In this age of technology, when people are texting, sending emails, including emojis in messages, my love for handwritten notes has grown in intensity. There was a time when handwritten notes and letters were the primary ways to communicate, in addition to spoken words. Even with the emergence of typewriters, a paper on which a…
Author: Tawsif Anam
THE POWER OF LONELINESS
I guess most people do not want to be lonely. But there are others who seek moments, days, weeks, or even longer periods of solitude. We all have different preferences. But can we truly be lonely? Our inclinations vary, depending on our personalities and experiences. The desire to be around people or to be lonely…
TIME: FAIR, JUST, AND UNFORGIVING
Time neither pauses, nor stops. As I looked at my watch, I saw the ticking of the second hand. The movement of time, as we know it, is irreversible. We can track it, but we cannot change how it flows. As humans, we are confronted with the limitations that time has set for us. And…
QUALITY TIME, QUALITY OF THOUGHTS
Any rational individual would like to spend quality time with family, friends, and loved ones. What constitutes “quality time” would vary, depending on who you ask. At the core, quality time refers to the time spent in doing that which would strengthen a relationship. In addition to quality time, quality of thoughts is also essential…
HOW CRITICISM INSPIRES ME TO WRITE AND SPEAK
Some criticisms are constructive, while others are not. Regarding my writings and podcast, I have never been afraid of criticism. The words and reactions from critics inspire me to continue to be vocal in expressing my thoughts through writing and speaking. I believe in the free expression of ideas. I like to share my thoughts…
DON’T BAN SINGLE-USE PLASTICS
I want a clean environment for all. I think we should take reasonable measures to keep the environment clean. Banning the use of single-use plastics is not a reasonable step to protect the environment. I think single-use plastic items, such as forks, knives, spoons, cups, boxes, etc., are essential and we must continue to use…
MOURNING THE LOSS OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has died today. She was 96 years old at the time of her passing. The news of her death shook the entire world. In this context, I want to share something that I know from my family’s history. My maternal grandfather, Mr. Ansaruddin Khan, was a businessman and was also…
MOVE-IN AND MEMORIES
The campus of the University of Wisconsin – Madison is once again full of young men and women who have arrived in the city to start the new school year. As students are moving in, my mind is taking me back to the years I spent at this university. Move-in days are bringing back memories….
WHY YOU SHOULD WRITE YOUR LIFE’S STORY
Some believe that one’s life flashes in front of the eyes, right before the person’s death. There may be no known scientific way to test and validate that claim, because there is no apparent return from that point. As such, there is no way to write about that experience, except using one’s imagination. Additionally, the…
THE GARLAND OF WORDS
For the writer, words are flowers that can be woven together to create a garland. The scent from the garland can be intoxicating, not just for the readers, but the writer too. No wonder, reading and writing are both addictive. A writer can forgo sleep to maximize the number of hours spent in creative expression…
WHAT IS POETRY?
Poetry is the highest form of expression. If you want a definition of poetry, there is not one. You can feel free to look for a definition in a dictionary, but that would not tell you much about poetry. Poetry is recited, as much as it is written. But most importantly, poetry is felt. A…
CALIFORNIA’S WAR AGAINST GAS CARS
Never in my life did I think that the government, here in a major American state, would try to dictate people about what kind of vehicle should be used for transportation. But here we are. Reportedly, the California Air Resources Board decided that, by 2035, all new vehicles in the state would be required to…
A PROFESSOR SAID – “PUBLISH OR PERISH”
Human beings are mortal. Yet, there is a way to continue to live, long after one’s earthly existence has ceased. “Publish or perish,” said one of my professors at North South University, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. As far as I can recall, he had heard it during his time as a student, and as a teacher…
MY ADVICE TO WRITERS WHO FAIL TO PRODUCE NEW WORK
Words do not attach themselves to each other to create sentences. A writer puts one word after another for the expression of ideas, thoughts, and feelings. What happens when a writer fails to produce new pieces of writing, particularly fiction? If you are a storywriter, you are likely engaged in producing novels or short stories….
GOD’S BEAUTIFUL CREATIONS, BESIDES HUMANS
As a child, I did not spend much time around animals. But I have always learnt to appreciate God’s creations. We are all created by the same God – humans, animals, plants, and all other beings. Since my childhood, I have always been fascinated by the wide variety of animals that are here on this…
LIVING IN THE BEST CITY
The city of Madison, in the beautiful state of Wisconsin, is known as the best place to live in America, according to Livability.com. I decided to make Madison my home, many years ago, and I think it is one of the best decisions I made in my life. When I came to the United States,…
THE SECOND-BEST CITY IN THE WORLD?
Is Chicago the second-best city in the world? It certainly is, according to a new list that was published recently. But what about the rise in crime in Chicago, and how is that affecting residents and visitors? According to TimeOut, Chicago is the second-best city in the world. The Midwestern city has excellent dining options,…
FROM MY LIBRARY: A FEW BOOKS ON ASTROLOGY
I started creating my own library when I was a young boy. From British literature to Bengali mystery books, from Tintin comic books to encyclopedias and books on history and geography, I enjoyed a wide variety of reading materials. I read the works of Satyajit Ray, Rabindranath Tagore, Charles Dickens, John Keats, Lord Tennyson, and…
END THE NEVER-ENDING FEAR
Since the outbreak of COVID19, many people continue to be affected by never-ending fear. I think it is time to eliminate the fear from our hearts. There are individuals who are still wearing masks due to their fear of coronavirus. I completely respect people’s freedom to wear or to not wear masks in public settings….
WHAT ELSE WILL CLIMATE ACTIVISTS ASK PEOPLE TO GIVE UP?
Climate activists want people to make lots of sacrifices to fight global warming – giving up fossil fuels, giving up cars and choosing public transportation, giving up beef, etc. The things that people should sacrifice in order to meet the climate activists’ expectations are limitless. It is only the hardworking people of America who are…
WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN WON’T ADMIT
President Joe Biden does not want to admit it. But let me tell you that it is now confirmed that the American economy is in recession. Latest data show that the gross domestic product (GDP) fell 1.6 percent in the first quarter and fell 0.9 percent in the second quarter. Many textbooks define “recession” as…
HOW CLIMATE ACTIVISTS ARE TRYING TO DESTROY RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Climate activists, to combat global warming, want to reduce the consumption of meat, including beef. The efforts to push people to give up meats goes against the religious freedom of Muslims. Many climate activists are pushing for people to give up real meat and start consuming “plant-based meats“, to fight global warming. “Plant-based meats” are…
PREVENT THE EROSION OF AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP
The power of American citizenship depends on the right to vote. If the right to vote is extended to non-citizens, American citizenship will be eroded. Recently, the New York City Council approved a measure to allow non-citizens to vote in municipal elections, for the offices of mayor, comptroller, borough president, and council member, as well…
WHY WE SHOULD VOLUNTEER
Time is perhaps the most finite, as well as the most valuable, resource that a person has. The flow of time is beyond our control. To devote one’s time on an activity or effort for the benefit of society, in the absence of renumeration, is a very noble thing that a person can do. That…
THE FREEDOM OF RELIGION HELPS GROW AMERICA’S DIVERSITY
The freedom of religion is included in the Bill of Rights, and people in America can practice any religion or not practice a religion. The freedom of religion is what helps America become more diverse. Conflicts, due to religious differences, occur in many parts of the world. In various places around the globe, there are…
EXPRESSING MY THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS
I am a conservative. Being born and raised in Bangladesh, I did not grow up in a Republican or a Democrat family. I arrived in the United States when I was 19 years old, as an adult. My faith, my family, the way I was raised, and the principles I inherited from my mother make…
DEBIT CARDS WON’T SOLVE GAS PRICE PROBLEM
Gavin Newsom, governor of California, is proposing to provide direct payment to vehicle owners, as relief for rising prices of gasoline. Unfortunately, such a proposal would not address the core of the problem that is leading to the rising prices of gas. According to Governor Newsom’s proposal, Californians would receive debit cards, worth 400 dollars…
DISCOMFORT: WHY A WRITER WRITES
A writer is not one who puts the tip of a pen on a piece of paper and proceeds to use language to craft an essay, state an opinion, present a poem, or create a story. A writer is someone who does either one, some, or all of these, not as tasks, but as a…
CAN WE RESTORE CONFIDENCE?
The world has suffered a massive blow. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the global community’s failure to prevent the onset of such brutal attacks on innocent human beings have resulted in the erosion of people’s confidence in the civilized world. Many countries, including some of the largest industrialized nations, have expressed their commitment to…
WHAT CLIMATE ACTIVISTS WON’T TELL YOU
Here’s the reality that climate activists won’t tell you: fossil fuels help drive America forward. The Biden administration has imposed restrictions on domestic oil and gas production, and also canceled the Keystone XL Pipeline project. As a result, America is now dependent on foreign oil producers. Dependence on foreign oil producers makes the American economy…
FAMILIES CAN HELP SENIORS WITH TRANSPORTATION NEEDS
Lack of reliable transportation is one of the greatest challenges that senior citizens face. But assistance from family members can help meet such needs. Many senior citizens have physical challenges due to old age. They need timely and safe transportation to go grocery shopping, visit the clinic for medical appointments, visit places of worship, travel…
LIFE IS FULL OF UNCERTAINTIES
Life is full of uncertainties, and we learn that at every step. Yesterday, my mother lost her only brother, and I lost my uncle, who left this earth for the afterlife. My uncle, late Mr. Nasir Khan, was the only son of my grandparents, and was my mother’s younger brother. He was a resident of…
PHYSICIAN BURNOUT IS A REAL PROBLEM
Given that the United States has an aging population, the demand for medical services is growing. To ensure a robust health care workforce and to meet the needs of the population, we must address the problem of physician burnout. According to the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, physician burnout refers to the “long-term…
THIS ISN’T THE RIGHT TIME FOR SCOTUS NOMINATION
President Joe Biden has nominated a judge from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to the U.S. Supreme Court. With the seat of Justice Stephen Breyer still not vacant, and with growing domestic and international crises that require American elected officials’ attention, now is not the time to talk about a Supreme…
LONG LINES AND EMPTY SHELVES
If you thought that the problem of shortages at grocery stores is over, you may be wrong. Over a period of many months, I have experienced the lack of availability of products when shopping for groceries. To this day, the problem continues. Even when products are available, the range of brand options have been reduced….
DO MASK MANDATES APPLY TO CELEBRITIES?
I do not support mask mandates. I believe that there should not be any mask mandate. Americans must be free to choose whether to wear masks or not. We continue to see how mask mandates are enforced on the general public, while celebrities continue to openly disregard COVID19 rules. A mask mandate is in effect…
COVID RULES AND LOCKDOWNS: WHO SUFFERED THE MOST?
Since the outbreak of COVID19, there came a wave of public health guidelines, rules, restrictions, and mandates. As a result, Americans suffered financially, emotionally, as well as physically. Americans of all ages, from all walks of life, suffered from the intrusive government orders that affected their personal, professional, and social lives. Many working-age Americans saw…
THE GARCETTI CONFUSION
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was seen, without a mask, taking photos with NBA legend Magic Johnson and Mayor London Breed of San Francisco, at a sporting event. The elected official was seen maskless at SoFi Stadium that has a mask mandate in place. Therefore, Mayor Garcetti’s action is a clear violation of the stadium’s…
THE EROSION OF LAW AND ORDER
The United States of America is a nation of laws. Unfortunately, we are witnessing the erosion of law and order in major American cities. To protect our freedom and to ensure the safety of our communities, criminals must be caught and prosecuted, and crimes must be prevented. We must strengthen law enforcement agencies, provide police…
AOC AND THE GOVERNMENT MANDATE HYPOCRISY
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) of New York was seen spending time vacationing in the state of Florida. Her visit to Florida highlights the contrast between the two states. While New Yorkers continue to face intrusive government mandates, the people of Florida live in freedom. AOC’s visit to Florida also highlights the double standard – AOC…