[nukkad] Still as stupid as the last time?

["Pankaj Gupta" <>]

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Ten persons who speak make more noise than ten thousand who 
are silent. -- Napoleon I
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Hello All,

Why, the last time I left Nukkad, it was burning with communal issues. Why
Hindu, why Muslim? Hello! did someone tell you that one can't chose the
religion? This means, attacking others personally for something over which
they don't have a choice is pretty stupid. However, that is not the issue at
all. The issue is, as it was then, to guard ourselves against our
gullibility. I know, easier said than done. Whenever we see some
provocation, small benefits, free lunches, we jump right in. This is, by
God, the parasitic instinct--to further one's goals. However linked human
instinct might be to the parasitic, it still has a great rider attached: the
conscience. And yes, of course, mind! I would love to hear: "I decline to go
by the way of dull and mindless."

Does what go round, really come around? United States, Saudi Arabia, these
countries would still serve prime examples of those who have been furthering
the terror by their resources. Still these are the countries who seem to be
most content--even the ideal states. So, have they really found out the
greatest way to success? Many believe so. With such a present and common
example, people start becoming pushy. "Hey, that's what Americans do, the
Saudis do, they are rich (people have stopped caring about happiness, rich
is the word!); that is the way to go."

At a national level, riots are started with similar ideas of a gain. "I have
stronghold over Hindu community," pops VHP hoodlum. Politicians at BJP
respond: "you are our God! Win us Gujarat elections, bash even our highest
of leaders. You control us." At an other place, Samajvadi Party is giving
similar vibes to Congress. Congress, on the other hand, is trying to gain an
advantage over everybody else by trying to kiss a Hindu by telling: Muslims
are crappy; and Muslims by their pseudo-secularist rhyme. Each one of us,
even the least knowledgeable, the dumbest of us knows about it. What do we
do? Forget it. "We have to learn to be aggressive as a nation, as a
community." Yes, forget every virtue and stick by the platitude to revive
you as a nation. Come back to me when you have done it. I am sure, this way,
I won't be bothered by these miscreants for another good billion years, till
the meteorite strikes and kill the planet!

In Punjab Kesri (One should read language newspapers. These days, most of
the English papers seem to agree anyway), Ashwini (I think) wrote something
everyone of us should remember. Democracy isn't just a right--it's a duty,
too. When a Rohit Zaveri starts calling names, he has stopped thinking about
his duty. So, that's the issue. Forget about the conscience, forget the
duties, take what comes along: free lunches are the way to go!

Forget it! I have seen and sent such posts innumerable times. When I was
younger, I used to think, I am mature. As I am maturing, I am learning more
and more about my immaturity. However, I am learning more about the gift of
sharing and caring I had in those days. We keep burning others' good enough
worlds trying to build our utopias. We forget, till we stop doing that, we
won't have even a long shot at the perfect world.

We don't know the future, but we do know the history. Shall we have to bear
the mischief of the fools till eternity?

Pankaj Gupta




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