There is no doubt in my mind that when Mr. Jinnah mobilized the Muslim identity as a marker of difference from Majority Hindus, it was only a strategic assertion. The creation of a new and separate homeland for the Muslims of India, in Muslim majority areas, depended on this assertion but nowhere in Jinnah's arguments can we find convincing proof that he had envisioned this future state to be an Islamic state. In fact, Ayesha Jalal (The Sole Spokesman) quite convincingly suggests that Jinnah would have been rather happy in a confederacy in which the Muslims were given a parity in the future national assembly.
However, it is no surprise that the very slogan that was essential to mobilize a nationalist movement has now come to haunt us: the slogan has become the truth. This articulation of the nation, in which the slogan becomes the truth, manifested itself immediately after the creation of Pakistan, Remember, we were told that Pakistan was not able to create and ratify a constitution until 1956: we were taught this in high school. But no one bothered to teach us that, besides other things, what delayed the writing and adoption of the constitution was the fight between the Islamists-who wanted a strict Islamic state-and those opposed to a purely Islamic articulation of the nation. This fight, or aporia, thus is within the very fiber of our national genealogy.
In essence what kind of nation we would be if all that the diverse groups of mullahs continue to insist on from their pulpits, through media channels, and through their published works. Here is a possible sample:
• A nation in which women have less rights than men.
• A nation in which non-Muslims have less rights than Muslims.
• A nation in which feudal system can still thrive, as there are no strictures against it.
• A nation in which justice is harsh and immediate: sometimes without due process and sometimes meted out by private individuals.
So, in its true essence, the mullahs want to abolish modernity, retrieve an eighth century politics, and then posit it as a recipe for our national future. The constitutive power of this vision, therefore, is always an idealized past upon which the present can have no bearing as the discourse of the present is not authentic enough to form a new constitutive force for the future.
In posting their views about a purely Islamist nation, the mullahs mobilize varied historical narratives without ever acknowledging that history is always inherently textual: we know of it because it has been written down. The mere acceptance of this fact allows us to imagine that if the history is a record then it must contain, unless written by a computer, the temporal, spatial and personal biases and ideologies of those who recorded it. History, therefore, is never unmotivated and if mobilized uncritically can undermine the present and seriously damage the future in the name of tradition.
By and large, after the Zia-ul-Haq years, we have totally conceded the public sphere to the mullahs: you cannot think the nation without running into one or the other bizarre articulations of the nation by one or the other mullah. Somehow, it seems, that their answer to all our problems is more religion. But more religion has not really solved any of our problems. In fact, since the foregrounding of a religious national identity we have become a more intolerant, sexist, racist, and chauvinistic society.
Of course, it is not the religion that is to be blamed for it. But the politicized and militaristic interpretations of certain aspects of religion play an important role in this. In pretty much all debates about the role of religion in the public sphere, the mullahs mobilize religion only as a system of justice. Yes, Islam has certain laws about justice, but is there no love in our religion? And if there is love, mhuhabbah, then how come it does not shine through in our public undertakings.
The recent murders of Salman Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti are two important cases in point: both these persons were murdered by "Muslims" because they had, by opposing a destructive law, somehow, blasphemed. What kind of a civil society allows public citizens to be murdered by private citizens as an act of popular justice? And if that kind of murder is permissible, then why have the blasphemy laws? Why not just accept that people themselves have the right to judge and punish their own fellow human beings.
Sadly, the rise of private media has not, in any way, diminished the role of half-baked theories of the mullahs; the private media, in fact, have provided the mullahs with a much larger frame and enabled them to spread their vitriol to larger audiences.
There can be no short-term solution to this problem of perpetuation of hate in the name of tradition and religion. A good start would be to, at least, pass some hate-speech legislation: a law that forbids any acts of rhetorical violence against any group, individual or entity. This could at least regulate speech in the public sphere; it may not affect what the mullahs are saying in their mosques, but at least there they can be told to keep it to their own captive audiences.
On the whole, having read and followed the public debates by most of Pakistani religious leaders and scholars, I, in all due humility, can say very positively that I have found nothing in their articulations of the Pakistani nation that can create a viable, pluralistic, and compassionate nation-state for all those who call themselves Pakistanis
Monday, September 7, 2009
Mullahs in Nation-Building
There is no doubt in my mind that when Mr. Jinnah mobilized the Muslim identity as a marker of difference from Majority Hindus, it was only a strategic assertion. The creation of a new and separate homeland for the Muslims of India, in Muslim majority areas, depended on this assertion but nowhere in Jinnah's arguments can we find convincing proof that he had envisioned this future state to be an Islamic state. In fact, Ayesha Jalal (The Sole Spokesman) quite convincingly suggests that Jinnah would have been rather happy in a confederacy in which the Muslims were given a parity in the future national assembly.
However, it is no surprise that the very slogan that was essential to mobilize a nationalist movement has now come to haunt us: the slogan has become the truth. This articulation of the nation, in which the slogan becomes the truth, manifested itself immediately after the creation of Pakistan, Remember, we were told that Pakistan was not able to create and ratify a constitution until 1956: we were taught this in high school. But no one bothered to teach us that, besides other things, what delayed the writing and adoption of the constitution was the fight between the Islamists-who wanted a strict Islamic state-and those opposed to a purely Islamic articulation of the nation. This fight, or aporia, thus is within the very fiber of our national genealogy.
In essence what kind of nation we would be if all that the diverse groups of mullahs continue to insist on from their pulpits, through media channels, and through their published works. Here is a possible sample:
• A nation in which women have less rights than men.
• A nation in which non-Muslims have less rights than Muslims.
• A nation in which feudal system can still thrive, as there are no strictures against it.
• A nation in which justice is harsh and immediate: sometimes without due process and sometimes meted out by private individuals.
So, in its true essence, the mullahs want to abolish modernity, retrieve an eighth century politics, and then posit it as a recipe for our national future. The constitutive power of this vision, therefore, is always an idealized past upon which the present can have no bearing as the discourse of the present is not authentic enough to form a new constitutive force for the future.
In posting their views about a purely Islamist nation, the mullahs mobilize varied historical narratives without ever acknowledging that history is always inherently textual: we know of it because it has been written down. The mere acceptance of this fact allows us to imagine that if the history is a record then it must contain, unless written by a computer, the temporal, spatial and personal biases and ideologies of those who recorded it. History, therefore, is never unmotivated and if mobilized uncritically can undermine the present and seriously damage the future in the name of tradition.
By and large, after the Zia-ul-Haq years, we have totally conceded the public sphere to the mullahs: you cannot think the nation without running into one or the other bizarre articulations of the nation by one or the other mullah. Somehow, it seems, that their answer to all our problems is more religion. But more religion has not really solved any of our problems. In fact, since the foregrounding of a religious national identity we have become a more intolerant, sexist, racist, and chauvinistic society.
Of course, it is not the religion that is to be blamed for it. But the politicized and militaristic interpretations of certain aspects of religion play an important role in this. In pretty much all debates about the role of religion in the public sphere, the mullahs mobilize religion only as a system of justice. Yes, Islam has certain laws about justice, but is there no love in our religion? And if there is love, mhuhabbah, then how come it does not shine through in our public undertakings.
The recent murders of Salman Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti are two important cases in point: both these persons were murdered by "Muslims" because they had, by opposing a destructive law, somehow, blasphemed. What kind of a civil society allows public citizens to be murdered by private citizens as an act of popular justice? And if that kind of murder is permissible, then why have the blasphemy laws? Why not just accept that people themselves have the right to judge and punish their own fellow human beings.
Sadly, the rise of private media has not, in any way, diminished the role of half-baked theories of the mullahs; the private media, in fact, have provided the mullahs with a much larger frame and enabled them to spread their vitriol to larger audiences.
There can be no short-term solution to this problem of perpetuation of hate in the name of tradition and religion. A good start would be to, at least, pass some hate-speech legislation: a law that forbids any acts of rhetorical violence against any group, individual or entity. This could at least regulate speech in the public sphere; it may not affect what the mullahs are saying in their mosques, but at least there they can be told to keep it to their own captive audiences.
On the whole, having read and followed the public debates by most of Pakistani religious leaders and scholars, I, in all due humility, can say very positively that I have found nothing in their articulations of the Pakistani nation that can create a viable, pluralistic, and compassionate nation-state for all those who call themselves Pakistanis
However, it is no surprise that the very slogan that was essential to mobilize a nationalist movement has now come to haunt us: the slogan has become the truth. This articulation of the nation, in which the slogan becomes the truth, manifested itself immediately after the creation of Pakistan, Remember, we were told that Pakistan was not able to create and ratify a constitution until 1956: we were taught this in high school. But no one bothered to teach us that, besides other things, what delayed the writing and adoption of the constitution was the fight between the Islamists-who wanted a strict Islamic state-and those opposed to a purely Islamic articulation of the nation. This fight, or aporia, thus is within the very fiber of our national genealogy.
In essence what kind of nation we would be if all that the diverse groups of mullahs continue to insist on from their pulpits, through media channels, and through their published works. Here is a possible sample:
• A nation in which women have less rights than men.
• A nation in which non-Muslims have less rights than Muslims.
• A nation in which feudal system can still thrive, as there are no strictures against it.
• A nation in which justice is harsh and immediate: sometimes without due process and sometimes meted out by private individuals.
So, in its true essence, the mullahs want to abolish modernity, retrieve an eighth century politics, and then posit it as a recipe for our national future. The constitutive power of this vision, therefore, is always an idealized past upon which the present can have no bearing as the discourse of the present is not authentic enough to form a new constitutive force for the future.
In posting their views about a purely Islamist nation, the mullahs mobilize varied historical narratives without ever acknowledging that history is always inherently textual: we know of it because it has been written down. The mere acceptance of this fact allows us to imagine that if the history is a record then it must contain, unless written by a computer, the temporal, spatial and personal biases and ideologies of those who recorded it. History, therefore, is never unmotivated and if mobilized uncritically can undermine the present and seriously damage the future in the name of tradition.
By and large, after the Zia-ul-Haq years, we have totally conceded the public sphere to the mullahs: you cannot think the nation without running into one or the other bizarre articulations of the nation by one or the other mullah. Somehow, it seems, that their answer to all our problems is more religion. But more religion has not really solved any of our problems. In fact, since the foregrounding of a religious national identity we have become a more intolerant, sexist, racist, and chauvinistic society.
Of course, it is not the religion that is to be blamed for it. But the politicized and militaristic interpretations of certain aspects of religion play an important role in this. In pretty much all debates about the role of religion in the public sphere, the mullahs mobilize religion only as a system of justice. Yes, Islam has certain laws about justice, but is there no love in our religion? And if there is love, mhuhabbah, then how come it does not shine through in our public undertakings.
The recent murders of Salman Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti are two important cases in point: both these persons were murdered by "Muslims" because they had, by opposing a destructive law, somehow, blasphemed. What kind of a civil society allows public citizens to be murdered by private citizens as an act of popular justice? And if that kind of murder is permissible, then why have the blasphemy laws? Why not just accept that people themselves have the right to judge and punish their own fellow human beings.
Sadly, the rise of private media has not, in any way, diminished the role of half-baked theories of the mullahs; the private media, in fact, have provided the mullahs with a much larger frame and enabled them to spread their vitriol to larger audiences.
There can be no short-term solution to this problem of perpetuation of hate in the name of tradition and religion. A good start would be to, at least, pass some hate-speech legislation: a law that forbids any acts of rhetorical violence against any group, individual or entity. This could at least regulate speech in the public sphere; it may not affect what the mullahs are saying in their mosques, but at least there they can be told to keep it to their own captive audiences.
On the whole, having read and followed the public debates by most of Pakistani religious leaders and scholars, I, in all due humility, can say very positively that I have found nothing in their articulations of the Pakistani nation that can create a viable, pluralistic, and compassionate nation-state for all those who call themselves Pakistanis
Friday, June 5, 2009
Introducing Race Discrimination
Race discrimination refers to any type of discrimination in the workplace for reason of color, race, nationality, ethic or national origin. Per the 1976 Race Relations Act an employer cannot discriminate against you for reasons of race. However there is one caveat that states a race may be hired which is called a genuine occupational requirement and in this case it is a job requirement to be of a certain race.
There is also a term called a positive action whereby a group can be hired because over the past twelve months that particular group has been way underrepresented in the work force of the employer or within the local community or the national job grouping and this is not considered race discrimination. Employers are also allowed to provide certain training that is not available to other employees to a specific racial group because they want to encourage this racial group to apply for jobs again because they are vastly underrepresented in that particular workforce.
When some feel they are being discriminated against for reasons of race discrimination they should step back and consider exactly what is happening to them. They must be able to describe it specifically and also how it applies to them. This then will have to be described in detail when an employee decides to file a claim with the Employment Tribunal in the initial Valid Claim Form. However before an employee considers this action they should approach their supervisor or if that is the cause of the problem go to the human relations department. If they are represented by a trade union then of course they should approach the trade union and get assistance and advice. Reading an employee equal opportunity handout or booklet is also a way to begin this journey. It may give help in seeking to begin a grievance process within the company.
The best protection for an employer is to have an official written policy that covers equal opportunity. Also the human resources department may be a first step to protecting an employer against claims of racial discrimination by various parties. If someone complains about being discriminated against for whatever reason an employee should take some action. To begin they must listen to the complaint then try to resolve what is happening. This may include a company meeting that addresses any discriminatory issues so that everyone employed by the company is aware that there are specific rules that must be followed regarding race and sexual orientation. Addressing the issue in a positive way may preclude any further action by that employee.
If the employee doesn't feel they got any resolution talking to human resources or from their supervisor or trade union representative they may proceed with a complaint to the Employment Tribunal. This will be a formal procedure with very specific time specifications and procedures and steps to follow. At an Employment Tribunal the employer will have to have present documents in the company's favor in defense. Witnesses are also allowed to give evidence.
There is also a term called a positive action whereby a group can be hired because over the past twelve months that particular group has been way underrepresented in the work force of the employer or within the local community or the national job grouping and this is not considered race discrimination. Employers are also allowed to provide certain training that is not available to other employees to a specific racial group because they want to encourage this racial group to apply for jobs again because they are vastly underrepresented in that particular workforce.
When some feel they are being discriminated against for reasons of race discrimination they should step back and consider exactly what is happening to them. They must be able to describe it specifically and also how it applies to them. This then will have to be described in detail when an employee decides to file a claim with the Employment Tribunal in the initial Valid Claim Form. However before an employee considers this action they should approach their supervisor or if that is the cause of the problem go to the human relations department. If they are represented by a trade union then of course they should approach the trade union and get assistance and advice. Reading an employee equal opportunity handout or booklet is also a way to begin this journey. It may give help in seeking to begin a grievance process within the company.
The best protection for an employer is to have an official written policy that covers equal opportunity. Also the human resources department may be a first step to protecting an employer against claims of racial discrimination by various parties. If someone complains about being discriminated against for whatever reason an employee should take some action. To begin they must listen to the complaint then try to resolve what is happening. This may include a company meeting that addresses any discriminatory issues so that everyone employed by the company is aware that there are specific rules that must be followed regarding race and sexual orientation. Addressing the issue in a positive way may preclude any further action by that employee.
If the employee doesn't feel they got any resolution talking to human resources or from their supervisor or trade union representative they may proceed with a complaint to the Employment Tribunal. This will be a formal procedure with very specific time specifications and procedures and steps to follow. At an Employment Tribunal the employer will have to have present documents in the company's favor in defense. Witnesses are also allowed to give evidence.
Introducing Race Discrimination
Race discrimination refers to any type of discrimination in the workplace for reason of color, race, nationality, ethic or national origin. Per the 1976 Race Relations Act an employer cannot discriminate against you for reasons of race. However there is one caveat that states a race may be hired which is called a genuine occupational requirement and in this case it is a job requirement to be of a certain race.
There is also a term called a positive action whereby a group can be hired because over the past twelve months that particular group has been way underrepresented in the work force of the employer or within the local community or the national job grouping and this is not considered race discrimination. Employers are also allowed to provide certain training that is not available to other employees to a specific racial group because they want to encourage this racial group to apply for jobs again because they are vastly underrepresented in that particular workforce.
When some feel they are being discriminated against for reasons of race discrimination they should step back and consider exactly what is happening to them. They must be able to describe it specifically and also how it applies to them. This then will have to be described in detail when an employee decides to file a claim with the Employment Tribunal in the initial Valid Claim Form. However before an employee considers this action they should approach their supervisor or if that is the cause of the problem go to the human relations department. If they are represented by a trade union then of course they should approach the trade union and get assistance and advice. Reading an employee equal opportunity handout or booklet is also a way to begin this journey. It may give help in seeking to begin a grievance process within the company.
The best protection for an employer is to have an official written policy that covers equal opportunity. Also the human resources department may be a first step to protecting an employer against claims of racial discrimination by various parties. If someone complains about being discriminated against for whatever reason an employee should take some action. To begin they must listen to the complaint then try to resolve what is happening. This may include a company meeting that addresses any discriminatory issues so that everyone employed by the company is aware that there are specific rules that must be followed regarding race and sexual orientation. Addressing the issue in a positive way may preclude any further action by that employee.
If the employee doesn't feel they got any resolution talking to human resources or from their supervisor or trade union representative they may proceed with a complaint to the Employment Tribunal. This will be a formal procedure with very specific time specifications and procedures and steps to follow. At an Employment Tribunal the employer will have to have present documents in the company's favor in defense. Witnesses are also allowed to give evidence.
There is also a term called a positive action whereby a group can be hired because over the past twelve months that particular group has been way underrepresented in the work force of the employer or within the local community or the national job grouping and this is not considered race discrimination. Employers are also allowed to provide certain training that is not available to other employees to a specific racial group because they want to encourage this racial group to apply for jobs again because they are vastly underrepresented in that particular workforce.
When some feel they are being discriminated against for reasons of race discrimination they should step back and consider exactly what is happening to them. They must be able to describe it specifically and also how it applies to them. This then will have to be described in detail when an employee decides to file a claim with the Employment Tribunal in the initial Valid Claim Form. However before an employee considers this action they should approach their supervisor or if that is the cause of the problem go to the human relations department. If they are represented by a trade union then of course they should approach the trade union and get assistance and advice. Reading an employee equal opportunity handout or booklet is also a way to begin this journey. It may give help in seeking to begin a grievance process within the company.
The best protection for an employer is to have an official written policy that covers equal opportunity. Also the human resources department may be a first step to protecting an employer against claims of racial discrimination by various parties. If someone complains about being discriminated against for whatever reason an employee should take some action. To begin they must listen to the complaint then try to resolve what is happening. This may include a company meeting that addresses any discriminatory issues so that everyone employed by the company is aware that there are specific rules that must be followed regarding race and sexual orientation. Addressing the issue in a positive way may preclude any further action by that employee.
If the employee doesn't feel they got any resolution talking to human resources or from their supervisor or trade union representative they may proceed with a complaint to the Employment Tribunal. This will be a formal procedure with very specific time specifications and procedures and steps to follow. At an Employment Tribunal the employer will have to have present documents in the company's favor in defense. Witnesses are also allowed to give evidence.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Fuel and Energy Resources - The Power of the Horse Before the Industrial Age!
As early back as the stone age hunters the horse has served some purpose for man. Back then it was before they realized the amazing potential of the horse. Instead of using the horse for riding and work, they were used as a source of food. One horse could feed a family of four for a month. By 3000 BC however, man began to realize they could be used for more than just food and they started taming them to be hitched to a variety of different carts to do work for the people. At this time, the horses that were captured and tamed were probably too small to ride since most only stood 14 hands or 56 inches in height.
It was around 1800 BC when horses were discovered to be far better in warfare than would be expected. The Hittites created the war chariot and were able to conquer Mesopotamia along with Egypt by using chariots drawn by horses. It was about 800 years later that man discovered that the horse could be ridden by individual soldiers. The reason they think that it took so long to move to this phase is because they need to start trying to breed bigger and stronger horses that could carry a man, especially one that might be wearing armor. Not only that they needed to invent all the different things a person would need to try and stay on the horse, things all riders take for granted today.
Once the horse became the key in warfare other things began to arise that people realized that they could do with the horse. One of those was travel. Travel by horse became important for the conquerors who would have to keep control over the territories they won in war. So the horse became the best way to keep track of all of this.
Using the horse for travel continued to be the best and fastest way to get somewhere for both travel and communication between people until the later part of the 19th century when the steam engine was created and the telegraph became popular. But for centuries, the horse was the king of travel and communication.
Another popular reason for horses was to use as a source of entertainment. Even though horses were key in warfare humans soon discovered that if they learned to ride a horse they could use their horse in the sport of hunting and it enabled them to go after bigger and more challenging types of game. It was the Persians and the Greeks that first started racing with horses. It was in Greece where people were encouraged to take an interest in horsemanship, something they used for self discipline as well. In fact the oldest book ever written about being a good horseman was written by Xenophon who was born in 430 BC. His book is called "The Art of Horsemanship".
Beyond war, travel and leisure came work. It took quite a while though for people to realize the horse could also be good at doing work. For much of early human history oxen and donkeys were the biggest sources of work animals. The reason for this is that it took centuries to breed horses that were heavy enough to carry the burden of heavy duty work. Most horses of ancient time were also more expensive to keep and they had to eat more than oxen and donkeys due to their less efficient digestive system.
It was not until the medieval days that horses heavy enough began to appear to be used as farming animals. This was also when the shoulder or horse collar was invented and farmers then were able to use their horses to cover more farmland than their donkeys or oxen could. This was mainly due to their extreme speed and greater strength.
For over 2,500 years or until the internal combustion engine was born, the horse and all horse drawn vehicles were the most effective ways to travel long distance, plow the fields, wage war and fulfill the leisurely needs of mankind. Without horses, it could be possible that our development and exploration may have been slower to develop. The horse, and it's influence on man has been immense over the centuries.
It was around 1800 BC when horses were discovered to be far better in warfare than would be expected. The Hittites created the war chariot and were able to conquer Mesopotamia along with Egypt by using chariots drawn by horses. It was about 800 years later that man discovered that the horse could be ridden by individual soldiers. The reason they think that it took so long to move to this phase is because they need to start trying to breed bigger and stronger horses that could carry a man, especially one that might be wearing armor. Not only that they needed to invent all the different things a person would need to try and stay on the horse, things all riders take for granted today.
Once the horse became the key in warfare other things began to arise that people realized that they could do with the horse. One of those was travel. Travel by horse became important for the conquerors who would have to keep control over the territories they won in war. So the horse became the best way to keep track of all of this.
Using the horse for travel continued to be the best and fastest way to get somewhere for both travel and communication between people until the later part of the 19th century when the steam engine was created and the telegraph became popular. But for centuries, the horse was the king of travel and communication.
Another popular reason for horses was to use as a source of entertainment. Even though horses were key in warfare humans soon discovered that if they learned to ride a horse they could use their horse in the sport of hunting and it enabled them to go after bigger and more challenging types of game. It was the Persians and the Greeks that first started racing with horses. It was in Greece where people were encouraged to take an interest in horsemanship, something they used for self discipline as well. In fact the oldest book ever written about being a good horseman was written by Xenophon who was born in 430 BC. His book is called "The Art of Horsemanship".
Beyond war, travel and leisure came work. It took quite a while though for people to realize the horse could also be good at doing work. For much of early human history oxen and donkeys were the biggest sources of work animals. The reason for this is that it took centuries to breed horses that were heavy enough to carry the burden of heavy duty work. Most horses of ancient time were also more expensive to keep and they had to eat more than oxen and donkeys due to their less efficient digestive system.
It was not until the medieval days that horses heavy enough began to appear to be used as farming animals. This was also when the shoulder or horse collar was invented and farmers then were able to use their horses to cover more farmland than their donkeys or oxen could. This was mainly due to their extreme speed and greater strength.
For over 2,500 years or until the internal combustion engine was born, the horse and all horse drawn vehicles were the most effective ways to travel long distance, plow the fields, wage war and fulfill the leisurely needs of mankind. Without horses, it could be possible that our development and exploration may have been slower to develop. The horse, and it's influence on man has been immense over the centuries.
Fuel and Energy Resources - The Power of the Horse Before the Industrial Age!
As early back as the stone age hunters the horse has served some purpose for man. Back then it was before they realized the amazing potential of the horse. Instead of using the horse for riding and work, they were used as a source of food. One horse could feed a family of four for a month. By 3000 BC however, man began to realize they could be used for more than just food and they started taming them to be hitched to a variety of different carts to do work for the people. At this time, the horses that were captured and tamed were probably too small to ride since most only stood 14 hands or 56 inches in height.
It was around 1800 BC when horses were discovered to be far better in warfare than would be expected. The Hittites created the war chariot and were able to conquer Mesopotamia along with Egypt by using chariots drawn by horses. It was about 800 years later that man discovered that the horse could be ridden by individual soldiers. The reason they think that it took so long to move to this phase is because they need to start trying to breed bigger and stronger horses that could carry a man, especially one that might be wearing armor. Not only that they needed to invent all the different things a person would need to try and stay on the horse, things all riders take for granted today.
Once the horse became the key in warfare other things began to arise that people realized that they could do with the horse. One of those was travel. Travel by horse became important for the conquerors who would have to keep control over the territories they won in war. So the horse became the best way to keep track of all of this.
Using the horse for travel continued to be the best and fastest way to get somewhere for both travel and communication between people until the later part of the 19th century when the steam engine was created and the telegraph became popular. But for centuries, the horse was the king of travel and communication.
Another popular reason for horses was to use as a source of entertainment. Even though horses were key in warfare humans soon discovered that if they learned to ride a horse they could use their horse in the sport of hunting and it enabled them to go after bigger and more challenging types of game. It was the Persians and the Greeks that first started racing with horses. It was in Greece where people were encouraged to take an interest in horsemanship, something they used for self discipline as well. In fact the oldest book ever written about being a good horseman was written by Xenophon who was born in 430 BC. His book is called "The Art of Horsemanship".
Beyond war, travel and leisure came work. It took quite a while though for people to realize the horse could also be good at doing work. For much of early human history oxen and donkeys were the biggest sources of work animals. The reason for this is that it took centuries to breed horses that were heavy enough to carry the burden of heavy duty work. Most horses of ancient time were also more expensive to keep and they had to eat more than oxen and donkeys due to their less efficient digestive system.
It was not until the medieval days that horses heavy enough began to appear to be used as farming animals. This was also when the shoulder or horse collar was invented and farmers then were able to use their horses to cover more farmland than their donkeys or oxen could. This was mainly due to their extreme speed and greater strength.
For over 2,500 years or until the internal combustion engine was born, the horse and all horse drawn vehicles were the most effective ways to travel long distance, plow the fields, wage war and fulfill the leisurely needs of mankind. Without horses, it could be possible that our development and exploration may have been slower to develop. The horse, and it's influence on man has been immense over the centuries.
It was around 1800 BC when horses were discovered to be far better in warfare than would be expected. The Hittites created the war chariot and were able to conquer Mesopotamia along with Egypt by using chariots drawn by horses. It was about 800 years later that man discovered that the horse could be ridden by individual soldiers. The reason they think that it took so long to move to this phase is because they need to start trying to breed bigger and stronger horses that could carry a man, especially one that might be wearing armor. Not only that they needed to invent all the different things a person would need to try and stay on the horse, things all riders take for granted today.
Once the horse became the key in warfare other things began to arise that people realized that they could do with the horse. One of those was travel. Travel by horse became important for the conquerors who would have to keep control over the territories they won in war. So the horse became the best way to keep track of all of this.
Using the horse for travel continued to be the best and fastest way to get somewhere for both travel and communication between people until the later part of the 19th century when the steam engine was created and the telegraph became popular. But for centuries, the horse was the king of travel and communication.
Another popular reason for horses was to use as a source of entertainment. Even though horses were key in warfare humans soon discovered that if they learned to ride a horse they could use their horse in the sport of hunting and it enabled them to go after bigger and more challenging types of game. It was the Persians and the Greeks that first started racing with horses. It was in Greece where people were encouraged to take an interest in horsemanship, something they used for self discipline as well. In fact the oldest book ever written about being a good horseman was written by Xenophon who was born in 430 BC. His book is called "The Art of Horsemanship".
Beyond war, travel and leisure came work. It took quite a while though for people to realize the horse could also be good at doing work. For much of early human history oxen and donkeys were the biggest sources of work animals. The reason for this is that it took centuries to breed horses that were heavy enough to carry the burden of heavy duty work. Most horses of ancient time were also more expensive to keep and they had to eat more than oxen and donkeys due to their less efficient digestive system.
It was not until the medieval days that horses heavy enough began to appear to be used as farming animals. This was also when the shoulder or horse collar was invented and farmers then were able to use their horses to cover more farmland than their donkeys or oxen could. This was mainly due to their extreme speed and greater strength.
For over 2,500 years or until the internal combustion engine was born, the horse and all horse drawn vehicles were the most effective ways to travel long distance, plow the fields, wage war and fulfill the leisurely needs of mankind. Without horses, it could be possible that our development and exploration may have been slower to develop. The horse, and it's influence on man has been immense over the centuries.
Friday, May 1, 2009
International Day of Mourning
Recommitting to Personal Safety
April 28, 2009, marks Canada's twentieth official observance of the International Day of Mourning. It is surprising how little Canadians seemingly understand of this day's general importance or its significance to individuals across all sectors of the workforce.
This day is a time to reflect upon and commemorate the lives of thousands of workers that have been lost through the decades. In 2009 alone, 939 Canadian workers were killed either at work or travelling to work.
Earlier this year, following a day's work, several equipment operators parked their side-booms-large, tracked vehicles used to lift and install pipe on pipeline projects. After shutting down their equipment, operators exit their cabs using an installed ladder.
For one worker, this sequence of events had become almost instinctual, having done so thousands of times over twenty plus as an operator. But on this particular night, this seasoned worker noticed he had forgotten something in the cab and doubled back to the side-boom.
Instead of utilizing the ladder to enter the cab, as he had done thousands of times previously, he climbed the side-boom's tracks on the opposite side. He then maneuvered his way across the counterweight rails between the tightly secured counterweight and the side-boom cab.
Searching for the misplaced item, he unknowingly hit a lever that released the side-boom's massive counterweight. The 5,000 pound metal object slowly inched its way down the rails toward the operator's position, crushing him in the process.
One might be quick to conclude that this tragic incident could have been easily prevented had the operator simply returned to the cab by the proscribed safe route. No one could have known that he would choose to make this seemingly minor yet tragic decision or prevented him from making this choice.
How many times in the course of a day do each of us make such seemingly minor decisions, completing ordinary tasks under ordinary circumstances with tools and equipment that are familiar to us?
A motorist makes a crucial, split-second decision at a busy intersection to turn left in front of quickly advancing traffic.
A homeowner props a ladder against the house in unstable soil, thinking the job will just take her a second.
A farmhand works around unshielded mechanical parts on equipment because the shields just get in the way and slow him down.
We have all done similar things at some point in our lives. It is only after something goes wrong that we realize the negative or unintended consequences of our actions. We conduct almost instantaneous analyses of risk that are all too often biased by our intended goals.
Following a poor decision, we often wonder, why did I do that? Our answers never truly satisfy the question, yet we ask it time and again. Sometimes we feel entirely comfortable in and around our tools and equipment and take shortcuts because in the past we have gotten away with it, providing positive reinforcement for our questionable behaviours.
It's easy to become complacent about safety. No one ever gets hurt around here. Nothing bad will happen.
We are human, and humans make mistakes and miscalculations. Trial and error is a fundamental aspect of personal growth. Sometimes fatigue leads us to a momentary lapse in judgment.
In almost all cases, when we make a poor decision, we have the chance to right a wrong and hopefully glean some sort of lesson from it. For the equipment operator, the risk of climbing over the side-boom and entering a secure space between the cab and counterweight appeared relatively minor.
But the result of his decision was monumentally tragic. He never had an opportunity to correct his mistake or learn from it.
We rely on the training and education we receive from teachers, instructors, elders, and peers to make informed and reasoned decisions. But when we cross the threshold of that moment when we will make a decision, no amount of education or bureaucratic red-tape ultimately prevents us from making our choice. At that critical moment, it's up to each of us individually to not be complacent about our work or to turn a blind eye to an unsafe act.
Today, April 28, 2011, we reflect on and commemorate the lives of workers that have been lost. If the lessons we learn by reflecting on the equipment operator's story helps prevent future tragic incidents, his passing will not have been in vain. His story, among a thousand others, should be a beacon for workers across Canada to recommit to personal safety and to fully think through actions and their potential consequences.
April 28, 2009, marks Canada's twentieth official observance of the International Day of Mourning. It is surprising how little Canadians seemingly understand of this day's general importance or its significance to individuals across all sectors of the workforce.
This day is a time to reflect upon and commemorate the lives of thousands of workers that have been lost through the decades. In 2009 alone, 939 Canadian workers were killed either at work or travelling to work.
Earlier this year, following a day's work, several equipment operators parked their side-booms-large, tracked vehicles used to lift and install pipe on pipeline projects. After shutting down their equipment, operators exit their cabs using an installed ladder.
For one worker, this sequence of events had become almost instinctual, having done so thousands of times over twenty plus as an operator. But on this particular night, this seasoned worker noticed he had forgotten something in the cab and doubled back to the side-boom.
Instead of utilizing the ladder to enter the cab, as he had done thousands of times previously, he climbed the side-boom's tracks on the opposite side. He then maneuvered his way across the counterweight rails between the tightly secured counterweight and the side-boom cab.
Searching for the misplaced item, he unknowingly hit a lever that released the side-boom's massive counterweight. The 5,000 pound metal object slowly inched its way down the rails toward the operator's position, crushing him in the process.
One might be quick to conclude that this tragic incident could have been easily prevented had the operator simply returned to the cab by the proscribed safe route. No one could have known that he would choose to make this seemingly minor yet tragic decision or prevented him from making this choice.
How many times in the course of a day do each of us make such seemingly minor decisions, completing ordinary tasks under ordinary circumstances with tools and equipment that are familiar to us?
A motorist makes a crucial, split-second decision at a busy intersection to turn left in front of quickly advancing traffic.
A homeowner props a ladder against the house in unstable soil, thinking the job will just take her a second.
A farmhand works around unshielded mechanical parts on equipment because the shields just get in the way and slow him down.
We have all done similar things at some point in our lives. It is only after something goes wrong that we realize the negative or unintended consequences of our actions. We conduct almost instantaneous analyses of risk that are all too often biased by our intended goals.
Following a poor decision, we often wonder, why did I do that? Our answers never truly satisfy the question, yet we ask it time and again. Sometimes we feel entirely comfortable in and around our tools and equipment and take shortcuts because in the past we have gotten away with it, providing positive reinforcement for our questionable behaviours.
It's easy to become complacent about safety. No one ever gets hurt around here. Nothing bad will happen.
We are human, and humans make mistakes and miscalculations. Trial and error is a fundamental aspect of personal growth. Sometimes fatigue leads us to a momentary lapse in judgment.
In almost all cases, when we make a poor decision, we have the chance to right a wrong and hopefully glean some sort of lesson from it. For the equipment operator, the risk of climbing over the side-boom and entering a secure space between the cab and counterweight appeared relatively minor.
But the result of his decision was monumentally tragic. He never had an opportunity to correct his mistake or learn from it.
We rely on the training and education we receive from teachers, instructors, elders, and peers to make informed and reasoned decisions. But when we cross the threshold of that moment when we will make a decision, no amount of education or bureaucratic red-tape ultimately prevents us from making our choice. At that critical moment, it's up to each of us individually to not be complacent about our work or to turn a blind eye to an unsafe act.
Today, April 28, 2011, we reflect on and commemorate the lives of workers that have been lost. If the lessons we learn by reflecting on the equipment operator's story helps prevent future tragic incidents, his passing will not have been in vain. His story, among a thousand others, should be a beacon for workers across Canada to recommit to personal safety and to fully think through actions and their potential consequences.
International Day of Mourning
Recommitting to Personal Safety
April 28, 2009, marks Canada's twentieth official observance of the International Day of Mourning. It is surprising how little Canadians seemingly understand of this day's general importance or its significance to individuals across all sectors of the workforce.
This day is a time to reflect upon and commemorate the lives of thousands of workers that have been lost through the decades. In 2009 alone, 939 Canadian workers were killed either at work or travelling to work.
Earlier this year, following a day's work, several equipment operators parked their side-booms-large, tracked vehicles used to lift and install pipe on pipeline projects. After shutting down their equipment, operators exit their cabs using an installed ladder.
For one worker, this sequence of events had become almost instinctual, having done so thousands of times over twenty plus as an operator. But on this particular night, this seasoned worker noticed he had forgotten something in the cab and doubled back to the side-boom.
Instead of utilizing the ladder to enter the cab, as he had done thousands of times previously, he climbed the side-boom's tracks on the opposite side. He then maneuvered his way across the counterweight rails between the tightly secured counterweight and the side-boom cab.
Searching for the misplaced item, he unknowingly hit a lever that released the side-boom's massive counterweight. The 5,000 pound metal object slowly inched its way down the rails toward the operator's position, crushing him in the process.
One might be quick to conclude that this tragic incident could have been easily prevented had the operator simply returned to the cab by the proscribed safe route. No one could have known that he would choose to make this seemingly minor yet tragic decision or prevented him from making this choice.
How many times in the course of a day do each of us make such seemingly minor decisions, completing ordinary tasks under ordinary circumstances with tools and equipment that are familiar to us?
A motorist makes a crucial, split-second decision at a busy intersection to turn left in front of quickly advancing traffic.
A homeowner props a ladder against the house in unstable soil, thinking the job will just take her a second.
A farmhand works around unshielded mechanical parts on equipment because the shields just get in the way and slow him down.
We have all done similar things at some point in our lives. It is only after something goes wrong that we realize the negative or unintended consequences of our actions. We conduct almost instantaneous analyses of risk that are all too often biased by our intended goals.
Following a poor decision, we often wonder, why did I do that? Our answers never truly satisfy the question, yet we ask it time and again. Sometimes we feel entirely comfortable in and around our tools and equipment and take shortcuts because in the past we have gotten away with it, providing positive reinforcement for our questionable behaviours.
It's easy to become complacent about safety. No one ever gets hurt around here. Nothing bad will happen.
We are human, and humans make mistakes and miscalculations. Trial and error is a fundamental aspect of personal growth. Sometimes fatigue leads us to a momentary lapse in judgment.
In almost all cases, when we make a poor decision, we have the chance to right a wrong and hopefully glean some sort of lesson from it. For the equipment operator, the risk of climbing over the side-boom and entering a secure space between the cab and counterweight appeared relatively minor.
But the result of his decision was monumentally tragic. He never had an opportunity to correct his mistake or learn from it.
We rely on the training and education we receive from teachers, instructors, elders, and peers to make informed and reasoned decisions. But when we cross the threshold of that moment when we will make a decision, no amount of education or bureaucratic red-tape ultimately prevents us from making our choice. At that critical moment, it's up to each of us individually to not be complacent about our work or to turn a blind eye to an unsafe act.
Today, April 28, 2011, we reflect on and commemorate the lives of workers that have been lost. If the lessons we learn by reflecting on the equipment operator's story helps prevent future tragic incidents, his passing will not have been in vain. His story, among a thousand others, should be a beacon for workers across Canada to recommit to personal safety and to fully think through actions and their potential consequences.
April 28, 2009, marks Canada's twentieth official observance of the International Day of Mourning. It is surprising how little Canadians seemingly understand of this day's general importance or its significance to individuals across all sectors of the workforce.
This day is a time to reflect upon and commemorate the lives of thousands of workers that have been lost through the decades. In 2009 alone, 939 Canadian workers were killed either at work or travelling to work.
Earlier this year, following a day's work, several equipment operators parked their side-booms-large, tracked vehicles used to lift and install pipe on pipeline projects. After shutting down their equipment, operators exit their cabs using an installed ladder.
For one worker, this sequence of events had become almost instinctual, having done so thousands of times over twenty plus as an operator. But on this particular night, this seasoned worker noticed he had forgotten something in the cab and doubled back to the side-boom.
Instead of utilizing the ladder to enter the cab, as he had done thousands of times previously, he climbed the side-boom's tracks on the opposite side. He then maneuvered his way across the counterweight rails between the tightly secured counterweight and the side-boom cab.
Searching for the misplaced item, he unknowingly hit a lever that released the side-boom's massive counterweight. The 5,000 pound metal object slowly inched its way down the rails toward the operator's position, crushing him in the process.
One might be quick to conclude that this tragic incident could have been easily prevented had the operator simply returned to the cab by the proscribed safe route. No one could have known that he would choose to make this seemingly minor yet tragic decision or prevented him from making this choice.
How many times in the course of a day do each of us make such seemingly minor decisions, completing ordinary tasks under ordinary circumstances with tools and equipment that are familiar to us?
A motorist makes a crucial, split-second decision at a busy intersection to turn left in front of quickly advancing traffic.
A homeowner props a ladder against the house in unstable soil, thinking the job will just take her a second.
A farmhand works around unshielded mechanical parts on equipment because the shields just get in the way and slow him down.
We have all done similar things at some point in our lives. It is only after something goes wrong that we realize the negative or unintended consequences of our actions. We conduct almost instantaneous analyses of risk that are all too often biased by our intended goals.
Following a poor decision, we often wonder, why did I do that? Our answers never truly satisfy the question, yet we ask it time and again. Sometimes we feel entirely comfortable in and around our tools and equipment and take shortcuts because in the past we have gotten away with it, providing positive reinforcement for our questionable behaviours.
It's easy to become complacent about safety. No one ever gets hurt around here. Nothing bad will happen.
We are human, and humans make mistakes and miscalculations. Trial and error is a fundamental aspect of personal growth. Sometimes fatigue leads us to a momentary lapse in judgment.
In almost all cases, when we make a poor decision, we have the chance to right a wrong and hopefully glean some sort of lesson from it. For the equipment operator, the risk of climbing over the side-boom and entering a secure space between the cab and counterweight appeared relatively minor.
But the result of his decision was monumentally tragic. He never had an opportunity to correct his mistake or learn from it.
We rely on the training and education we receive from teachers, instructors, elders, and peers to make informed and reasoned decisions. But when we cross the threshold of that moment when we will make a decision, no amount of education or bureaucratic red-tape ultimately prevents us from making our choice. At that critical moment, it's up to each of us individually to not be complacent about our work or to turn a blind eye to an unsafe act.
Today, April 28, 2011, we reflect on and commemorate the lives of workers that have been lost. If the lessons we learn by reflecting on the equipment operator's story helps prevent future tragic incidents, his passing will not have been in vain. His story, among a thousand others, should be a beacon for workers across Canada to recommit to personal safety and to fully think through actions and their potential consequences.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Road Closed and Detour Signs Are Key to Keeping Drivers Safe
One of the most important things for any driver is to be aware of changes in traffic patterns due to ongoing construction projects. Oftentimes these projects are essential to fixing a badly damaged road or to cleaning up debris following a severe storm, and may cause headaches for commuters. While workers will try to complete the tasks at hand as quickly as possible, they will more often than not either close a road or lane to finish the job without putting their lives in jeopardy. One of the most essential things for any community to keep both workers and drivers safe is to post road construction traffic signs.
The typically orange, reflective and diamond-shaped signs will be highly recognizable to anyone who has been driving for a long time. The signs will let them know that they must be careful as they drive to their destination. In some cases this will mean that two lanes become one, forcing drivers to quickly pile into one lane when they see the sign. In more extreme cases, an entire roadway will be closed, forcing them to take a detour. It is vital that drivers are aware that a detour is coming up before they must take it. By having a sign that says "Detour Ahead," or "Road Closed Ahead," people will be able to prepare and think about the new route they must take. Driving the same way to a destination can often make it so that motorists operate a vehicle without thinking too much about the route. The noticeable signs are key to keep someone from being taken by surprise and can prevent an accident from occurring.
Sometimes drivers will be forced to take a detour because of a massive accident that makes driving on the road impossible. In Pennsylvania recently, two tractor-trailer crashes on Interstate 80 forced police to activate an emergency detour route for drivers, the Pocono Record reports. According to the news source, the detour resulted in hours of delays for commuters who were likely none too pleased to see the signs for a detour.
"This emergency detour is incredibly labor intensive," Brian Kimmins, a local traffic official, said in an interview with the newspaper. "When you take all that into consideration, I think we did fine."
No matter what the reason, having the right road construction traffic signs can go a long way in preventing a confusing and sometimes dangerous situation.
The typically orange, reflective and diamond-shaped signs will be highly recognizable to anyone who has been driving for a long time. The signs will let them know that they must be careful as they drive to their destination. In some cases this will mean that two lanes become one, forcing drivers to quickly pile into one lane when they see the sign. In more extreme cases, an entire roadway will be closed, forcing them to take a detour. It is vital that drivers are aware that a detour is coming up before they must take it. By having a sign that says "Detour Ahead," or "Road Closed Ahead," people will be able to prepare and think about the new route they must take. Driving the same way to a destination can often make it so that motorists operate a vehicle without thinking too much about the route. The noticeable signs are key to keep someone from being taken by surprise and can prevent an accident from occurring.
Sometimes drivers will be forced to take a detour because of a massive accident that makes driving on the road impossible. In Pennsylvania recently, two tractor-trailer crashes on Interstate 80 forced police to activate an emergency detour route for drivers, the Pocono Record reports. According to the news source, the detour resulted in hours of delays for commuters who were likely none too pleased to see the signs for a detour.
"This emergency detour is incredibly labor intensive," Brian Kimmins, a local traffic official, said in an interview with the newspaper. "When you take all that into consideration, I think we did fine."
No matter what the reason, having the right road construction traffic signs can go a long way in preventing a confusing and sometimes dangerous situation.
Road Closed and Detour Signs Are Key to Keeping Drivers Safe
One of the most important things for any driver is to be aware of changes in traffic patterns due to ongoing construction projects. Oftentimes these projects are essential to fixing a badly damaged road or to cleaning up debris following a severe storm, and may cause headaches for commuters. While workers will try to complete the tasks at hand as quickly as possible, they will more often than not either close a road or lane to finish the job without putting their lives in jeopardy. One of the most essential things for any community to keep both workers and drivers safe is to post road construction traffic signs.
The typically orange, reflective and diamond-shaped signs will be highly recognizable to anyone who has been driving for a long time. The signs will let them know that they must be careful as they drive to their destination. In some cases this will mean that two lanes become one, forcing drivers to quickly pile into one lane when they see the sign. In more extreme cases, an entire roadway will be closed, forcing them to take a detour. It is vital that drivers are aware that a detour is coming up before they must take it. By having a sign that says "Detour Ahead," or "Road Closed Ahead," people will be able to prepare and think about the new route they must take. Driving the same way to a destination can often make it so that motorists operate a vehicle without thinking too much about the route. The noticeable signs are key to keep someone from being taken by surprise and can prevent an accident from occurring.
Sometimes drivers will be forced to take a detour because of a massive accident that makes driving on the road impossible. In Pennsylvania recently, two tractor-trailer crashes on Interstate 80 forced police to activate an emergency detour route for drivers, the Pocono Record reports. According to the news source, the detour resulted in hours of delays for commuters who were likely none too pleased to see the signs for a detour.
"This emergency detour is incredibly labor intensive," Brian Kimmins, a local traffic official, said in an interview with the newspaper. "When you take all that into consideration, I think we did fine."
No matter what the reason, having the right road construction traffic signs can go a long way in preventing a confusing and sometimes dangerous situation.
The typically orange, reflective and diamond-shaped signs will be highly recognizable to anyone who has been driving for a long time. The signs will let them know that they must be careful as they drive to their destination. In some cases this will mean that two lanes become one, forcing drivers to quickly pile into one lane when they see the sign. In more extreme cases, an entire roadway will be closed, forcing them to take a detour. It is vital that drivers are aware that a detour is coming up before they must take it. By having a sign that says "Detour Ahead," or "Road Closed Ahead," people will be able to prepare and think about the new route they must take. Driving the same way to a destination can often make it so that motorists operate a vehicle without thinking too much about the route. The noticeable signs are key to keep someone from being taken by surprise and can prevent an accident from occurring.
Sometimes drivers will be forced to take a detour because of a massive accident that makes driving on the road impossible. In Pennsylvania recently, two tractor-trailer crashes on Interstate 80 forced police to activate an emergency detour route for drivers, the Pocono Record reports. According to the news source, the detour resulted in hours of delays for commuters who were likely none too pleased to see the signs for a detour.
"This emergency detour is incredibly labor intensive," Brian Kimmins, a local traffic official, said in an interview with the newspaper. "When you take all that into consideration, I think we did fine."
No matter what the reason, having the right road construction traffic signs can go a long way in preventing a confusing and sometimes dangerous situation.
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