K. Kumar's Blog, page 20

America, Democracy, and Political Space

Today is an election day in America, and we are told that among the most important duties of every citizen, perhaps the most important, is participating in elections and casting a vote. It is, as they say, how citizens can peacefully express their voice and actively participate in government. 
Few have the nerve to challenge this notion, for what is the alternative? The concept of democracy is so alluring that one cannot help but be drawn into in and support it. It is so easy, and yet at...

Movie Review: Gone Girl

I recently saw Gone Girl:


I went into this movie without much familiarity with the story line, and overall I thought it was an impressive movie. The story goes well beyond the conventions, perhaps too far. It leaves you entertained, but at the same time it may reflect something about the nature of our society that this type of film is so popular. Or, maybe not. Regardless, it was entertaining and it kept my attention.
The story is simple enough, a woman goes missing and as it progresses the hus...

Movie Review: Captain Phillips

I recently watched Captain Phillips:


Overall, I was impressed with the film's portrayal of the events that led to the seizing of the ship, the hostage situation, and the eventual rescue. I knew how the film would play out, but the realistic portrayal of the story was impressive. More importantly, the film did a good job in allowing the audience to empathize with both the captain and the pirates. It lays bare the absurdity of the world we live in today, and how there seems to be this force in t...

The Two Percent

Given the election year, many are prone to discuss the importance of elections and the need to vote. This is a civic duty, or so they say. This is the one opportunity for the citizens to express their opinion. I won't argue this point, there is no harm in voting and if it gives you some satisfaction, then all the better.
At the same time, I am less inclined to believe that one's vote will make much of a difference. For even if the candidates you favor are elected, it is unlikely they will have...

Book: Michelangelo: His Epic Life

I recently finished the book: Michelangelo: His Epic Life. It was a pretty good book. One particular passage caught my attention:

Lurking behind the debate in Lorenzo's palace was a question that eventually caused the deepest divisions of the age. At issue was what sort of being man was: a fallen creature dependent on God's grace for any hope of salvation, or, as Pico argued, perfectible, able to rise towards heaven through his own efforts to be virtuous, made in the image of God? These were m...

Leaders

I have been reading a lot about leadership lately. It is a topic that is often discussed, but I get the feeling that few people could recognize a good leader, and given the cynical nature of the world today there is a great temptation to discount anyone who strives to be a leader. I think this is a well founded skepticism. I find most leaders that I have had to work with to be underwhelming.
The story is generally the same, these people are selected less for their competence (though some...

Movie Review: The Equalizer

I saw The Equalizer the other day. Overall, it is an entertaining, albeit overwrought film. It was enjoyable in itself, but it is not really anything that special. Denzel W. plays a hardware store laborer who a in previous life was a CIA agent. He takes on the role of a sort of vigilante, mentor, trying to impose a sort of order on the world. There is a certain appeal to this story line. In one arc, he helps avenge the beating of a prostitute, in another he helps an overweight kid get a...

Machiavelli: Fortune

From The Prince:

It is not unknown to me how many men have had, and still have, the opinion that the affairs of the world are in such wise governed by fortune and by God that men with their wisdom cannot direct them and that no one can even help them; and because of this they would have us believe that it is not necessary to labour much in affairs, but to let chance govern them. This opinion has been more credited in our times because of the great changes in affairs which have been seen, and m...

Panama

I spent a weekend in Panama some time back, in Panama City. I stayed in the El Cangrejo area and spent time doing touristy stuff. There were a couple things that stuck out to me: (1) the heat, (2) the development, (3) the new subway system, and (4) the Panama Canal.
The Canal has been a major boon for the people of Panama. It is probably the most powerful example of International Development ever to have been conceived. The United States is largely responsible for the constructing the Canal an...

Voice II

In talking of voice and expressing one's voice, there is a lot that has been said about the most effective manner in which a human can assert their voice. We are told that in a democracy all the citizens have the great power of the vote whereby they can listen to the various candidates or read about the various issues and then enter the booth and cast their vote. In doing so, their voice is heard. Their expression is said to have a direct impact on the future, their future. This is called a c...