Gratitude

by TRISHNA GURUNG

FROM ISSUE # 101 (May 2004) | IN THIS ISSUE
	REFER TO FRIEND		PRINT THIS ARTICLE

I was going to ramble on my half-formed philosophy on the shopping for shoes and life choices. The truth is my life is not an episode of HBO's Sex and the City (SATC) and this humble scribe is no Carrie Bradshaw. As much as I wish I could afford Manolo Blahnik's SATC, reality is that I can never afford a $700 pair of shoes. Besides, my conscience would strike me down in one fell blow. How could I dare to spend nearly three-and-a-half times the average Nepali annual income on shoes, (no matter how gorgeous)???

Just being able to make such comparisons makes me realize how privileged our lot is. You, sitting somewhere with WAVE opened to this particular column are blessed. Try this on for size:

1. You're reading English. Are you aware of how many people in Nepal can't even write their own names? By virtue of your education and knowledge of this foreign language, you have access to the whole world. That is not an understatement. Look around you. Surf the Net. Read the papers. You are a member of the global village and the lingua franca is English.

2. You're reading WAVE in English. That's NRs. 35. Not a lot to you perhaps, especially if this is being subsidized by the Parent's Fund. It's what you could spend on a taxi ride, or maybe a plate of momos and a cola. It's what you'd shell out to rent two VCDs from the local store. This is also what the average highway sex worker earns per client. And sometimes clients leave without paying.

3. You're reading WAVE in English and are capable of having your own opinions on the content. In many, many countries around the world, young and old alike are told exactly what to think about everything. Religious and political fanaticism being the worst offenders. But here you are, sifting through a 'liberal' magazine that's out to inform, educate, entertain and yes, sell you things—commerce is the way of the world sweet child. You have the privilege of choice, even to dismiss what you just read. And that's A-okay as long as you know why.

4. You're reading WAVE in English, and are capable of having your own informed opinions. If that's the case, you are part of a brave new generation that will not and should not just "do as you are told". We must ask questions and demand answers. They say the children inherit the future. Seeing as we're already part of the present, it's time we start building for what comes next. We are next. Apathy and cynicism are too easy. I'm sure I've said that before but it bears repeating. Let's all be daring different and believe we can make a difference right here, right now.

Freestyling was never meant to be overtly political but of course it is. As one famous American feminist remarked, the personal is political. The reverse is true too. This means we are not isolated entities. Whether or not we take responsibility for things beyond the end of our noses is a different matter. I'm still working things out, just as you are. At least I'm looking and asking;  feeling a great deal of gratitude for the life I have—the lack of expensive shoes not withstanding.

I'll get off my soapbox now. It's darned difficult to make lofty speeches in high heels