The Student And Apostle Peter

Yesterday night I was reading a story by Chekov again- “The student.” I like his writing. In his stories, he often mentions his character’s full name like, if I remember Anna Sergeyevna in “Lady With The Dog.” When I read this story, in my middle school sometime, I instantly liked it. It is unusual. Even Vladimir Navokov considered it one of the best stories of all time. When I read those difficult Russian last names, I remember my father. When I introduce to him my friends, they often just tell their first names and my father almost always, immediately asks their last names. It is culturally very relative, I guess. Reading about nineteenth century Russian setting as a hobby is strange but it is worth it. I tell you what- Russian story writers are the best in the world.

“The Student” seems a cheesy story at first but when you read it twice, it becomes interesting. A Student comes back from bird hunting, tired and melancholic. He sees two women, one old and one young, both widow. They live in what people call- Widow’s house. They are sitting around a fire. The student tells them a bible story. Peter, a disciple of Jesus,  often called “Rock” who did know forehand he would deny Jesus three times, was probably also doing the same thing the night before Jesus Crucifixion.  He was scared, confused of his own skin. Sitting around in a fire with Jesus he promised not to betray but I fell short. Nevertheless, he became the one of the greatest saint of Jesus. He denied Jesus. Later on he was filled with remorse, and went out and cried bitterly.

The student tries to find connection between Peter 1900 years ago and him. The women, one who is ugly was ignoring the student but when he was so enthusiastically listening to the guy telling the story, she is silent and attentive. The older woman starts to cry…

The women probably would have heard or read that particular story so many times before, but they are touched by the story this time.  Chekov later in the story describes the moment as of unexplainable, mystic moment of joy, happiness and strange hope. Something that happened in the past has relation in the present and the future. The student gets enlightened when he is returning back to his home in that wintery night. As Chekov writes- life to him seems to be enchanting, marvelous, and full of lofty meaning.

Just in a moment around a fire, in a cold wintery night, the old widow who begins to cry, sees something in his story that is relevant to her past, present, and hopefully future. The young widow’s face looks like she is in pain but hiding it. The student, Ivan Velikoplosky, connects himself to Peter, a follower, who was scared to announce it in front of all, but within him was fire and the foundation of the church reserved for future.

When Peter told ‘Jesus stories’, many people must have been touched and believed, just like the student touched the widow’s soul. The student goes away in strange happiness, in hope of better future. A great story is nothing but what a great story utters in great excitement. It could be repetitive and familiar; nonetheless it has tremendous potential, a possible greatness in making.

The Understanding Of Homosexuality To Me, Then and Now

Back in Nepal, one day I was walking near Ratna Park. After Maoist terrorist came in power, they change the name of the park to Nepal park or something, I can’t think of now. It was in the busiest part of the city. It was a place for people to sell cigarettes, peanuts, pani-puri, chat-pate. Few fortune tellers, the psychics would always be there, though, they didn’t know their own fortune, they were sitting in rags, didn’t even have decent chair to sit on. Few Indian magicians were showing magic. So I was just there to escape my college nearby, where demonstration was going on, and police and students were throwing rocks at each other.  

The magician as was performing, a circle of people had formed. It was so crowded that people were pushing each other just to get a peek at him, as the magician was cutting a live human body, taking out his pumping heart in his hand and putting it back successfully. I saw it with my own eyes, there was no curtain to hide, no side to cover, no helper except the slain boy himself to help him. It was simply magic. Long story short… As I was trying to push myself in front of the crowd, people were distracted by a fight, a beating, I rather say, close by. Turned out that- a muscular man was beating the blood out of one poor skinny man.

“You gay,” he yelled “if you wanted something, you could have asked me something taking me to side….he puts his hand in my pocket, not to pick pocket but to touch my …”

Then few men joined to beat him more. The poor guy was bleeding, trying to convince everyone, pleading, asking for mercy—he didn’t do it, he was pushed, his hands slipped and touched the other guy’s private parts. But nobody listened; they beat him till he was not able to stand up. He stopped denying. He was just wiping blood out of his face when finally a cop showed up with a baton, remember then? Constable used to carry just a silly baton. When the constable heard the story, he said- “You stupid gay! Homo! I know you; you did not find anyone at night that you start attacking people at daylight…don’t beat him no more... he will die…you dog! Homo! Pervert…”

The policeman grabbed the guy by his shirt collar and dragged him away.

Till that time I had no clue what homosexuality was. Not many people knew in Nepal. The homosexuals were in hiding, would only come out at night, at dark and police usually chased them, sometime were killed in cold blood. When I saw that, my heart wept for him, I wanted to help the poor guy, but there were so many people jumping on him, I could not physically or in any other ways, could have defended him. There was so much hatred in people about homosexuality. The whole incident, I know for sure, happened in an act of venting anger and hate; and nothing serious had happened. I felt very helpless that day, had a very strange feeling. Why would God make such people, and if he did, why would he call pronounce them sinners? How is a homosexual responsible for being such, if he is responsible? Has he no senses? Does he not feel pain when surrounded by people and getting beat? How is he a lower lever citizen, a sinner, a pervert, an abnormal in the crowd of consensus straight people? Why does he deserve to be hated, beaten, can’t have a decent life, can’t have family? Not only that, damned to the hell? For eternity? For being born? I was helpless just like the protagonist in movie “The Girl Next Door,” I wanted to help but I was helpless myself. I remained silent and watched the act, rather curiously.

Lot of things has happened since then. Now the homosexuals can freely walk and talk. They have a homosexual representative in Nepal’s House of Representatives. The world’s view has significantly changed about homosexual since 2003 when this happened. Still people are condemned for being a homosexual. People are blinded by faith, religions, dogmas, stupid traditions, their sense of justice, their convinced thought of they are superior to other kind of people, may it be of religion, country, race, tribe, belief system, or a mere orientation on sexuality. Even US is now overwhelmed with a speech from a politician. They elected a foreign born, black, Muslim, communist, gay president. They feel betrayed now. I read on somebody’s Facebook yesterday-Don’t take peoples word when they are in love, or drunk or running for office. How true. He has no religion, no moral, no political philosophy, no standard of his own, and so is true about any politicians. Their whole philosophy, and holy mantra is “by hook or crooks, let’s get to the chair (office)”. In the wake of his gay speech, I remember this Ratna park incident and I feel for all genuine (no fake) gays and transgender, however, marriage is a different issue. Homosexual are people too and we should love them. People of all religions, Christians, Muslims, Hindus! Whoever you are... you all think your position on homosexuality is supported by God? I think not. What will make you consider the idea? What will make you wonder? When your wives give birth to a gay child?

It Is Election TIme

This is election year in US. The first US presidential election I began to pay attention was: Gore VS Bush. It was a shameless nude dance in the face of American; for many weeks they recounted votes, debated, argued, regretted on their famous and always controversial “electoral and popular vote system”, while the whole world was amazed to find out that even America, the ‘democratic messiah of the world’ failed blatantly to elect the president. So much politics was involved. I hated politics and will always hate it. Churches, temples, holy people, scriptures all claim that they are put up there by GOD, for future purposes. Philosophically, if that was the case, there is no point in arguing, babbling and complaining about why Obama supports gay marriage now publicly. It must be God’s ultimate purpose, uncovering like a lotus flower in mud, may something hidden be unhidden and God will be glorified.

My thing is simple- politics is the dirtiest game ever existed, and politicians are shameless, valueless, immoral, opportunistic hyenas. They will sell even their own daughters to be elected for the‘Office’, just like Obama did today. It is another question if he changed his position because of something else but he changed his stand due to his daughter’s friends from same sex parents and his staffs and marines who are supposedly in ‘monogamous’relationship. What a joke!

Same sex marriage was not the central issue this time. It is not the real debate. Please read ‘between the lines’-it’s the election time. In America, nowadays, there are more people (votes) supporting gay marriage than opposing it. It has significantly increased in last four years. This is one of the many examples of politicians throwing out their dices. Al Qaida document publication, capture of few terrorist, supposedly increased job rate, decreased oil prices, improved economy and so on...to name a few, everything is smoothly happening now. A few more of these things will happen. An average man with some common sense will know what going on. Most American will take this as an opportunity to explore; to enjoy forbidden fruit- no complains….human nature is such. Politics is the worst thing can happen to good people. Everyone will be corrupted by it.

Most Americans are calling it a landmark while many Christian hearts are sad today. For many, Obama just has stabbed them in the back. I think if Jesus already said that he is all the authority, in here, there and everywhere, there no need to respect any politicians. That if anyone does, I consider him idolater of new kind. Jesus didn’t respect any tax collector in the temple, neither he bow down to Ceaser, nor he offered any apology to Pilate. Bible has been modified, edited, translated numerous times. All the writers, translators, inspired apostles acted politically, if I may use that word, in some way, to make the book valid, updated and adjusted, to make it acceptable and correct in contemporary political, social, economic and cultural beliefs. Examples—rise of Roman Catholicism, Issue of circumcision, Baptism, discussion about including and not including certain texts, Revelation being a prime example, and issues like slavery.

For Jesus, like me, all the politicians, tax collectors, priests are all hypocrites, opportunistic snakes, doing hanky-panky jobs in God’s house. For non-Christians- it is not difficult to understand, it is almost expected from any one in that position to say such things. I mean any politicians would take a chance on right times. Homosexual are also God- made people. Marriage is a different issue, however. Laws in different countries in the world may have different laws about marriage but we all know what marriage is. Someone who is voluntarily ignorant is the toughest to educate. I have seen many homosexuals and for many years I struggled to find answers about if homosexuals are really born “that way”. It will always be a controversial issue. We need more open time to discuss that in detail.

Sorry Health Care System

Sitting in that hospital room, I thought about an incident long time ago, about 9 years, I would say. I took one of my cousins to hospital, to get his ear checked up. He was having hearing problems. Bir Hospital, we went, bought a Rs 10 ticket and got his clogged ear cleaned. I had to pretend and lie to the doctor in the ENT that I was a Doctor doing internship there to get ahead in the line, but it was merely an action in struggle for live, performing "survival of the fittest." We stood in line for few hours, but it was finished and he came home happy, and for many years he thanked me.

Today I live in America, arguably the richest and most sophisticated country, perhaps the most advanced country in medicine yet when I go with an earache to a hospital; I have to come back with a chest pain. I go to the doctor because over the weekend I had such a terrible, strange earache that I never before. The doctor looked at it couple of time with a machine, and performs a “hearing test”. I had to repeat after her: hotdogs, airplane, boy, germs, tennis. Neither she found any wax, nor infection or anything wrong at all, sent me with - "Come back if the pain does not disappear."

Outside, the nurse was waiting for my credit card. “Your insurance does not cover hearing test. I need to collect $150 for hearing test and another $50 for co-pay and may be $500 will come by, in mail, in a week.” My heart started to hurt more than my ear. I thought- what a pity, what a shame for such system of treatment in this country? what a poorer guy will do? Die of ear ache? Mess up his credit so he can live in poverty all his life? Die of shame because he could not take care of his children? Go live under a bridge? I am tired of people, in hospitals, considering and treating a sick person as a source of money. They see human body like Humphrey Bogart thinks of gold in “Treasure of Sierra Madre”. They make those sick people fill unlimited insurance questions, paperwork, not to mention their form was computerized, PDA style, fancy electronic, and had a survey at the end. A poor dying person, irritated already, angered by rude nurses, frustrated by not so courteous fellow patients, why would care about the quality of their information collecting system? It was adding insult to the already boiling irritation caused by their stupidity. I thought of Munna Bhai for a little bit, a good message in a sense, of love not just medicine. I thought about little Jenson and his parents, I thought about Subash my cousin brother, who died of brain tumor and my aunt who I could not face because every time I went to see her, in me, she would see her own son and weep. The agony, burden of such things, before which my silly complain seems stupid, is very hard to explain in religious terms. Nothing better can be said other than “God had better plans for you”

 I was angry with my parents for a while because they did not tell me how wicked, crooked and materialistic this world is. I have found this world is full of con men, cheaters, robbers, liars, thieves, killers, rappers and many more opportunistic jackals. It is a place of arrogant, stupid animals trying to become richer, prestigable, and stronger than others, so that they are glorified of their qualities, richness, speeches, money and what not. They lied to me saying, this world is good, full of honest, humble, spiritual people and God intervenes, time and again to help them, in his divine forms, one way or another.

Even Rana’s in Nepal established Bir Hospital. It has served many middle class families. Although it was slow and closed at ‘political times,’ it was better than private hospitals and clinics in Nepal where I would take my  grandmother, who would in the end complain and argue with the doctor when he asked for Rs200, in her own words- “just to touch a wrist twice”. Health care in America is worse than most, if not the worst. I repeat- worse than many third world countries. It is sad and ironic. If you ask me today I will tell you--not HIV, not Hepatitis nor Leprosy but poverty is the greatest disease of all, before ignorance. Health mostly is just luck, and No, I won't lie to myself, God intervening days are gone, I wish of it, of course, but alas it the bitter truth- Only a sufferer knows the pain, as they say --only Khukuri will feel resistance of Karda and Karda will feel the blow of Khukuri.

 slxn] cfpF5f} <

s/];fdf kbrfk t ;'G5'

t/ leq slxn] cfpF5f} <

Joyf nfu]sf] d'6'n] h:t}

9f]sf slxn] 9s9sfp5f} <

xNnf t lgs} 5 ;x/df

slxn] e]6\g cfFp5f} <
w'nf]df ldNg cfFl6;s]

bz{g slxn] lbnfp5f} <

d]/f] d'6'df lk8f x'Fbf

ltd|f] ;kgf lalu|G5 ls <
ltd|} gfddf /ft latfpFbf

st} af8'lNs kf] nfU5 ls <

st} >[li6sf] cgsG6f/ z"Godf

cgluGtL x?jfdf´

Pp6f ?~r] 7fg]/

c?lrsf] efjn]

s'l6n d':s'/fp5f} ls <

d]/f] k|]ddf vf]6 b]v]/

c1fgLsf] lh2L b]v]/

k/}af6 af6f] 5n]/ kf] lx8\5f} ls <

dfG5]x?s} le8df

;a} xfF;]sf] b]V5' ,

;a} afr]sf] b]V5',

ltdLnfO{ glrg]/ klg,

;a} afr]s} b]V5',

s] u¥of} d]/f] d'6'df

t[i0ff t ltd|} u5{'

kfkLx?sf] o; ;+;f/df

cfzf t ltd|} u5{' ,

cf;' ;'ls ;Sbf klg

ltd|} ;Dk"0f{tfsf] e/f];f u5{' ,

d'6'sf] x/]s ysf{Odf

ltd|} gfdsf] dfbn ahfFp5' .

d]/f] k|f0f, d]/f] lk|o

x[bosf] dlGb/df ;hf“p5' 

klv{/xG5' lk|o,

s/];fdf kbrfk t ;'G5'

t/ leq slxn] cfpF5f} <

Joyf nfu]sf] d'6'n] h:t}

9f]sf slxn] 9s9sfp5f} <

April 12 ,2012