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Ram and Rap

Do not confuse the word Ram as in the Dodge brand or as the hill climbing species or the sudden application of force to another object.

Ram is also Rama or Ramachandra which is a major deity in Hinduism.  A Supreme being in certain parts of Indian culture he is revered and worshiped for the virtues and qualities he epitomizes and serves as a guiding light for how one can lead one's life.

Now to the title of this blog.  It was a muggy Labor Day morning as I set out on my morning walk.  I planned to stroll a 3 mile trail before returning to base.  The path is dotted with multiple flowering growth, tended to by the city grounds staff, parks and track homes.  The parks serve as a respite in summer from chilling in the shade to variety of sporting activities including cricket.

This morning though I was hit with a loud chant arising from the park.  That of Shree Ram!  This is an invocation of the name of the supreme being at 7 am amidst the quiet in the middle of residences occupied by a cultural melange not necessarily of the Hindu faith.  What the heck?

Three old dudes that hailed from the north of India and visiting their offspring who no doubt had made homes in the neighborhood were going at it.  Part breathing exercises and part balancing their debit accounts (by chanting the lord's name one can pay back for some other sins per GAP - God's accounting principles) these guys were giving it their all.  I could hear them a mile away.

Now how one observes their faith or spiritual alignment is one's own business but to take that affection to the street is like having their dog defecate on my front lawn.  Why should anyone be subjected to noise pollution (for someone that does not understand this curious behavior) when all I expected was a quiet walk or someone just wanted to sleep in?  People need to be mindful of their footprint when they walk in public.  A virtue that none other than Rama taught.  Irony?

This rude intrusion of sound was then forgotten as  I got to mile marker 2.  All was quiet again except for the whirring of hummingbirds trying to sneak some early nectar before the day got warm.  As I got closer to home I heard a throbbing.  Quickly realized it was a rendering of a Rap number in the vicinity.  That turned out to be a dirty sedan parked in a side street from which I could make out a dude bobbing to the erratic sound beat created by a modern spiritual leader with names that include only Consonants or Numbers like DD or 50 or who knows what.

That was followed by a distinct change in odor from the joint this brother lit to add to his overall sense of well being.  Hmm.  Probably returning from a late night shift some place and just wanting to chill before bedtime?

I guess my morning walk needed changing to a pre-dawn schedule or the lord wanted me to find a new path.

I am all for justice and liberty (and weed) for all those that want to partake but let us not confuse it with anarchy.

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