It finally hits home after two months. I'm in the most powerful nation in the world and it just elected a new leader, practically for the whole world. I can't help compare (forgive me for this impudence).
America has come a long way. From slavery to its first black president, this is a remarkable journey. While American people said "Yes, We Can", back home our notorious MNS said "No, We Won't". I read an article in the New York Times and came to know that, Mr. Raj Thackerey has been the centre-point of yet another furore. We cannot stand a person just from another state, let alone another religion, and we say "India, poised"...Poised with weapons to lunge at each others throats (?). (The article quoted someone saying, "Our own people are betraying us")!!
I'm not singing praises of USA as everybody else does. True, US society isn't all silver-lined. But, is it wrong to appreciate something that's genuinely good? With so many foreigners making a bee-line to this country, its really amazes me how tolerant the legal citizens are, especially after being exposed to the incidents of lathi charges back home. Compared to the MNS, the Americans seem to be angels. Of course there are lot of other factors, especially the availability of all resources here but still, the crux is we are being sensitive to petty issues. How should it matter who finds a job in which state? Aren't we all legal citizens of India? Some of my dearest friends are Maharashtrians and now are in various other states. I pray that they don't cross the path of some fanatic seeking revenge for all these incidents.
As Mahatma Gandhi said, one will be foolish to separate religion and politics. But, things are getting out of control. Instead of the spirit of nationalism (that we once read about in school textbooks), there's the spirit of regionalism and communalism. All these things are for the ultimate prize - regional vote banks. Petty things are now our breaking news while we say, "India is a growing super-power".
It really is upto us what we should choose to be concerned about. Obviously, "they" are doing all these "things" as they perceive that they stand to gain something. Are we all set to be influenced by such regional and "religional" fanatics? Are we all set to be wooed by them to make them our next leaders? Are we going the "right way"?
6 comments:
The line that hit me hardest was 'Compared to MNS,the Americans seem to be angels'.. I do not agree on that,... The non-Whites have been discriminated against since time immemorial!!!!..Though the Americans have finally woken up to 'CHANGE' and although I appreciate that... ,lets not forget that the non-Whites have fought an centuries-old battle and finally won, beacuse at the end of the day, 'Courage triumphs!!!' and thats the fact!!!!!
Coming to the MNS controversy, Raj Thackerey does not know the pulse of the Youngistaan of India... He is just merely playing games to attract attention of the media and will fail to make any mark on the strong minds of the young Indians(Maharashtrians included) who understand the Importance of unity for making India a 'Super-Power' or close to being called one!!!!!
As long as people like you and me stay strong and grounded in our aims and actions to take our nation to great heights... Gimmicks like Raj Thackerey can only attract attention and NEVER impact our minds!!!
wat do u say?????
Ah....Think i needed to be a bit more clear. The "american angels" was a bit of a exaggeration.
I'm not degrading us..I wouldnt dream of doin that
But I'm just comparing a good in a society other than ours irrespective of anything else in that society.
Hmm...interesting read.The antics of the MNS are disgusting.That they finally arrested him ( albeit on his challenge), was great news!MNS is notorious for ruffian behaviour,but I am confused.What exactly is their party campaign? What do they stand for? What are they doing for the people they govern( beat up?)..
There is nothing wrong in appreciating a good system.That does in no way mean that you are demeaning your own.Taking something good from a system you observe,while noting their bad sides too helps create mature citizens.
..Coming to the statement you made about whether we are a land of tolerant people( as tolerant as the US..to vote in Obama) ..i'll quote this..I read this somewhere..
India is the only country where the old President was a Muslim scientest, the current PM belong to a religious minority..and the leader of the Majority party is of non-indian origin...Tolerant..i think so!
Shilpa.
I was personally proud of the last bit of fact that you stated. Things were better off until a few years back. But things have gone downhill since then. The Muslim scientist was ousted to get a pawn of the ruling coalition into the Rashtrapathi Bhavan under the pretext of the first woman president. Ever since her assuming that post, she has vanished.
PM being of a religious minority, that was a clever move by Sonia Gandhi...The people didnt choose Manmohan Singh. And, overall all these parties beg for support from the religious outfits like VHP, MNS, Shiv Sena.... the ultimate target the religious VOTE BANK. The point is the people respond to that. Vote on basis of religion...Thats the crux
i m wondering about something else here... but it is related to wot u r saying..
when i gave some thought to obama being elected as prez.. i came up with some ideas.. first of all, he seems to be intelligent and smart.. but thats not the point..
the idea may seem crazy but think about it..
we say that these people are tolerant... but i think they are tolerant because they want to be called tolerant..
if mccain wud have won, everyone will be calling america racist, even the ppl here.. but america doesnt want to be called racist, thats why obama won..
e.g. if i dont like a person, but i dont want others to think tht i dnt like the person, i will show in some way tht i like the person / tolerate the person.. wot i mean is something similar to this..
wot say?
hmmm I agree that the superlative tolerance that was being touted has perhaps not benefited us quite the way we would have hoped.Turning a population into a Votebank is a common policy....be it on religious lines...or economic..
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