on the development of a child simply because they were not properly trained.

English Lessons for Workers at Placements and Hindi Lessons for Volunteers

              It would benefit everyone if extra daily Hindi lessons were offered to all volunteers as well as somehow allowing the women of the anganwadis to learn English. Perhaps the volunteers could teach conversational English to the women once a week (or more) which would help the volunteers with their Hindi (for translation) as well as help the women to learn our language (meaningful cultural exchange). While it is true that a few Hindi lessons are offered the first week there should be daily or weekly continuous Hindi lessons so that the language barrier comes down even more.

More Feedback Sessions

          Plain and simple, there were not nearly enough feedback sessions and the ones that were offered were fruitless and frustrating. There should be weekly group feedback sessions as well as individual meetings for those not comfortable speaking in a group. This was one of the biggest issues as many of us would congregate almost on a daily basis to discuss issues that concerned us. However, such discussions are pointless if the ones in charge are not made known of such grievances. Before I left, I attempted to have a feedback circle with all the volunteers who were leaving as a kind of 'wrap up' and Anil agreed. However, when it came time for the meeting he had already left the office and was nowhere to be found.

           These do not always need to be formal group sessions because there are so many opportunities for the staff to engage with us and to listen to our concerns in an informal manner. With that said, such casual dialogue was a rare occurrence as staff members were either too busy or absent or would not take the concerns seriously.

Accommodation

             I believe that we should have been 'roughing' it a little more and not had re-stocked cookies, full-length mirrors and so on in our housing. Such things are unnecessary and made our house seem more like a hotel, with daily housekeepers constantly picking up after us. I do not think that volunteers really need such 'pampering' and that if such luxuries were minimized then the cost of the program would undoubtedly drop therefore allowing more people to participate in the program.

Independent CCS Supervisor

           I strongly believe that in order for this NGO to maintain its integrity there needs to be some sort of independent supervision mechanism put in place to oversee each program's proposed 'budget' and where exactly that budget is allocated. In this way, the cost of programs would inevitably drop because right now it is simply too expensive. In this way, there could be a clear and concise run down of where funds go creating a more transparent flow of money. In addition, the amount of money that is allocated for the NY and Toronto offices should be clearly explained and drawn out for every volunteer to see. In short, CCS needs more transparency and clarification as to where exactly our money goes. In addition, this CCS Supervisor could assess the integrity and effectiveness of the various programs around the world. Dharamsala runs without any type of oversee besides weekly phone calls to the Delhi office (although not everything that goes on is discussed, ie the situation with the boy with burns on his arms). And because of this there is no sense of accountability for the Dharamsala staff and they are left to run the program however they see fit which sometimes does not coincide with the foundational principles of CCS (ie as a catalyst for positive social change).

           While I acknowledge that there is a run-down of allocation of funds on the CCS website, it is very general and supposedly applies to every program around the world. I want to know specifically how much money is allocated where and for what without general terms such as "administrative and other" and "travel medical insurance and hotline".

Reassessment of CCS Dharamsala Staff

            I am going to be very honest and frank in this section. I simply do not believe that Anil is the best choice for Program Director of CCS in Dharamsala. When I asked him what his motivations were for becoming PD he said that he was "burnt out at his other job." His previous employment was as an electronics engineer. He has no working or volunteer experience in community development, international relations, etc. Nor does he have any educational background in the area of 'development'. The position that he maintains with CCS is one that many people strive for and have put great effort in order to gain the qualifications and credentials so as to be given such a position. Anil simply does not have the background, the motivation or the passion to be Program Director. I would like to know the reasons for choosing him as PD, besides the fact that he is Bela Singh's brother.
 
        The Dharamsala CCS Staff have an unbalanced female:male ratio where men are the majority. The women workers, Monica and Anju, are viewed as the least important members of the staff and are not given many responsibilities. The men have the 'higher' positions and dominate any and every discussion. I believe that more women should be involved with the Dharamsala program and should be given more authority.

Minimum Length of Program

        I strongly believe, as many other volunteers do, that the minimum length of time that volunteers must commit to the program should be extended. Personally, I think it should be extended to 6 months rather than 3 weeks. A period of 3 weeks is simply not enough time to even begin to understand the culture within which you find yourself. Volunteers expressed the feeling that it felt like they were ripped out of their lives, thrown into a completely different world and then once they began to understand what they were experiencing they were ripped right back out and plopped back into their homes. One driver I had in Delhi said that "It takes a lifetime to even begin to understand India" and I agree. While we cannot ask volunteers to commit to a lifetime, we should definitely extend the 3 week minimum. Such an extension would benefit the volunteers and community greatly because it would allow volunteers to really become part of that community and some real change might be possible. Any 'positive social change' is simply impossible to occur in such a short period of time because relationships built on trust are just barely beginning to bloom.

Side note: it should be noted that almost every single volunteer became violently ill at the Dharamsala CCS program. Most had to be taken to the hospital and all had to buy medicine to help their sickness. Such an occurrence should not take place, considering we all got our proper vaccinations and we were supposedly getting safe, clean meals every day from the CCS cooking staff. Almost all of us got sick when we were very rarely eating meals outside of the CCS office. Such a thing should be investigated because of the fact that we are paying so much money for clean, safe food and all evidence suggests that we were not given properly handled food. This, however, is just my opinion, but the fact that every volunteer got violently sick should be looked into.

Conclusion

            All in all, I am very grateful for my experience with CCS. I learned so much, about myself and about how an NGO really works in every day life as opposed to how they are described in textbooks. I made many lifelong friends among the other volunteers and will carry many precious memories that I experienced with them, as well as with staff members and everyone at Anganwadi Sidhpur. I still truly believe in the values and foundational philosophy upon which CCS was built and hope that from this report the program in Dharamsala, India can return to those principles.