Identity is an indispensable part of who we are. But what is identity? How do we define it? Identity is how each individual defines him or herself. When you think about it, such identification is virtually always made by linking to specific and particular things and – secondly – it’s multi-layered. For example, I can describe myself as a fifty-year-old…
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Tradition can be a very good thing. It connects us to the past, gives a sense of familiarity and provides helpful routines. Tradition is an indispensable component of identity on each level, from individual through to national or ethnic. Tradition is good as long as it’s meaningful. But traditions can turn into shackles. Deprived of its meaning it has nothing…
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One of the main themes in reporting the turmoil in Afghanistan is the fate and future of women and their rights under the Taliban regime. There’s fear of turning back the clock and a return to a situation where females effectively have no rights, no education, no career of their own; their role practically reduced to being submissive underlings of…
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You might have heard that a month ago Sir Richard Branson travelled to space in the vehicle that his company had been developing for 17 years. The event was quite widely met with a proverbial shrug of the shoulders as the billionaire’s costly vanity project, with many downsides and no real benefits. I’m not going to argue for or against…
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Toughen up. Get a grip. Man up. These are among the most commonly used phrases when people struggle with certain situations, conditions or with life in general. These phrases are simple and effective tools to help those in trouble, right? Well, they might work but only in certain situations and not for everyone. Because sometimes life can be quite complicated…