Global Ethics and Universal Values: Resounding Echoes of Humanity By Hillol Ray Garland, Texas, USA Web Site: [link removed]
In the context of globalization, moral clarity And intellectual accuracies are the vital source- And these are now needed in every judgment, Around the globe, on the use of brutal force! Premeditated act of terror is nothing less than a crime Against humanity for sure- And we must confront this sickness of mind With strong determination for humanity to endure!
Pressure of world events and “political tattooing” Keep me awake in each and every night- While my worries about global ethics And universal values engage in a mental fight! Values of peace, freedom, equal rights, and human dignity Still lie under the shadow of a “Hillorious” doubt- And the abominable acts of hegemonic powers continue To undermine global peace or lash out!
As per “H-Ray Vision”, in this age of globalization, Global ethics and universal values are in dire need- To create awareness about our common values, Without resorting to violence, and sow the compliance seed! We can reap the benefits of globalization If and when we deploy the global ethics in a bind- But I sense an anxiety in “Hillolsphere”, because of mistrust, Spinning the fibers of hegemonic mind! New stresses and dislocations seem to appear daily On this planet from dusk till dawn- And the universal values are being trampled over often In the array of shrewd political pawn!
Globalization has brought us closer in a sense That we are all affected by the actions of each other- But not in the sense that we all share benefits And burdens, left by war or our forefather! As per “H-Ray Tracking”, we have allowed it consciously To drive us further apart in the daily survival game- And increased the disparities in wealth with power, Both between societies and within them! Undoubtedly, this makes a mockery of global ethics And universal values, the bedrock of human rights- And the backlash seems to be creeping on the vines Of culture of impunity under the darkest lights!
“Hillolscope” today reveals the disillusions With globalization, protectionism, and fear- ’Cause we seem to be in danger of living in an age Of mutual distrust, and turning inwards every year! Certainly this will lead us to conflicting values And encourage people with a narrower mind- To exclude some of their fellow human beings From their empathy followed by examples to find! The world has seen the disastrous consequences, Brought in by such value systems in our time- And faced ethnic cleansing, genocide, and terrorism With loss of human lives, like nickel and dime! Suspicion, harassment, and discrimination have begun To grow and escalated to hostility or violence- While the clash of civilizations started in a subtle way Resulting in bloodbaths on both side of the fence!
In “Hillolian Flow” of thoughts, universal values Require us to recognize human characteristics better, And show respect for human dignity and sensitivity In people of other communities now, and not later! Remember, ethical codes are the expression of an ideal And a true inalienable aspiration as well- And it’s a “Hillomorphic” standard by which moral failings Can be judged where our future will dwell! “Hillologue” suggests for preparation to let others define Their own identity, and we must not insist on classifying them- However well meaningful, by our own criteria, Instead of dragging them for a win under political game! If we believe in individual rights, we must recognize The identity, in spite of diversity of individual sense- ’Cause the sense of belonging to one or more groups, Concentric or intersecting, create the decision real tense! Thus, the rights of an individual include the right To emphasize and express solidarity in fairest way- With others who share this or that aspect Of individual’s identity, and prevent any sway! Commitment to non-violence, tolerance, and equal rights Between men and women is indeed a difficult task- And we must expect the differences to continue For a long time – between societies under a veil or mask! The function of these resounding echoes of universal values Is not to eliminate all such differences amongst us- But rather to manage them with mutual respect, And without resorting to destruction or obscene fuss!
To achieve “H-Ray Effect”, tolerance and dialogues In today’s world are an essential tool- ’Cause without them, exchange of ideas will stop To arrive at solutions and get a pull! Each society should be given the space, not to distort Or undermine the universal values for sure- And allow them to express in a “Hillominous” way to reflect Its own culture or traditions of healing and cure! Those who preach values of economics, freedom, rule of law, And equality before the law, have a special obligation- To live by those values in “Hillonomics” and in their own lives And in their own societies, prior to interrogation! We need to do everything we can do to make the world A better place to live in for today and tomorrow- And I, as a cheerleader of Global Ethics and Universal Values, will do anything to remove the sorrow!
Human rights and universal values are so synonymous, And always walk hand in hand- And they entail a set of obligations we need to follow, At home and in foreign land! Today, the universal values need to be thought through, Strengthened, and defended for the humanity to ring- And I aspire for the day to watch for a climate in which Human rights will flourish for me to sing!!
On 11/07/04, anon wrote: > just to let you know that i enjoyed reading what you have
> written. if possible, could you please mail me what you do,
> and why you have such a particular interest in this field.
> also, you may be interested in articles by the university of
> birmingham, England, that have a course on global ethics.
============================================================ Dear Anon: Happy to hear that you enjoyed the above referenced poem. My interest in this field grew since my formative years in India, particularly from the tone of imperialism, tactics of homogenic powers, divide and conquer policies, forced occupation of Tibet, and oppression with exploitation in Africa. Throughout the decades, I have tried to create global awareness about such issues that are affecting the humanity for a long time, and I am afraid, they will continue to do so if we remain silent. Someone has to come forward, and so my pen took a giant leap like Bengal Tiger to raise global eyebrows and view what we are doing as a human to a fellow human. I would be deeply interested to view the articles by the University of Birmingham, England. Please e-mail me their web links, if possible. I have presented/recited my poems on humanitarian issues (like this one) at many public places, and the response from audience had been overwhelming. To get a glimpse of my background and activities, may I request you to visit:
[link removed]
Once again, thank you for rekindling the interest on Global Ethics. Regards and best wishes,
Hillol Ray Garland, Texas, U.S.A. E-mail: [email removed]
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The Marvel of Ingenuity (In Memory of Rubble of World Trade Centers) By Hillol Ray
The marvel of ingenuity disappeared Within the twinkling of an eye- From the skyline of New York on 911, And the world listened to the solemn good-bye! No doubt, the rubble are telling the horrifying tales Of cruel death of fellow mankind- While the memories of the crumbling towers Do now boggle my mind!
Moistures from the gentle breeze cooled these towers Against the morning sun- But the strikes of calamity appeared on the scene And dismayed the laughter and fun! Waves from the New York traffic were greeting the millions To earn their daily bread- While in a hurry, the towers collapsed And rubbles with ashes buried the human thread!
The hapless thousands vanished from the Earth, Along with the structures of modern time- While the memories keep on haunting, And equate human lives with nickel and dime! Horror from the scene still affects the emotion of survivors Followed by the fear- And the agonizing tales of human sufferings Now drench my weary eyes to tear!
The hue and cry from the demised businesses Reverberate the modern global air- While the jobless men and women are facing the brunt That we must take care! Let us offer our helping hands to re-build The lives of such unprecedented call- And wipe away the tears in a rush To make these towers stand pretty tall!
Every drop of rain in the ocean helps To regain water via the evaporation loss- And keeps the world moving Where God is our Almighty, the Boss! In God We Trust is our motto, and unto Him, Let’s keep our faith with love- And pray for the blessings, to overcome this tragedy, From His home above!!
The famed Tower of Pisa has breached the threshold, Tilting into a danger zone- While an unforeseen event could cause the topple, And set the demise tone! A strong wind can blow it over, or even an Earth tremor Could cause the crash- Unless we pay the attention now to save this marvel Before it becomes a trash!
The laws of Physics and Gravity need to be re-examined To prevent it from the fall- And the residents of this medieval city, shrugging off the warning, Need the wake-up call! The danger is real now, and the margin of safety Is extremely low- While the area beneath the tower is on a shaky ground, Affected by the ground water flow!
This Renaissance masterpiece has weathered over time To become 830 years old- And attracted millions of visitors Who like to treasure it as bullion of gold! This marvel of marble is a famous landmark in Italy And deserves the global attention now- To prevent from the total collapse, and needs The proper inclination through technical know-how!
The beauty of this leaning tower is impeccable And holds fond memories of ancient ages- While the fables can be found in various books, When we flip through the history pages! To ensure its longevity, experts need to come forward With a long-term solution- And I urge it sooner for the visitors’ safety, With an eye to local pollution!
The livelihood of souvenir hawkers depends on the tilt, But they can’t rest easy- Because of the tilt that has kept the “Special Commission” And the Government busy! So, may I draw the global attention of technical experts? To find a scientific way- And insist on the proper inclination To prevent this tower from any further sway!! ___________________________________________
** During an invited presentation and my recent visit (Summer-2001) to Pisa, Italy, I had the opportunity to get a glimpse of this marvel of marble with my own eyes. The famed Tower of Pisa needs no introduction to the readers and travelers around the world. It has a long history of being on the verge of collapse. Work on this tower began in 1173. After completion of the first four stories in 1178, work was abandoned for nearly a hundred years. The last three stories were added between 1272 and 1278, and evidence in the masonry indicates that the builders were already trying to fix the problem related to a slight tilt. Recent study indicates that the tower is now leaning at a 5.5-degree angle, while the top edge is overhanging the base by about 17 feet. Besides the Special Commission, Artwatch International, a New York-based Organization, in conjunction with the Italian Government has been involved with the activities related to this magnificent Tower of Pisa. My heartfelt appreciations go to those Organizations, Special Commission, Italian Government, and Technical Experts around the world that are diligently working over the years to prevent the collapse and preserve this tower.
On 10/19/01, Hillol Ray wrote: > Leaning Tower of Pisa** > By > Hillol Ray > > The famed Tower of Pisa has breached the threshold, > Tilting into a danger zone- > While an unforeseen event could cause the topple, > And set the demise tone! > A strong wind can blow it over, or even an Earth tremor > Could cause the crash- > Unless we pay the attention now to save this marvel > Before it becomes a trash! > > The laws of Physics and Gravity need to be re-examined > To prevent it from the fall- > And the residents of this medieval city, shrugging off the > warning, > Need the wake-up call! > The danger is real now, and the margin of safety > Is extremely low- > While the area beneath the tower is on a shaky ground, > Affected by the ground water flow! > > This Renaissance masterpiece has weathered over time > To become 830 years old- > And attracted millions of visitors > Who like to treasure it as bullion of gold! > This marvel of marble is a famous landmark in Italy > And deserves the global attention now- > To prevent from the total collapse, and needs > The proper inclination through technical know-how! > > The beauty of this leaning tower is impeccable > And holds fond memories of ancient ages- > While the fables can be found in various books, > When we flip through the history pages! > To ensure its longevity, experts need to come forward > With a long-term solution- > And I urge it sooner for the visitors’ safety, > With an eye to local pollution! > > The livelihood of souvenir hawkers depends on the tilt, > But they can’t rest easy- > Because of the tilt that has kept the “Special Commission” > And the Government busy! > So, may I draw the global attention of technical experts? > To find a scientific way- > And insist on the proper inclination > To prevent this tower from any further sway!! > ___________________________________________ > > ** During an invited presentation and my recent visit > (Summer-2001) to Pisa, Italy, I had the opportunity to get > a glimpse of this marvel of marble with my own eyes. The > famed Tower of Pisa needs no introduction to the readers > and travelers around the world. It has a long history of > being on the verge of collapse. Work on this tower began > in 1173. After completion of the first four stories in > 1178, work was abandoned for nearly a hundred years. The > last three stories were added between 1272 and 1278, and > evidence in the masonry indicates that the builders were > already trying to fix the problem related to a slight > tilt. Recent study indicates that the tower is now leaning > at a 5.5-degree angle, while the top edge is overhanging > the base by about 17 feet. Besides the Special > Commission, Artwatch International, a New York-based > Organization, in conjunction with the Italian Government > has been involved with the activities related to this > magnificent Tower of Pisa. My heartfelt appreciations go > to those Organizations, Special Commission, Italian > Government, and Technical Experts around the world that are > diligently working over the years to prevent the collapse > and preserve this tower. > > Milestone > October 16, 2001
Chernobyl: A Continuing Catastrophe ** By Hillol Ray
Nuclear accident at Chernobyl represents a worst disaster, Recorded on the modern history page- While the effects continue since April 1986, And refuse to fade in spite of the age! The disaster still affects the million lives From the deadly radioactive rays- In three countries – Belarus, Ukraine, And the Russian Federation- since the meltdown days!
The explosion blew open the Chernobyl reactor Within the twinkling of an eye- And released the radioactive isotopes Before anyone could even take a deep sigh! The humanitarian catastrophe is by no means over, And concerns about cancer are still looming- While the dispersion into the air, and depositions Onto the surface are quietly booming!
The situation from spewed radiation is still alarming, And deserves international assistance- Through research into environmental problems, Followed by solutions against soil and air resistance! The socio-psychological impact on the affected population Needs to be re-examined now- And the economic rehabilitation playing the vital role In aftermath should tell it how!
Despite the strenuous and dedicated efforts, Much still remains to be done to pave the way- To remove the negative perceptions, And build the public confidence that will never sway! Multifaceted impacts of the Chernobyl disaster May persist and will warn the mankind- For several decades, to remind the death toll From the explosion, and the reason behind!
The scars from the catastrophe still linger And affect the survivors’ tissues- While the scientists are restless, And continue to wrestle with critical issues! The memories may fade But tragedy will continue at an alarming rate- Through the undiagnosed sufferers Who are solely depending on their fate!
Today the hue and cry from this human tragedy Echoes around the global sky- And blurs my vision of nuclear fission, But keeps my hopes pretty high! Let’s focus our eyes on Chernobyl now, And coordinate the efforts to eradicate fear with pain- Of those hapless sufferers, today and tomorrow, And help them smile again!! ____________________________________________________________ ____________
** The world’s worst nuclear accident occurred at Chernobyl’s notorious nuclear power station and shook up the industry, followed by the East-West ties. The Soviet- era meltdown at Chernobyl on April 26, 1986 spewed radioactive materials across Europe and killed about 30 people immediately. However, radiation is blamed for over 6000 subsequent deaths and millions in Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia are still facing health problems. A barbed-wire fence encircles an 18-mile “no-entry” zone around the complex. Officials say, much of the zone is likely to be relatively safe in 100 years. Currently the UN (United Nations) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is acting as an expeditious channel for donor contributions towards international cooperation on Chernobyl. But the relief efforts need to be continued. Thus an attempt is being made to draw the attention of global leaders as well as the serious readers to this humanitarian issue through this poem on this United Nations Day (October 24, 2001).
Ya my High School has a pond thats a creek. Every day in Bio. we test the water and find many things. We find pollution,skin,many diff. types of pestices, and ect. Is that a good thing to test this water its a neat spot to test water. Now its like our city does'nt want use to sample it any more. Every day we would take out little Elimentry kids to study the water with them so they would learn.I think that if they get rid of this that little kids wont be able to learn what really in their water @ home. Now its like they wanna take that away from them too! The kids love it and i love doing it to its lots of fun. Why do u think its a bad thing for them to learn that?
Dialogue: A Seed for Global Relations ** By Hillol Ray
The spirit and vision of human beings can be kept alive Through “dialogue” as the key- Irrespective of social status, money, and dwelling From heaven to sea! Dialogue knows no cultural, geographic, Or social boundaries on this wide open Earth- And may open the door to a process of reconciliation To douse the flame from disparity or racial hearth!
Dialogue can remove the insurmountable walls Between people and create a new vision- To embrace interdependence of mankind And promote diversity as the secret mission! Replacement of hostility and confrontation can be achieved Via open dialogue without a doubt- And conceive our diversity as a step towards peace To eliminate the matching game of shout!
Dialogue may strengthen friendly relations Among the nations that we desperately need- And remove the threats to global peace Via dialogue as the only seed! To foster mutual cooperation and promote human rights With fundamental freedom for all- Dialogue is the only resource available today, To influence the Nations – big or small!
Greater inter-relatedness among people can be harmonized Through dialogue as the essential tool- While the interactions among cultures will create The warmth like a blanket made out of wool! Dialogue may promote the cause for peace And mutual respect in a crisis time- To prevent the deadly wars that kill human lives, Valued only as nickel or dime!
With progress of modern communications, I cherish to see the silver lining behind the cloudy mind- To unveil the suspicions and deal with dialogue For the betterment of precious mankind! So there’s no doubt in my vision today That dialogue is a seed for the global relations of tomorrow- And we must allow it to germinate now For the joy of humanity while removing the sorrow!! _____________________________________________________ ** The year 2001 has been proclaimed as the United Nations “Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations”. This poem is being dedicated to the commemoration of such a worthy cause, and to promote universal respect for fundamental freedom and human rights.
The “Incorruptible Scrutinizer” (A Tribute to Sir V.S. Naipaul, 2001 Nobel Prize Winner in Literature) By Hillol Ray
Of Indian-descent and Trinidad-born, Novelist Naipaul Has become a household name- Through his winning of Nobel Prize For Novels and Essays of ageless fame!
Hello Naipaul, please accept My deepest love and respect- ’Cause your creations are awesome And truly heartfelt! With elegance and uncompromising calmness, You have expressed your prophetic tones- To critique the ideals from Islam To Post-colonial life and dig up the bones! Your writings are eloquently informed By the themes of dislocation, separation, and exile- While you collected the materials Through global trotting, mile after mile!
By virtue of fate and your living styles, Your words are set in various places of the Earth- And depict many themes from folksy Trinidad, The place of your birth! Explorations of modern India, the ancestral land, Occupy a special place in your book- While readers around the world are now opening Their eyes to take a special look! Bleak and scathing portraits of post-colonial Africa In your novels bring out the tear- About oppression and hostilities suffered by people That lived in fear!
Your fiction is often autobiographical, But non-fiction portrays the elements of fiction- And creates the whirlwind in readers’ minds, While reeling the thrill and addiction! The personal feelings of your rootlessness Describe you well as “the world’s writer” now- And are neatly shown in your novels/stories That the readers can learn from it how!
In conclusion, I love to say this: Although it’s very true, as it is- You have brought the glory to England, your home; And to India, your ancestral land- By unveiling the suppressed histories From monarchy to tribal hand! You are the “Literary Circumnavigator”, And have encompassed the concerns of global mankind- By the application of your literary sensitivity, And transcended the barriers that we can easily find! No doubt, you are the “Incorruptible Scrutinizer”, While “The Enigma of Arrival” was the Committee’s choice- But still your novels and stories will always shine Through the history and echo your unique voice!!!
As part of its efforts to host the "Greenest Games Ever," the Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC) for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games enlisted the help of Bill Nye, The Science Guy to produce a video-"Salt Lake Valley Watershed and You,"-that explains a desert watershed, air pollution, and recycling to K-12 students.
In the video, Bill Nye the Science Guy dons cross-country skis, portraying a biathlete, stopping to shoot trash into a recycling bin with a slingshot. He also takes viewers to a trash dump to talk about reducing waste and composting. Nye's messages highlight the individual's role in water and energy conservation as well as the benefits of mass transit.
VHS copies of the video are being distributed to all Utah schools and are available to schools nationally on request by emailing [email removed].
Are videos still available? If so, I would love to have one. I teach at a non-profit charter school and have very little resources to use. Email a response, and I would be glad to give my address. Thank you! Jill
On 11/02/01, SLOC Environment wrote: > As part of its efforts to host the "Greenest Games Ever," > the Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC) for the 2002 > Winter Olympic Games enlisted the help of Bill Nye, The > Science Guy to produce a video-"Salt Lake Valley Watershed > and You,"-that explains a desert watershed, air pollution, > and recycling to K-12 students. > > In the video, Bill Nye the Science Guy dons cross-country > skis, portraying a biathlete, stopping to shoot trash into > a > recycling bin with a slingshot. He also takes viewers to a > trash dump to talk about reducing waste and composting. > Nye's messages highlight the individual's role in water and > energy conservation as well as the benefits of mass > transit. > > VHS copies of the video are being distributed to all Utah > schools and are available to schools nationally on request > by emailing [email removed];
Good whatever time of day applies )
am not a professor, but on my way )
I have an idea too) are you a teacher?