The recriminalisation of humanity

I checked the morning news from India and felt my blood rush through my ears. One had heard about a less than enthusiastic bench, but the headline `Homosexuality illegal: SC´ managed to shock me nonetheless. A large part of humanity was condemned for the victimless crime of not suppressing their sexuality. Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 was held to be legal in its undiluted interpretation.

Impactful as the headline was, it was not accurate. Section 377 does not criminalise only homosexuality, but more generally, any “carnal intercourse against the order of nature”. Depending on how one interprets these words, as suggested in the decision, any non-penovaginal, penetrative sexual activity constitutes an offence punishable with incarceration for as many as ten years, even if it is consensual and between adults. But homosexuals are most likely to be the easiest victims of the verdict.

From that somewhere over the rainbow

I arrived in New York with little sleep, some work backlog and a bit of a prejudice against large cities. It was crowded, hot and polluted. The cars were larger than I had seen anywhere else in the world, and along with their large engines, one frequently heard them honk. The city never slept; nor did I that night.

the economics of justice

This May, i returned to India for a two week holiday. Interestingly, my responses to similar circumstances on this occasion were markedly different than they were the last time i returned from Europe. More specifically, my appreciation of economics had changed.

12,14,19

12 April 2013

It was an overcast and breezy morning in August 2010, when my English flatmate and i set out to bike from the barracks to the city center of Leiden. “Isn’t the weather fantastic”, i exulted, truly enjoying the cool breeze and the absence of the sun. “Sure”, was the Englishman’s sarcastic reaction, which after looking at my truly happy face turned into a look of bewilderment. “You are being sarcastic, I hope!”

From a distance

What an anthem was Bette Middler's rendition of `From a Distance´! Not a family reunion or a road trip was complete without us gleefully singing it. The song began with a wonderful description of an increasingly rare view of the world: From a distance - the world looks blue and green - and the snowcapped mountains white - from a distance the ocean meets the sea - and the eagle takes to flight. Even at its most unutopian, she sang: From a distance - you look like my friend - even though we are at war - from a distance - I just cannot comprehend - what all this fighting is for!

 

Alas from a distance, I have now learnt, the picture is not really pretty.