Let’s take a break from tech, cool?
Recent news events have spurred some Maverick Thoughts regarding this nation & where it’s headed. There are 2 specific topics that I will talk about here. Despite my parents’ constant disapproval of me watching television, I continue to do so. And some years back I was watching a show where a US pop(?) artist was followed across her international tour, she made an interesting observation that stuck in my head ever since, more so because I think I agree with it. She said that countries like China & India have a culture & that’s what binds them. If I were to take her statement a little further (wrt India), IMO this very culture is what keeps families together. This very culture is behind children still having respect (which is different from love) for their parents. This very culture is possibly the reason why India still manages to have a rather low divorce rate.
What is this culture? For me it’s a set of values that we grow with. Which brings me back to television. There’s an India edition of a US show – The Moment of Truth that’s being aired these days. I haven’t seen a single episode as yet but have seen The Moment of Truth (this episode in particular) and am aware of the kind of questions that are asked & the situations that arise. People seem to like the show, peeping into another man’s closet interests a lot of us. There is a debate in the political circles with regards to the show & the television channel airing this show has been sent a notice. Now the ‘literate’ class is up in arms claiming that these politicians are up to no good & will rake up issues, but on this one, I’m with the politicians. Shows like these are highly damaging & detrimental to our society. We aren’t perfect, no one is. But that doesn’t mean we bring out our closet-skeletons in the open for everyone to see. I wonder are the contestants so down trodden that for they’ll sell their souls for money? I can only imagine the utter disgrace brought upon friends & families of these contestants. Not to mention the effect that openly talking about certain issues will have on the younger generation that’s growing on watching these shows (with their parents). India is unaware but in the name of liberalism & democracy their treading a road that will lead us to become a nation that we’re better than at certain levels. The politicians represent a vast majority of India that still believes in values, the people who live in cities are slowly going out of tune with these values looking at their Western counterparts & are unfortunately being influenced to a level where it’s blinding their rational judgment.
As far as I’m concerned this show should be banned. We’re better than this people.
Which brings me to another issue that’s making headlines these days. Former President Kalam being frisked by a US airline, Continental Airways en route to the land of Mr. O. What’s the big deal? For one, it’s against Indian law to frisk a President (former as well). Now obviously this enraged the political class of India (and me too). But here again, this self-proclaimed ‘literate’ class has taken it upon themselves to champion the politicians-aren’t-above-law cause. CNN-IBN (which IMO is now turning into an English Aaj Tak) had a debate where some douche bag who heads some shitty consumer voice thingy claiming that no one is above the law yada yada blah blah. Now I agree no is above the law & certainly not the ones who make the laws and ensure that it’s followed. At the same time I have a certain respect for the office of the President of India. There is a certain amount of respect that the people who hold this esteemed office deserve, irrespective who they are.
Though the official reasoning is that there are certain gray areas in the rules by their US office & Indian law, if you’re operating in India, YOU OPERATE BY OUR RULES.
This event has led to a debate about people having a VIP status & having certain immunities that the common man doesn’t enjoy. Well certainly the common man doesn’t enjoy them, out of a fucking billion people only a handful (21 I guess since 1947) have been the President! But this so-called douche bag filled ‘literate’ class feels that President or no President he should be frisked, why because this is a democracy & everyone is equal. Unfortunately, I pity this ‘literate’ class who doesn’t even respect their President, a person who represents them & it compels me to draw comparisons with the US again where President Bush wasn’t respected either. No matter what the outcome of the decisions he took was, he had the balls to take them.
Again, as far as I’m concerned Continental should be heavily penalized for disrespecting the Indian laws & constitution.
The US & ‘literate’ class popping up in both cases doesn’t amaze me & strengthens my belief that India is heading in a direction that makes us like a country that we’re better than in certain aspects. Instead of the ‘literate’ class striving to uphold it, it is them who are steering it in the other direction.
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:51 am
I am still wondering how Sir Kalam felt and reacted when it happened.Well, I am all for that fact that they should acknowledge that our former president is an important person and treat him with respect.
But I have no idea of how Kalam was treated by the airport officials so cant say if what they did was bad. Did they actually insist on frisking even after they told that he is India’s former president? did they behave rudely? etcetera?
And are those literate people talking about democracy or communism? Also, the argument for equality in such cases only makes sense when one has committed a huge crime or the like.
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:05 pm
I’d first seen the original show on Star World and was quite shocked and found it scary that it brought out people’s truths the way it did. When I saw the commercials of “Sach ka Saamna” I thought “This show is bound to run into controversies and moral debates because this is India and they have to adapt it to Indian audiences (tone down the questions) and make it less controversial. That didn’t happen. It’s bound to pack up in a few months, who know the Govt might ban it. I watch the show nevertheless as I find it bold and liberalistic. Indians are too hypocritical about topics such as sex and bring the “culture” aspect into it.
As for Mr. Kalam getting frisked, that is expected of Americans, they’re weird about security and entry into the US after 9/11. But I’m sure if they knew who he was, they wouldn’t have done that.
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Hypocritical, yes. There are various examples. But this show pushes the boundaries of morality, ethics & culture Bringing these things out in the open will steer this country to a really weird direction, one that will not regret certain immoral decisions. The social stigma related to such acts is what behaves like the real deterrence & with this show people get a comfort zone like “hey I’m not the only one” types. Not good for the upcoming generation. But that’s just my opinion.
And I agree as far as the prez is concerned, maybe.
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Lol just as I’d feared. http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3114395
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:07 pm
I would have to say i don’t agree with you one bit. Regarding the TV show, i haven’t seen it yet either.. And i agree that it might be stupid/pointless/whatever.. But then i find 99% of the things aired on indian TV to be stupid and pointless.. What then? I should sue all the TV channels? And regarding the frisking incident, sure, dont get me wrong.. I respect Kalam for the man he is.. Not cause he is our former president.. The word “president” does not make one command respect in itself. Sure it was not “very polite” to frisk him, but if they did so WHAT?! It’s not like they stripped him or anything.. Common people.. Move on with your lives.. :/
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:29 pm
SHowing ’stupid’ content & showing the kind of stuff that’s shown on this particular show is way different. Check out the link on the US version of the show and I had seen that episode even quite a few after that. It was simply mind boggling, people being so blatant their actions. The problem with the show is the effect it has on the people watching it.
And c’mon man are you trying to say that the office of president of India has no respect & only if you’re a decorated scientist that you’ll respect the person & the fact that (s)he is the first person of India has no point?
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:34 pm
Well.. There’s a lot of stuff on TV which can potentially have harmful effects on the viewers! Who are you to “protect” the rest of the India?! Let people learn how to deal with stuff.. But saying that “others” might get affected is very immature.. Please speak for yourself! If you think it’s affecting you, dont watch it!
And yes, being the president is not enough to earn my respect. I have no respect for Pratibha Patil. Franky, she’s just a “whatever” for me!
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:55 pm
I speak for myself & frankly don’t watch the show. The link very well explains the consequences & I don’t give a rats rear who rots in gutter. But what concerns me is the direction where all of this is taking India in. Which was the essence of the article. A parallel between how we’re losing ourselves in an attempt to become what we percieve as “modern” “liberal” & “democratic”.
I have no respect for Pratibha Patil either but she India’s president & deserves the respect that any president commands. I have respect for the office of president & not necessarily for who holds or held it.
July 27th, 2009 at 8:21 am
President DOES NOT represents us. We DO NOT elect our president. However continental airlines did wrong. But seriously, the post of the President in India has no value. He has absolutely no power. And most of all, some of the statements made by Presidents are contradicted everywhere. For eg. I remember once our current president said that “Sunday is a holiday in our country. So, there should be no pay to the soldiers on Sunday”. Then Gen. Deepak Kapoor of Indian Army replied “Oh yeah, then we’ll call off our soldiers from the border on Sunday and give them rest”.
July 27th, 2009 at 9:48 am
huh? Ever heard of the phrase “First person of India” Besides, you do elect the people who elect the president? Don’t you? O wait, no, you’re happy abusing the politicians, doing nothing yourself & finding faults in everyone else. Ever think of doing something yourself? How about standing your whinny ass for elections? Or even pick up the friggin’ neighborhood garbage? No we’re too fucking happy sitting in our little corners abusing the other person just because (s)he has certain immunities that we don’t!
July 27th, 2009 at 9:53 am
Frankly, I do not want to stand for elections for this frigging stupid ass country.. I’d rather die.. And if i am not doing something, does not give everyone else the right to not do anything too! I’m doing my job. And i expect the politician fuckers to do theirs. What the fuck kind of logic is that if they are not doing anything i should stand in elections!
July 27th, 2009 at 10:41 am
And if you’re not doing anything you’re giving way for the other person to do whatever he wishes to. If you think by everytime they take decision we will oppose it in voice & that will change anything then you’re wrong. We need to do it ourselves.
If Pirate Bay can have a political party stand for elections & even win them, I wonder what stops the ‘literate’ class in India. Their problem is that they’re all too happy letting the the other person make decisions & then take the fall too, with them sitting by the sidelines only passing judgements.
The point is if you’re not doing anything for your country, you don’t have the right to hurl abuses at the ones who are. I agree we have a lot of politicians without whom we’d be better off, but all countries have such people, all organisations & businesses have such people & not always can you throw such people out every 5 years. But then are those who actually do their duties who actually do their work and we’re all to happy to paint them with the same brush as well.
Sitting in our arm chairs we’re all to comfortable to second judge decisions. Only when we have to make them we realize how complicated a task it is.
The politician fuckers do their job often but our news has never taken it upon them to show that always too happy to keep playing the bad again & again & again.
We don’t want to move our butts and go to vote but we want to critisize the people who’re making the decisions.
Sigh.
July 27th, 2009 at 10:47 am
Lol.. What makes you think I’m not doing anything for my country? Any working man/woman is doing something for the country. That’s the point! Everyone has their own job to do! One person cannot do all the jobs there are! Being in politics comes along with having the responsibility of being questioned by *anyone* in the country. It’s part of their job to be questioned. Who are you to deny my *right* of questioning the politicians! If they don’t want to be questioned, they should leave their seats!
July 27th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Our biggest power in a democracy is to question. But don’t our politicians have the right to the same question? All they’re doing is questioning the morality of the show, they’ve moved the courts, let’s see what happens. But as a nation we question & second judge a bit too much. And when I say you I don’t explicitly mean *you* in particular.
July 27th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Arey yaar.. i’ve given vote.. people gave vote to Congress coz they thought Rahul Gandhi will become a minister or something.. but look at him.. he’s just hiding his arse somewhere else… These are our politicians… and regarding Pratibha Patil.. she’s an insult to our President’s post too.. what the hell she does.. when she went to Latin America, only 4 people were present while she was babbling about something in the Mexican parliament… and don’t worry dude.. Jab election main khade hone ki umar aa jayegi I’ll give it a try
July 27th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Congress was very clear from day 01 that MMS would be the PM. And I’d rather have an old guy than a n00b. The dumbass statements that were coming from him were a PR disaster for the Congress, one can only imagine the circus that would’ve happened if he were to become PM in this term.