That Someone Else!

We believe a bit too much in Someone Else's abilities.

We clean our homes and chuck the trash onto the road.
And Someone Else gets abused because the city is not clean.

We get hassled if a security guard checks our bags.
And Someone Else gets abused for not having proper security measures.

We never vote.
And Someone Else gets abused for voting in Deve Gowda.

We will never bother about whether our maid's children are getting an education.
And Someone Else gets abused for the millions of illiterates in India.

We will turn the other way if the maid is marrying off her 14-year-old daughter.
And Someone Else gets abused for not stopping child marriages.

We will point the driver to the General Hospital.
And Someone Else gets abused for lack of healthcare for the poor.

We will burn candles.
And Someone Else gets abused for not taking effective action.

We will jump lights.
And Someone Else gets abused for not giving the cops more authority and protection.

We will stay glued to the television in morbid fascination.
And Someone Else gets abused for exploiting the Mumbai attacks.

We won't touch the stock market with a pole.
And Someone Else gets abused for a stagnant market.

We will never check what our exhausts are spewing out.
And Someone Else gets abused for the pollution in our cities.

We will cut forward through any lane available.
And Someone Else gets abused for bad traffic management.

I am really tired of this guy.
I am done with him.
He is not getting anything done.
Maybe I should see what I can do.

Racial profiling starts young.

Look at what I find on the net.
A new addition to the Lego family.

I sincerely hope this is a scam.




Can you friggin' believe this?
With optional headdress, that too!
[Remember, they had to knock off Mr. Golly a few years ago.]
Now just tell me what kids are going to name this character.

Children can be cruel.
A friend told me that kids were already playing 'NSG and terrorists' in his apartment.
Guess which are the kids that will be forced to become the terrorists in school.
[Remember Hashim Amla being referred to as 'terrorist' by Dean Jones?]

I feel rotten.
Everyone keeps saying this:
That we should not blame the community for the actions of a few.
I believe in that.
And I try.

But, honestly.
When the first news of the Mumbai attacks came in, what was the reaction?
Before the evidence started trickling in, ie.
'There go the Pakis.'
Which we equate with terrorism. And with Islam.

It's sad. And it gets worse.
There's a section that asserts they are patriotic and do not need to wear India on their sleeve.
While a new set claims that these are uncertain times and it's better to display your patriotism.
I am with the latter.
These are sad, uncertain times.

Fickle, focus.

It's so bloody easy to get distracted.
And, to be led.

Just last week Mumbai was attacked.
Then we watched the NSG attack.
(Via Ms Dutt of the smudged mascara.)
Then we watched resignations compete across the country.
Then we watched 'an angry nation' protest the politics of our politicians.
And then we watched to see what India would demand of Pakistan.
And then what the US would demand of Pakistan.
And then what Pakistan would demand of the US.
(And while we watched, Ban Ki-moon had three miscarriages and a hernia.)

As the media led us, we followed, panting, frothing.
And just when we were about to switch off our hot television sets, came a new clarion cry.
Why do politicians need all this security?
And off we go; 'angry nation' all over again.

In a week, we have gone from ineptitude to idiocy.
We let 10 (still debated) young, misguided men hold a nation to ransom.
And instead of pulling up our socks, are out lighting candles.

Why can't we hold our focus where we need attention?
Our constables need more than lathis.
So that never again will a constable have to hang onto a Kalashnikov's muzzle as round after round pumps into his abdomen.
So that never again will a greying policeman, in frustration have to fling a plastic chair at his attackers.
So that never again will a police officer take on a terrorist in a helmet that fears a cricket ball.
The nation needs to ensure that its men on the beat are protected. And motivated.
The nation needs to ensure that we have plans on the ground, not just on paper.
Hold. Hold. Don't shift focus.
Let's focus on what we need the government to do.
Not inconsequential inanities.

What do I care how many security guards it takes to change a politician's sense of self?
Or who called who a dog, first?

We get led. We do.
Otherwise, we would not be screaming hoarse alongside those on TV who declared that "Mumbai doesn't want to be resilient any more!"
We would be watching in despair the sight of Mumbai's helpless resilience.
For as we followed further smudging mascara at the Oberoi and Taj and Nariman House, the nation was thankfully deprived a painful sight.
CST, was back in action.

The blood on the platforms washed clean.
The trains chugging in as usual.
With commuters who have no option but to earn a living hanging onto them.
And Zulu Yadav, who will live forever in memory for flinging that plastic chair, was back on duty.
With nothing but his lathi and his faded cotton uniform.

We need focus.

Goebbelsian

Please look at these front pages of Dec. 03, '08.




Two leading newspapers publish diametrically opposing interpretations.
[Not of a pickpocketing in Pali Hill.
But of the Indian Foreign Minister debating military action.]

The Hindu reports that Mr. Mukherjee has ruled out military action.
While the TOI claims that India refuses to rule out military action.
That 'sources' contradict the Foreign Minister's statements earlier in the day.

So who does the average Indian believe?
The Foreign Minister? Or 'sources'?
Or even, 'highly placed sources'?

Who are these 'sources' who can contradict the Foreign Minister on war?
If there are such influential people, they need to be named, don't they?

Prem Shankar Jha had a bizzare request to NDTV.
[And to be fair, to all news channels in extension.)
He requested them not to engineer war between India and Pakistan.

Indian news channels and Indian newspapers are beating the war-drums.
Check Geo TV and the like on YouTube and you'll hear the same.
"People demand action", "People demand decisive action".
People as we can already see, have been successfully influenced.
Let's hope governments are not.

How many of us saw NDTV interview Mr. Mukherjee?
He says that all options need to be considered.
The reporter then asks him if India has ruled out the military option.
To which he says that at this stage, no option can be ruled out.
[What else do you expect a Foreign Minsiter to say?]
So what do the tickers and headlines immediately proclaim?
'Pranab refuses to rule out military option'.

[This is an aside.
This paragon of India's journalistic fraternity also asked him to outline India's action plan in the days to come.
To which he responded that she will figure them out in the days to come.]

It is a journalist's duty to report.
To voice opinions.
To create awareness.
But it is also theirs, to be judicious.

We have played beautifully into the hands of the perpetrators.
Attention, is now diverted to Pakistan's Eastern front.

If you have the time, do read Haris Guzdar and Harish Khare.
[Aptly on the same page in The Hindu, Dec. 05.]
Two sane voices in a yelling, screaming, frothing crowd.

We could do with sanity.
And we could do without rabid journalism.