Redundancy…
It has been almost a week now since the havoc that wrecked Mumbai and its indomitable spirit, which all the politicians have been using as a cover to camouflage their incompetence in dealing with terror and its aftermath. I think its high time Dr. Manmohan stops offering condolences and actually does something to address this issue.
But, really, what is more appalling is to see how all of us, irrespective of social status, religion and color, jump up quickly to blame the politicians. While I’m in no way appreciating the present government in India, I am equally sickened by everyone, including me, squarely blaming the government and its allies for everything that’s wrong with our nation.
I think its high time we realize blaming someone is the easiest thing to do, next only to giving advice. We talk about political failure, intelligence failure, defense failure. We point our fingers at everyone that had a role to play in this catastrophe. We let our tempers run high, hold candle light marches, give high voltage interviews. And I don’t even want to mention about the media’s role to fuel this rage that we have against the country’s system. We blame this, we blame that. But at the end of the day, is anyone of us willing to do anything about this ? Of all those who came on those TV channels, those newspaper articles and those innumerate photographs, how many do you think actually participated in the whole democratic process that we are proud of ? 20 percent ? 30 ? It’s for all of us to draw our own conclusions.
Take a moment to reflect on this. We talk about corruption. Do you think you can weed it out ? If you are talking about preventing the cop standing at the corner from taking bribes, you are wrong. We talk about unaccountability. Do you think you can wipe out the bureaucracy and bring corporate style governance, where everyone is accountable ? If you are talking about stopping those PDS shop guys from cheating the common man, you are wrong.
All that we can do is talk. Talk about why this country sucks, why the politicians suck , why the system sucks. But when it comes to action, will you do something to rectify all this ? Will you enter politics to clean up the system and provide good clean governance ? Will you enter administration to clear up the bureaucracy and bring in some credibility ? Will you enter the Police forces to save this country and give your life in the process ?
We the people. We are not willing to do any of the above. All we can do is sit in our armchairs and couches, sipping our coffee while watching those eloquent newsroom editors give you cringing reports about the apathy in our nation, and complain away to glory. And then proceed with our daily business. Do you think anything is going to happen with all those Big Fights or Face the Nation? Is Arnab Goswami’s emotional outrage with some random socialite going to change the nation ? Will all these guys actually be the ones driving the change ? NO. Why ? Because it’s someone else’s job. Well, why don’t you take up that job ? NO. Why ? Because politics is dirty, you say ?
Anyone and everyone can talk. Of all those umpteen socialites who came on those TV channels and griped away, I would really like at least one of them to get into the field and do something about it (esp this video, where a bunch of random socialites team up to bash the government). I mean, any idiot can talk. I can talk and so can you. We talk for a few days and forget the whole incident. We talk for argument’s sake. We talk because we have something to talk about. We talk because we want to be heard by those around us. We talk because we want to blame someone. We talk because we want to make sure that someone takes a responsibility for all this. We talk because we don’t want to be left out.
Sitting in your air conditioned homes and voting on a news site selecting who is to blame for this system, or writing a letter to the editor pointing out what is wrong with this nation, or messaging to a media channel offering condolences or condemnation is not going to change anything. Change will only happen if you go out and do something about it. Will you shed that rich lifestyle that you are having and enter politics or take up administration? Will you be a part of the change that you want to see ?
If we can’t and if we won’t, then I have only one request to all those giving those interviews on the tele or holding candle light marches while carrying placards abusing the government :
Please shut up.
Well written….
“சொல்லுதல் யார்க்கும் எளிய அரியவாம்
சொல்லிய வண்ணம் செயல்.”
Sakthi
Not corporate style governance but Libertarianism alone brings about accountability of the individual. Abolish the State!
Dei machi…. What u have written is right.. but at the end of the day what u have done right now is the same thing… blame some one else and ask them to shut up.. This is all we can do… Nothing much. we are all part of this same damn system. May be you are diferent in the way you are saying this!!
The media is doing this for pure business and you are writing this for mere increase in the hit counter.. So, both have a selfish cause!!
But i should appreciate you for this thing.. “Is Arnab Goswami’s emotional outrage with some random socialite going to change the nation ” He is one total kalaai charcter!!!
A good blog after a looong time i shud say!!
Check this out , what the pakistani local media had to say about the terrorist attacks, this just seems to be the tip of the iceberg. Even pakistani people are polarised over the issue, too bad for them.
http://mutiny.in/2008/12/06/pakistan-media-taunts/
Machi Ezhil, what you say is right da and i do understand this is your mind speak, but this feeling of disgust is not just to you,its very common and runs amongst all of us too, the only problem being when many of us have to choose between the required action and just voicing their view with ignorance, many would opt just to just try feigning ignorant speak. And whether they really tend to do the same in action is questionable?
This can only be rectified by changing our mentality across the length and breadth of india, firstly we indians dont have unity amongst us. There are roadblocks at every social level possible.One way of thought may work in an above average earning indian but the same might not work in the lower strata of the society.
We have to break all these and many other kind of social barriers and embark on a proper national integration mission devoid of any vested interests. I am not talking about the few politicians who meet citing the national integration. Just advocating such issues wont work. They’re deemed to fail.
I can keep talking on and on and there might be never an end to it. But this is what i felt and i’m just sharing with you the same.
For the people and unity of India.
It is not like we cannot do anything.Start from a small group of like minded people or join in hands with an NGO and give your part of contribution to the society.Take part in activities which involves in monitoring the government policies.Are they being implemented properly,if else lodge complaints.Sitting and writing articles is easier,get into the field and work along with the masses.I am a volunteer of CRY.We as a team have formed a public action group in a slum near the IT park road.We found that most of the government schools lack the basic facilities like infrastructure and SSA.Our work is to find out who has been all along eating that money and see to that it is being put to proper use.I have not put this to boast,it is just an example to show that there are means in which we can contribute.
How is this related to controlling terrorism? Well ,not directly but it is when people are deprived of their basic rights and they have no one to help ,they are lured by unscrupulous hands.By the fault of birth we have enjoyed so many luxuries and some have not ,it is a moral responsibility of the privelleged class to help the under privellege to help themselves.This discussion of what we can do can go on and on and on ,like the above picture says ,lets SHUT UP and show some action.It is time we take up watchman roles and safeguard our land!!
machi, same to you
SHUT UP
CHECK IT OUT
http://www.domain-b.com/defence/general/20081209_mumbai_terror_attacks.html
A not so FUNNY TAKE INDEED,Great Indian Rope Trick and the Great Indian Response Trick, Really Disgusting state of affairs.
When shall we`the people`start do something,like in the IBM advt, stop talking,start doing.