Anne Sophie’s First Gun

Anne Sophie was from town, called North Bend, WA. She was 55 years old female, single, religious and kind person. She was working as sales manager in Jimmy & Johnny kids clothing store with co-worker,  Peggy. Both ladies were happy in managing this small and sweet clothing store.  Their days were passed in assisting parents to find right size cloths for their kids. For Anne, seeing kids’ delighted face after getting the cloth they want was most fascinating thing in her life.

Anne was a religious lady. She used to attend Sunday service at North Bend Catholic Church regularly and she was active member of group called, Community of Peace. Community of peace’s objective was to advocate gun-free society for non-violent and peaceful American society. They arranged workshops at various parts of city to urge people to  go gun-free. Anne was living quite fulfilled and satisfied life, till 7/26..

On 7/26/2013, one man has killed nearly 10 people in  Columbia mall. On noon of 7/26, Danial Kurbrik, 26 years old man, rushed into the mall and started firing his 12 gauge shotgun, incessantly in all directions, killing 10 and injuring 27 innocent people. He killed people, he did not know. People had no idea about the man who killed them. They happened to be at wrong place & wrong time. Danial shot himself after shooting.. Mysteries of his mind were gone with him…

 
This incident shocked Anne. Death of innocent people, makes normal human being sad but for Anne things were more personal. Columbia Mall was regular mall, like  her mall. There was a connection. “How if some crazy person like Danial,  gets into my Mall, into my shop and start shooting as happened in Columbia Mall ?? “ This thought shudder Anne.

As per his neighbors and friends,  Danial was charming young man, who never hurt anyone. He was frustrated mentally and on 7/26 he vented out his inner frustration at Columbia mall, by killing innocent people and killing himself. These sort of volcanic urges are supressed within person. They keep churning violently inside and finally burst out.  Turbulence of mind was hidden behind innocence of  his face.

After knowing this, Anne got more anxious  “ How if someone with,  this sort of frustration, suddenly come in front of me at Mall and start shooting me ??? “Fear has penetrated into her mind. She kept thinking about Danial  and her fear grew stronger enough to impact her belief system.

 

Anne started suspecting everybody. People passing through her shop or . moving in mall, every body was on Anne’s radar. She stopped enjoying kids’ delighted faces, rather focused on their parents’ attitude.

In this mental conundrum, she spotted Kevin. Kevin was young man, working as janitor at North bend mall. He used mop the floor and collect the garbage. He was reserved man and mostly avoided mingling with others.

Anne’s radar picked him. Anne saw him smoking (she never liked people smoking) and ” that janitor boy.. he never speaks to anybody.… he is  so awkward ..  Is he OK !! what’s happening in his mind !!! “

 

For Anne, Kevin’s sharp eyes, smoke-emanating lips and tense face, it was trigger for greater suspicion “he is looking everything so sharply.. look at his angry eyes.. Is he planning something dangerous ??. what he is upto ??”Kevin finished his cigarette and briefly looked Anne. Anne quickly turned her face away. Kevin left , leaving  Anne burning in anxiety..

 

Days passed but Anne’s fear for Kevin did not dissolve. The another day, Anne was heading towards her shop. It was sale-sunday and Mall was full of people. Suddenly Anne saw Kevin coming towards her.. She tried to change her way, but could not due to congestion. Kevin was approaching her with same sharp angry eyes and intense wolfie face.. As Kevin approached closest, he opened zip of his jacket and his hand was pulling something from inner pocket…”is it shotgun “  Current of fear froze Anne’s whole body.. heart started thumping very hard and senses shattered for  a moment…  

Luckily it was cigarette lighter.. Kevin lighted his cigarette and disappeared in mall crowd.. Anne was exhausted by this horrible incident.

When she reached office, she collapsed on chair.  She talked about Kevin to Peggy. Peggy was as scared as Anne. She described number of people she was suspecting to have traits as Danial Kubrick. This has just added Anne’s anxiety exponentially. 

Anne could not sleep that night. Kevin’s sharp eyes, smoke and intense face, bothering her. She got hallucination of Kevin rushing into her shop and shooting vehemently… bullets piercing kids’ cloths….. Anne could not bear this scary thoughts and she got drank heavily but incepted fear was much stronger than Vodka.. .… Next morning she got up late and missed her Sunday service at church.

Anne’s ingrained perceptions were changing and her belief on  gun-free society were getting feeble. She  was seeking protection.. “If he suddenly drops into my shop and start shooting, how would I protect myself, my shop and my consumers ?? World has became very dangerous and one has to protect herself… what should I do.. ??  I can protect myself.. only if I have …… GUN as Kevin had.. “

She stopped .. what the hell she was thinking !! Gun.. Anne with Gun… whole her life she had advocated Gun-free society. She had written numerous blogs against fire-arms and supported anti-gun laws.. and now she wants to have gun for herself…  “what rubbish” she thought..

But her mind argued

“ When society has person like Kevin, Gun can protect you… if one of ten person killed at Columbia Mall, had Gun, Danial would have been killed before he killed anyone.. If I have gun, I can shoot Kevin before he shoots me..  “

And this thought stayed with Anne.. It kept re-occurring, no matter how many times Anne tried to suppress it. Anne, fierce anti-gun lobbyist, started liking idea to own gun for her protection…

 Now Anne is sitting in her kid’s cloth store. Amidst c Toy Story characters  and Disney princesses, she is looking at her first Gun.. loaded with bullets.. “ Now I am safe. The moment I feel slightly threatened by Kevin, the moment I feel slightly unsafe,, I will pull the gun from my purse and shoot.. the bullets will pierce Kevin’s chest and kill his heart forever, making me secured for ever…Now I am safe.. my Gun will make me safe.. “

 

Anne did not recognized that her gun made her safe, but made world more unsafe..

Gun has entered into Anne’s house and it’s going to stay and who knows in future, who is going to use it and how ???? . May be Danial’s mother bought shotgun with same intension.. to protect herself… !!!!

An eye for an eye makes world blind.. is it true for Guns as well !!

A gun for a Gun makes whole world _______ ?

Smile of Red Bus

It was bright winter day. Mild winter child, mixed with Mr.Golden sun is terrific combination.

Tina and her daughter Alia, were heading towards bus stop from Alia’s school. It was their daily routine. Alia was 5  years old girl, student of Rainbow private preschool. Tina, female 37 was software enginner, and now a housewife.  While Alia’s father Abbas was busy in minting money for his family, Tina took care of everything as paying utility bills, Alia’s schooling, lunch & dinner, shopping, grocery, taxes  etc. Sometimes she felt that life as software engineer was much easier than housewife. Housewife is 24 X 7 X 365  job, without any vacation.  But point is, She was enjoying her life and family was happy.

 

They reached to bus stop.  

 

There are two bus alternatives from school to home. Green Bus and Red bus. Tina always preferred green bus as it’s frequency was higher and it was dropping closer than red bus. But somehow since last few days, Alia was more tempted to take Red bus. Due to  Alia’s insistence, Tina unwillingly  riding Red bus. But not today…

 

Today Tina was behind her schedule. She had dental appointment and she was already spent more time in chatting with Alia’s teacher. It was important for Tina to reach home early, have lunch and visit dentist before Abbas arrives. Abbas had invited friends for the dinner, thus she required time to prepare meal and if something was missing, she might need to go to grocery store.  Her engineering mind was logically drawing flow chart of tasks and scheduling activities. She decided she has to reach home early, by taking Green bus.

 

She told Alia : Alia today we have to take Green bus as we are getting late.

Little Alia, engrossed in talking with her imaginary fairy friends, thrown into reality..

 

Alia: No mamma, we can’t take Green bus.. it’s bad.. I don’t like it.

Tina: Alia.. I am telling you we have to take green bus.. I have dentist appointment..

Alia quizzed: why ?

Tina: Because my tooth is paining so I need to meet dentist.

Alia: Will he make you cry ?

Tina: No.. he will not make me cry.. Doctor never make anyone cry.. they help us..

Alia quizzed again: You are not scared of going to dentist.

Tina: No.. I am not scared.. and neither you should be.. ok.. so  we have to take Green bus..

Alia looked at her.

Alia: No mamma, I don’t want to take Green bus..

Tina: We have to take.. you don’t have an option.

Alia: I want to take Red bus..

Tina(loosing temper) : Why don’t you understand.. we will get late (her voice got harder). We have to take Green bus.

 

Little Alia looked up to her mother and saw that Mr. Golden sun got covered by dark gloomy clouds. She got tense and tears were about to fall from her little eyes.

 

Alia: I don’t want to ride Green bus.. I don’t like that..

 

Looking at Alia’s grief stricken face, mother Tina calm down and understood that this matter requires elaborate attention. She looked at the eyes of Alia and told

Tina: What is problem, Alia ? Green bus is as good as Red bus. It’s just color difference. Green bus is faster. Please help me to take Green bus.

Alia: No.. I don’t’ like .. fast Bus. It scare me..

 

Tina had no time to convince little child’s stubbornness or she had any inclination to go deeper into the world of Alia and understand her perspective. She changed her tactic.

 

Tina: Ok.. hmm… I can give you Pink candies, if you take Green bus.

Alia’s eyes glowed for while but she resisted temptation.

Alia: No.. you told me that pink candies spoil tooth.. like your’s.. I don’t want to go to dentist.

Tina increased her dose of temptation.

Tina: Ok.. I will give you chocolate ice cream, your favorite. You can eat today.. OK..

Unbearable force of temptation, shock Alia. But she dealt with it and firm on her demand.

Alia; No.. I can get cough .. I don’t want it..

 

Tina was confused because her temptation tactic is not working. The arguments she was using to stop Alia from over-eating candies and ice cream, backfiring now.

 

Green bus was arriving. Tina changed approach and decided to use force, as temptation was not working. Stick and Carrot approach. Carrot did not work, so now ruler is using stick.

She yelled at Alia.

Tina: Alia.. we have to take this bus.. .come on..

 

She tried to drag Alia but Alia was firmly holding bus-stop bar. She resisted vehemently. She was stronger in pursing her path, especially after curbing the desire of heavenly candies and ice-cream.

God has given superior physical force to adults and ability to generate loud, shrilling   cry to children as resistance.  Perfect balancing act.

 

As Tina used her physical force, Alia emanated ear-piercing sound (call it crying) People around looked at duo and that embarrassed Tina.

 

Tina gave up.. Green bus left.

 

All passengers were boarded on Green bus, leaving mother-daughter alone at the  bus-stop.

Tina was very upset. She sat on bench, looked at little Alia and shouted “ HAPPY !! ”..

Little Alia was confused. She was feeling her mother’s pain but not sure how to deal with it. She took Tina’s hand, tugged towards her.. and urged “Mamma”.

Tina was not looking at her..

Alia urged once again “Mamma, look at me.. “

 

Tina did not responded..

It was tense moment for mother and daughter.. Alia’s touch & tug, mixed with urged voice, was melting her mountain of anger, exponentially.

 

For little Alia, her mother’s unresponsiveness was unbearable. She could tolerate anger, yell  or even slap but mother’s turning face was like mother is not accepting her existence.  She climbed to Tina’s lap and hold her face and urged third time “ Mamma look at me..” in  a very pitiful tone(as best as she can) .

 

Meanwhile, Tina’s anger mountain had already submerged.. she turned her face to Alia.

“What !!”

Mother’s turned face, and Alia’s existence bounced back.

 

Alia and Tina looked at each other in eyes. It was moment of love and moment of mutual exchange....

 

Alia smiled and “Redbus .. Ok”..

Tina (hiding her smile) : Ok..

 

Just now Tina lived precious moment of her life and unfortunately she did not knew about it.

 

Tina re-scheduled her dental appointment and her logical mind started making new flowcharts and schedules. She was confused about the reason behind Alia’s intense liking for Red bus.

 

Red bus arrived and door opened.

Lady bus driver looked at Alia and welcomed her with her usual note.

Bus driver; Hi.  Young Princess welcome on-board ! Shall I take you to the  land of mermaids ? 

Alia looked at bus driver, smiled and jumped in utter happiness. Someone had  called her Princess.. It was divine feeling.. It made her day..

Now Tina noticed it.. She thanked bus driver for her kind gesture.

 

Mother and Daughter were settled on seat.

Tina asked Alia: Do you like when bus lady calls you princess.

Alia smiled : Yes

Tina: Does it make you day ?

Alia smiled: Yes

Tina: Ok.. than we will always take Red bus..

 

Alia looked outside the  window.. dark clouds were gone.. and Mr. Golden sun was shining again.. Sending lots of kisses to little Alia..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brand Modi’s six Killer Applications

With my limited knowledge of branding, I have attempted to analyze  Narendra Modi’s branding strategy.   

1)     Surprise

Element of surprise in military warfare, confuses enemies and has always been Modi’s election campaign strategy.  Distribution of numerous Modi-Mask  in 2007 and   use of 3D technology in 2012(Gujarat election)  and projected himself as “chaiwala(tea boy)” in 2014 elections are part of surprise element to confuse opposition and hence distort their combat strategies.   Tea-boy surprise was master stroke. He kept this card to his chest. He never used in Gujarat state elections or before, but introduced this secret AFTER he was declared PM candidate. During election rally on Sep 13 at Rohini-Delhi, first time he presented himself. He said..  “tea-boy.. a boy who sold tea in trains in childhood, today standing in front of you”.. Crowd cheered and yelled.. Appeal went straight into the heart !!!

He saved this card for the right moment, and he used it effectively when moment came.

 A poor  boy selling tea in trains.. is an  emotional stirring visual.. it has un-deniable appeal to Indian masses. All tea vendors across country suddenly found their counter part in politics. In any town of India, tea stall is place of social gathering and political discussion. Namo Tea became instant hit. His popularity bound to grow.  Modi’s political campaign took new heights. He used this theme again and again. Chai pe charcha campaign and Namo Tea stall, are initiatives to capitalize  tea-boy appeal. Congress had no clue about how to deal with this tea-boy appeal. Congress was totally baffled by this surprise element.  

 

2)     Attack the core leadership

Modi never indulged in any argument with Gujarat congress leaders, not even during Gujarat elections. He never argues or attends accusation of congress leaders as  Digvijay singh, Manish Tewari etc. From 2002, most of his attacks are concentrated on Gandhi Family only and he is doing it ruthlessly, effectively. He knew that attacking Gandhi family will shake entire congress and make him popular in at national stage. During 2007, Sonia Gandhi’s remarks “Maut ka Sudagar” directly pitted him against Gandhi family as personal rival a challenger to dynasty,  in eyes of common Indian.

 

3)     Dictate your enemy’s move

The good strategy is to dictate your enemy’s move. Modi declared himself as unmarried person in election affidavit till 2014. In 2014 election, suddenly he declared himself as married. It made Congress and others to attack his personal life. But they did not knew, that it’s Modi’s trap they are falling into. Due to his clean character, more his personal life attacked, more sympathy he got from common people.  Declaring himself as married, was calculated move. Similarly he made Puppy statement. That statement was bit confusing that it can be interpreted in various ways.  Intension was to create inflammatory reaction from Media and others. Finally he clarified the statement in elaborate way, proving his innocence and victimization of himself, by media.

 

 

 

4)      Heroism

His personality and verbal eloquence has made him STAR in common men. During his rally speeches, he crated Star persona by his attractive attire and flawless dialogue delivery. But to be Hero, something else is required, which is villains. If there is no Villain, there will not be Hero. Somehow Modi projected himself as sole fighter, attacked by all Media channels and political parties.  From Gujarat experiment, he knew that more media and all other political party cursed him, more sympathy wave he garner from common man. So during 2014, people saw him single handedly dealing with Sonia, Rahul, Mamata, Nitin, Lalu, few TV channels etc..

For Common man it’s one man army against all media and political parties, and that perception made him Hero.

 

5)     Understand the Audience

Modi was first to grasp, power of youth and women. He made special effort to create vote bank of youth and women. He understood that youth have temptation for technology. He is using terms as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsUp, YouTube regularly in his speeches to make people believe that he understands those technologies. Use of 3D hologram technology and Chai pe charcha campaign gave impression of his technological adaptation. Rural young man or woman, with cheap cell phones, does dream of smart phones and when she sees Modi’s technology affiliation , she finds her leader in him. Other political party leaders go by percent of internet connectivity  in rural India and discard the impact of social media. But they fail to grasp the aspiration of rural youth who KNOWS about the internet and yearns for connectivity. Modi saw that and tapped on it.

 

6)     Holding Brand Value

The one of the major accusation against Modi is that he never apologize for 2002 riots. But that’s his brand value. The moment, he will apologize about riots, he will dilute  his Brand value. His stubbornness  to resist Media pressure has made him most popular national leader . He talks about inclusive growth and development. He also mentioned the pain of 2002 riots but he will not utter the exact words of apology. From 2002, battle between Modi and Media was, for this apology and Modi knew that this battle is making him interesting person who can’t be ignored.

 

Finally, branding alone does not help. His solid work at Gujarat is backbone of his popularity. Without concrete track record, branding is like resume of person, who has not born yet.