View from my window

Criminal justice system needs to be revised! I am saying this as a complete novice in the professional side of criminal justice system but living in this society, I am not entirely a layperson.   I believe it is fashioned in a way where it is creating professional criminals rather than stopping crime. Read this report of how two 15 year old boys tried to mug an 85 year old woman and when she resisted, they attacked and killed her. They were sentenced to 6 years in prison for the murder. When they leave the prison, they would have become professional criminals. I believe jails are the universities where people go in to gain advanced degree in crime! Their intention was not to kill the woman, it was to steal from the woman. It is quite clear that they could not have had the same start and privileges like what some of other human beings take for granted. Like a roof over their heads, supporting familial environments, access to education, a support system...

Pain, what pains us? Is the affliction of a malady or our unpreparedness pain? Our undeveloped, limited capacity to face situations? The more we know, the more ready we are and less we suffer: Nature of the malady does not change nor is it that its intensity lessens but we feel it less because we grow an understanding that has a wider encompass than the size of the pain and we are able to absorb it without being consumed by it. Unfortunately, the path to developing this understanding, what is also in 'bee in the bonnet' circles referred to as 'wisdom', is through encounters with a lot of pain. Almost like a rock in a ferocious river is rounded after centuries of erosion. Then, it simply lets the water pass over it without showing resistance and while it may still be eroded but the process slows down and the rock becomes a part of that universe of pain and changes the discourse where it ceases to be about pain.  

I grew up in a home where my mother was a stay at home mum, a homemaker. She has been a constant in our lives as air and water, and equally fundamental to our existence. She has been there to wake us up in the mornings, to look at our faces and ring the alarm that we look pale and making sure we drink milk or any other concoctions she mixed. She has been there when we spoke our first words and also at the receiving end of our tantrums. The fact is she has been there for everything and the picture just can't be complete without my mum and whatever the four of us are today, we are, because she gave of herself lovingly to us. So here is to mums all over the world! Happy belated mothers day!  

28/03/2014 Arrived early in Geneva on the 28th. Tried to figure out how to take a bus to our hotel but couldn't find any information desk or English speaking person to help us. In the end took a taxi. The taxi driver said we could take a bus for 3.00 CHF as opposed to 35CHF that we ended up paying. Reached the hotel and checked in. Wafi wanted yo nap as we had gotten up at 3.30am. I was not very happy with him as I was dying to go out. Eventually left around 1330. Asked front desk for help, also looked it up online. Took bus #1 to Stand. Looked around a bit and by that time we got really hungry. Looked at menus outside cafés and were astonished at prices. I had read this name Plainpalise so told wafi we needed to go there. After going around in circles to find bus 12 or 15 finally got on the right train and reached the place. It had graffiti on walls and looked a bit run down. Happened upon an antique book shop which was closed but looked interesting. Saw a young girl with gold...