Today was roller coaster.
Lost an asylum claim. Tried to help a mentally ill and sick client whose visa was denied. Then the 5th Circuit ACA ruling drops. Then elected officials parade around an authoritarian responsible for everything that happened since 9 AM.
Lost an asylum claim. Tried to help a mentally ill and sick client whose visa was denied. Then the 5th Circuit ACA ruling drops. Then elected officials parade around an authoritarian responsible for everything that happened since 9 AM.
But we kept pushing, preparing a new citizenship application, another 2 asylum cases (Nicaragua and Venezuela), a media opportunity, interviewing new and motivated interns.
The #Impeached president heading to a useless show trial parallels my day.
How do you keep on keeping on?
The #Impeached president heading to a useless show trial parallels my day.
How do you keep on keeping on?
When the #MuslimBan was upheld, I found myself thinking about my grandfather. I wrote about him, and today I think I need to, again:
typhoonical.com/home/dadajan
typhoonical.com/home/dadajan
A traditional doctor, he was a speaker in the Congress Party of pre-Partition India. He pushed for Hindu-Muslim unity and was jailed frequently by the British raj for resisting colonial rule.
He spoke no English, but my dad tells me used the word "agitation" a lot.
He spoke no English, but my dad tells me used the word "agitation" a lot.
But polarization made partition nearly inevitable. After release from prison in 1943, he turned down offers of political positions in India and, like 14 million others, fled to what would become Pakistan in what is still one of the bloodiest forced displacements in history.
What he went through is orders of magnitude worse than what we're dealing with. Perspective, y'all.
But from my dad's stories about him (I never met him) I like to think I know the advice he would give me. Give us.
But from my dad's stories about him (I never met him) I like to think I know the advice he would give me. Give us.
I think he would have counseled to never stop speaking truth to power, even when you're going to lose.
He would have continued to call for unity despite the fact that the two sides were killing each other.
He would have continued to call for unity despite the fact that the two sides were killing each other.
He would have related the time his elder son (my uncle) rode on Mahatma Gandhi's shoulders as a 9 year old boy, at a time when Hindus and Muslims lived in complete segregation.
He would have reminded the majority that it was their responsibility to ensure the rights of minorities were protected.
He would have told us to find a way to serve others no matter what.
He would have urged us to stick to principle, no matter what they called you.
He would have told us to find a way to serve others no matter what.
He would have urged us to stick to principle, no matter what they called you.
He would have told us to vote, as he had once urged the people of Sagar, India, keeping a yellow vote box to make sure no one was left out.
He would have told us to not lose "himmat" (resolve) because we still have institutions and the majority.
He would have told us to not lose "himmat" (resolve) because we still have institutions and the majority.
And I think he would have echoed Mahatma Gandhi and said simply, full effort is full victory.
