The Modern Day Socrates/Gadfly

Someone who I think may be a modern day Socrates is the artist, K’Naan. Now, I am not a very music savvy person, so I do not have much to compare him to, but he sings about current issues in a different light than the mainstream media. He is from Somalia, and many of his songs are about the turmoil that is happening in that country right now, and he also talks about the superfluousness of modern, commercialized hip-hop. He sheds light on some issues like how education is also lacking in poor neighborhoods and the Somali pirates and why they might have been led to such activities. For example, in the western media the Somali pirates were portrayed as lunatics and heartless people (which some of them were), but the media usually never got to the bottom of the real issue for the piracy, which had to do with Western political and business interests that had played in that country for many years. In this example, K’Naan tries to change the perception of what the media says is true and question the bias of the media, something that I believe Socrates would have done in his time with what the authorities said were true. K'Naan is sometimes even known as the "Dusty Foot Philosopher".

He may not look as deep into the issues as other people who could be modern day Socrateses, but he does have some similar qualities. A big quality, though, that K’Naan has but Socrates did not is that K’Naan is a performer/entertainer. When asked if he was trying to outlet his viewpoints through his music, K’Naan responded by saying “not really” and that his first priority was to make good music. He just wrote about his observations. It is clear, though, that he has made keen observations.

The Unexamined Life

Is the unexamined life not worth living? I believe it is essential for us to question ourselves and the world around us, to question why we do things and why others do the things they do. Through questions we can slowly find out what is true and what is not true. For you to be in control of yourself and your own actions you must be able to know the justification or reasons why you do certain things. If not, it is often the case that you are just doing what another tells you to do. You are in their control and are essentially their pawn.

Many different ideas come into our brains from different sources, and, without critically examining these ideas, putting them through a mental test so to speak, we can fall victim to what is not beneficial for us. Ignorance may be bliss, as the saying goes, but it can lead not just that person but the rest of society into a worse situation. For example, if we questioned our government’s decision to go to war in Iraq and did not openly accept it as the government gave it to us, how it was a war protecting America from weapons of mass destruction and a war for spreading democracy in the Middle East, then we would have probably been able to make a more prudent decision. Ignorance and not questioning what is going on can lead to poor decisions. By questioning what has been done, I believe that we can become wiser with our decisions. Ultimately, I believe that if someone is living in a situation of untruth, influenced by it everywhere, the only way to rise out of something like that is to question everything until that person realizes what they once thought to be true was not.

“The power to question is the basis of all human progress.” This quote from Indira Gandhi exemplifies how without examination we will not be able to do away with our fallacies that still control our actions and hold us back. Questioning a belief can help support it with more sound reasoning or make it crumble because of lack thereof.

Eulogy

Anil Methipara was a simple person who could find joy in the simplest of activities. Some days he could be seen competing on the basketball courts; other days he could be seen just lying on the grass gazing at the intensely blue sky on a beautiful summer day. He tried to enjoy the little things in life.


From the very beginning he had a big heart. He was, more often than not, very thankful for the blessings that were his, especially those of his family who had always been there for him. He understood that family was the only people in the world who actually genuinely cared about his well-being for the long term. He worked hard not just for himself but also for the greater good of the family. He felt pity for those in the world who were struggling more than he was, and he often volunteered his time, even for just a short while, to serve them. Anil has volunteered at his school, local library, homeless shelters, and with the intellectually disabled members of the community. He also helped raise funds to build a school in Malawi, Africa.


Anil was a very bright kid who was interested in learning; sometimes he couldn’t decide what he wanted to learn first! This may be why Anil often gravitated towards his elders rather than his own peers. His elders had a bank of wisdom and experiences which amazed him. Anil had a curiosity that drove his inquiries; his father even mockingly called him “Curious George”. His insatiable desire to know everything often found the response of annoyance. Even so, his teachers agreed that he had great potential.


Anil was a very lovable person who always tried to present a pleasant expression. It was difficult for him to make enemies because he tried not to offend others to the best of his abilities. Though he was a shy person, at times he showed a confidence and purpose that took notice among his peers. Deep down, though, he was a confused kid trying to fit into this mysterious world.


Anil left behind his mother and father, two brothers, and his grandmother. Anil was truly unique and will be truly missed because there was no one exactly like him. Through death, may his soul rest in peace.