Reflection on my China trip

I was on an international module to Guangzhou in China. Though being a small it was a really enlightening trip. This incident was about a lecturer who was so obsessed with the growth of China that he constantly mentioned that China’s GDP would overpass US’s by 2020.

I was wondering that is it mindful enough to just get into the rat race of having a higher GDP. Isn't it more important to compare the life of the people and the way the citizens of a country are living their lives. The professor also acknowledged the fact that the competitive advantage of China was in its cheap labour and was very proud of the fact that the country should keep on exploiting its citizens.

I can compare it to the scenario in India, where also it is all about competition and about coming first. But I think by adopting this short term strategy the developing countries are losing the bigger picture. It is very important that until these nations realign their activities and help people in leading a better life rather than playing the number game.

Aaron Ramsey's Injury: Another addition to Arsenal's woes

This is my first blog, but I think this one incidence that happened yesterday night at the Britannia Stadium has propelled me to write one.

I have been an Arsenal(a premier league football team) supporter since the days I have started playing or following football. The unfortunate incidence happened yesterday night during the match between Arsenal and Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium (Home ground of Stoke City Football Club). Everything was on track and Arsenal were as usual at their best playing free flowing football, after the initial setback from Delap's throw that pushed them a goal behind. But after that goal the handbrake was lifted and the Gunners were playing at their best. The Arsenal came back into the game and were seen knocking on the doors of the victory after equalizing from Bendtner's precise header. The shocker came in the 65th minute when Shawcross came in with a gruesome challenge breaking the leg of the Welsh man. Such was the seriousness of the injury that the Arsenal's players were left shattered and awed. Vermaelen, Fabregas, Sol were all seen at the verge of breaking down. There was lull in the stadium and the players could not believe the repeat of what had happened to Eduardo 2 years and 4 days ago. The game was dead before the gunners showed that this time they would not get carried away by such incidences which doused their title hopes a couple of seasons ago. The resilience and the mental strength helped them to a much deserved victory.

But the point that needs immediate attention is why did this happen in the first case? It has been a while since the teams that are not able to match up to the sweet football that Gunners play have retorted to a new strategy of relying more on physicality than on the skill of the players. In the last four to five years the trends have changed and all the teams have realized that there is no point in playing fair football with this team. The only way to beat them is to put in nasty challenges to stop the free flow football. This to me does not seem to be a fair tactic because it comes at a very heavy price tag. I do not know when will the FIFA or the FA will wake up and start taking responsibility and make sure that such things do not become an integral part of such a beautiful game.

Who so ever has seen the last night's challenge on one of the most promising youngsters in the world, would have been left in shatters. The flying leg caught the Welsh man and the photographs would reveal how gruesome the injury is. Such kind of tackles can be judged as career ending ones. No wonder how disgusted the Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger was after the game. He has lost 3 players to a similar injury in the last 5 years. First target was Abou Diaby in 2006, then Eduardo in 2008 and now Ramsey in 2010.

I know, a lot of people would argue that these tackles were not meant to create so much harm and were just coincidences. So, I have just one question to ask: Why is that of all the clubs in the world, only Arsenal faces such coincidences? It can never be a coincidence on three situations. The football enthusiasts who have seen the last game against Porto would not agree more how the teams do try to make their physical presence felt. It took around 15 challenges against Cesc Fabregas before the referee could display the first yellow.

But is showing of the yellows and reds can substitute the pain, agony, suffering, depression and the precious years of career lost remains to be answered.........................GET WELL SOON GUNNER!!!!!