The mere title “Gay in Iraq terrorized by Threats, Rape, Murder,”is Kamal’s dismal story in a nutshell. Kamal is a gay in Baghdad who is scarred by the memory of his rape 3 years ago. He never disclosed the unpleasant incident to his family because of its shame. Although in the Middle Eastern culture, there is something far greater than the shame of being raped and that is the infamy of being gay. The article depicts homosexuality as a crime worthy of death in such a culture.

This article reminds me of a beautiful novel I read as a sophomore. It’s called Kite Runner. The majority of the story is also set in the Middle East. The story is told through the eyes of Amir, a boy haunted by the shame of failing his friend Hassan.

I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975. I remember the precise moment, crouching behind a crumbling mud wall, peeking into the alley near the frozen creek. That was a long time ago, but it’s wrong what they say about the past, I’ve learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out. Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years.
- excerpt from Ch. 1 of Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

This excerpt portrays the immense burden Amir has been carrying since witnessing Hassan’s rape. Kamal and Amir both carry a sense of shame with them, though Amir aims to make it right. Kite Runner is a story about a scarred man’s journey towards redemption. Unfortunately, Amir is the fictional character and Kamal is the one with a tangible problem. It seems the only solution to making Kamal’s predicament “right,” would be changing the outlook of the entire Middle East.

‘Untouchables’ are Dalits, making them the lowest in India’s social order. People classified as “untouchables” literally clean up the messes of those ranking above them for meager wages.

For one that was labeled ‘untouchable,’ Usha Chaumar’s story justly compels you to reach out to her. Dr. Pathak, belonging to India’s upper class, did reach out to Usha and many women just like her. Usha went from hiding her face to becoming crowned “Princess (of Sanitation Workers).”

Unfortunately, one inspiring occurrence does not mean that the power gap between India’s rich and poor is no longer a problem.

So even if the top ten percent of people in the US are obscenely rich, the poor there aren’t as poor as the poor in India.
- excerpt from “The Gap Between the Rich and the Poor in India is Not that Wide” post

“The Gap Between the Rich and the Poor in India is Not that Wide” post is attempting to prove that the power gap between India’s people is not that bad. It aims to downplay the realities of citizens like Usha Chaumar. The post does this by juxtaposing the power gap existent in other countries. All I have to say, is the author shouldn’t have used the United States to make that particular point.

In “From ‘untouchable’ to role model,” it is evident that social order plays a large part in determining the kind of life you live. So though there are pros to maintaining social order, there are also flagrant cons to systems in which labels classify lifestyle and power. And without juxtaposing to make a point, the great impact of social order on standards of living is manifested in all settings.

Judging people you don’t know for things you don’t understand is just really stupid.
-Ellen Page

Labeling a person’s rectitude as best or worst is a complex process, simply because people are not…well…simple. I guess you could say possessing feelings of hatred towards Blanche was justified in the initial scenes of “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Although, as the story went on, feelings of sympathy and understanding more closely resembled my attitude toward Blanche. What may have appeared to be vanity every time she sought a compliment was probably her need to feel loved after being hurt by so many men. Maybe her tendency to lie was just her way of coping with reality.

Now, the relevance of judging people at first glance is undeniable. We all do it and we all have had it done to us. I found a how-to wiki titled “How to Stop People from Judging You Just because the Way You Dress.” The message of the how-to wiki applies to more than merely exterior appearances.

My favorite step would have to be:
step 5. Kill them with kindness :]