Extreme responses

by varshakale @ 2006-10-08 - 23:49:21

Just for a fun.
A local Marathi (my mother tongue) newspaper published this small article. It refers me as new avatar (incarnation) of Durga (the famous martial goddess). It attributes to me all divine qualities of love, compassion, forgiveness as well as fighting spirit.
Wow.
But it also reminded me when sometime back some paper portrayed me as woman of devilish mind.

Good or bad, many times I generally ignore what media think of me and the issues I raise.
However...
Hate or praise, I wonder, why I get such exaggerated responses?

« THANKS friends...

Reeducating Bargirls »

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[Visitor]

10/09/06 @ 00:04

firstly, they are not wrong, the recent article that is.

Secondly, there is a famouse quaotation which I cannot remember, but is sort of says that those who shout about the extremes, good or bad, command an audience, while the majority seek to ignore the extremes.

You represent the good extreme, I think.

Love and best wishes to you in your endless fight against injustice to women, and everybody.

XX
VB

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varshakale [Member]
10/20/06 @ 15:33

Thanks VB.
Love.

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Pompadour [Member]
10/09/06 @ 15:46

Your right to ignore what they say - but this time it's good.

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varshakale [Member]
10/20/06 @ 15:38

Yes. There is a balance and fairness if we look at it as a whole. Thanks Pompadour.

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suzeemoon [Member]
http://suzeemoon.friendpages.com/
10/10/06 @ 11:01

Lovely to get praise and recognition for good work and ethics but extremes are worrying.

my main thoughts are on the line that extremes are not essentially human - so they can praise or repudiate with a carelessness that does not observe your human emotions and vulnerability. Goddess or devil are lazy, easy stereotypes. Christian-based cultures like mine can reduce women to madonna or whore which again dehumnanises. Also the British media seem to enjoy building up and destroying according to own whim which gives them a nasty power.

Al that aside - Enjoy your moment in the sun and remember it is the opinion of those who really listen to you and know you at some level that is more realistic.

I believe you have the qualities of love, compassion, forgiveness as well as fighting spirit whether these are divine or not. Also intelligence and an open mind.
Suzee
xx

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varshakale [Member]
10/20/06 @ 15:45

One of the slogan of women's movement in India was 'devi nahi, dasi nahi, aurat ek insan hai'(Not goddess, not slave, woman is human being). Both ascribing divinity or inferiority are ways to absorb and subjugate. Yes western cultures are also equally have themes, perceptions and practces that dehumanise women.
You are right many qualities which are rated divine are actually basic human values.
Thanks Suzee.

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suzeemoon [Member]
http://suzeemoon.friendpages.com/
10/20/06 @ 22:15

You're welcome! That quote "'devi nahi, dasi nahi, aurat ek insan hai'(Not goddess, not slave, woman is human being)" is wonderful.
I know how imperfect things are but I hate the rubbish I've been reading about feminism in various places recently - but I don't want to waste time and energy arguing - it's nice to just be supportive of women doing good stuff.
Suzee
xx

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Tovarich [Member]
12/17/06 @ 10:29

''.....let there be beauty and strength; power and compassion; honour and humility; mirth and reverence; within you. And thou who thinkest to search for me, know thy seeking and yearning shall avail ye not, unless thou knowest the mystery; that if that which thou seekest thou findest not within thee, thou wilt never find it without thee, for behold I have been with thee from the beginning......'' - from the Wiccan Charge of the Goddess.

Now whilst I don't know how the Indian pantheon compares, if the people calling you a Goddess are acknowledging she is in you Varsha, I reckon they're right to say so!

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[Visitor]

10/11/06 @ 18:27

We all have our heroes I guess, but Suzee is right.

Visibility and a public relations face is important to promoting a cause. So whilst it may make you feel uncomfortable in principle. It is still important to exploit the publicity for the greater good, ie; bargirls cause.

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varshakale [Member]
10/20/06 @ 15:48

One cannot ignore role of media but one should not carry away with its response as it is not mirror reflecting exact reality.
One should enjoy and utilise media attention to highlight cause more efficiently.

Thanks Alice. Talk to you soon.

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neilemac [Member]
http://www.neilemacview.blog.ca/main
10/11/06 @ 20:59

When I read the following in my mail this morning I immediately thought of you Varsha and your endless struggle to be the strong voice and advocate of women's rights in India. Here's a bit of United Nation's back-up to your casue.

Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations. Statement to the Third Committee, Advancement of Women, 9 October 2006.

END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN by THORAYA AHMED OBAID

Peace and Love and Equality and an end to violence from all its forms is my dream, Varsha.

Warm hugs and thoughts of your incessant struggle to lend your voice to women's issues my dear blogmate. Write on!

neil

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varshakale [Member]
10/20/06 @ 15:51

Thanks neil for the link. There is email id there on that site and I am going to communicate with them regarding issue of international trafficking of bargirls as a result of ban on dance bars.

Nice to hear form you after long time. Sorry to respond you so late.

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neilemac [Member]
http://www.neilemacview.blog.ca/main
10/20/06 @ 17:20

The pleasure is all mine my "Durga!" On with the struggle... neil