Tag Archives: human rights

Every Bomb Dropped Is A Failure Of The Imagination!

14 Monday Jul 2014

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The current situation in Middle East is disturbing. Every bomb dropped is a failure of imagination and is against humanity.

Release.

An injured child during Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012.

Israel has, for the third time in just five years, commenced a major bombing operation on the Gaza strip. Over a hundred and fifty Palestinians have been killed, most of them civilians. As it was the last three times, my response is sorrow and anger — a strangely physical sensation of anger as a burning in my chest.

It’s easy, even for someone such as myself, who has been following the conflict for years with resignation, to look first at the political significance of the conflict and the strategic policy goals of the war and how it affects the broader conflict.

That’s not what we should be thinking about right now. We should remember instead what war means: it means destruction and death. It means homes destroyed, lives snuffed out; children crushed to death by falling buildings; amputations, hearing loss, perforated…

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Inclusion as Solution!

01 Saturday Dec 2012

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We live in a world that is constantly dividing people into categories; categories that put people against each other.  The most prevailing category that has had detrimental effects on human relationships is ‘us vs. them’.   This category has become a defining characteristic of human interactions. People with similar beliefs/ideas/views stick together and take positions against those who have different beliefs/ideas/views.

The ‘us vs. them’ approach has led human -beings to war, abuse and violence in history of man- kind.  This approach has been practiced in many various levels; including international, national, social, personal and relational relationships for many ages. It feels as if this approach is part of the fabrication of our culture and nature. It is so embedded in our social cultural contexts that manifests itself in every interaction we make with one another.

The ‘us vs them’ approach has brought exclusion, separation, suffering and isolation to human relationships.  It has made us experience further misery, resentment and trauma generations after generations.

I am wondering about moments of connection between opposite parties/groups when we felt and had experiences of deeper understanding of one another. Do you recall those moments in your life?  I believe that experiences of connection and inclusion lead to further innovation, creativity and growth in human relationships.

Undoing the effects of the ‘us vs them’ approach on human beings requires awareness, reflection and collaboration. It needs our persistence and patience.   Reconstructing human relationships, in any scale, needs our collective efforts to create and seize possibilities/ opportunities to become more inclusive and practice ‘Inclusion’ in relationships.

Our political, cultural, social views/ beliefs/ideas are to remain in our lives and they will be part of our daily conversational discourses. Our differences will get wider and further escalated when we apply the ‘us vs them’ approach in every situation of conflict.

Being open to ‘others’ and understanding ‘different ideas/views/ beliefs may help us become more engaged with one another in a more inclusive fashion.  Making efforts in seeing matters from different angles/points of views may invite us to acknowledge contribution made and it would deepen our understanding of situations.  Staying away from ‘the us vs them approach’ will allow us to hear each other differently and discover more common grounds with others.

Inclusion brings everyone together, invites everyone from all walks of life to join the conversation. Inclusion is The only way!

Happy Possibilities!

Tahereh Barati, M.A, RMFT

Patriarchy and Honour Killing!

02 Thursday Feb 2012

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The practice of ‘honour killing’ has been around for many many centuries. The origin of ‘honour killings’ and the control of women are evidenced throughout history in the culture and tradition of many regions.

Honour killing is rooted in patriarchy.  ‘Honour killing’ is an unjust act; it is a justification for the selfish egocentric act when men’s power is challenged, and it is a calculated response to eliminate ones who disobey traditional norms.

Patriarchy is a social system in which the male gender role as the primary authority figure is central to social organization, and where fathers hold authority over women, children, and property. It implies the institutions of male rule and privilege and entails female subordination. (Wikipedia)

Patriarchy is an unjust social system that is oppressive to women. The right to live for women and children in families and communities is conditional to their obeying social and cultural norms and traditions.

Western societies have come a long way to establishing an egalitarian social system that honours gender differences and respects the right to live for every person in society and families.   Under the practice of the rule of law, patriarchy became less and less apparent and more and more restricted and limited in social interactions!

It is important to acknowledge that many social movements have played an important role in the reduction of patriarchy in western societies. Social movements such as human rights movement, the feminist movement and anti- oppression movement.

I believe there is a need for a global movement against patriarchy. Without intensive collective actions against patriarchy, ‘honour killing’ may continue in many different societies.

We need to begin a talk on the role of patriarchy in establishment and maintenance of tyrannies in the world. Tyranny and Patriarchy! Yes, they are linked together and feed each other off.

I believe that we need to put our acts and efforts together to aim and dismantle ‘patriarchy’.  Dismantling patriarchy doesn’t require wars, it doesn’t require strong military actions but it does require a grand vision. A vision that promotes peace, liberty and human rights among people despite any differences in gender, race, sexual orientation and religion…

Let’s ‘think globally and act locally’ to tackle patriarchy!

Happy Possibilities!