Obviously a rant! Go on, Ignore it.
So yesterday was the day of Independence. Hmmm. Holy Crap, it wasn’t even decent enough to fall on a weekday and give the rest of us, mortals, a day off.
Sheesh!
Pardon me, while I go off on a Nilu-like rant.
More and more, I’ve observed, Independence days, Republic Days, Government Red Tape days and other holidays of National significance are being celebrated for the only purpose of creating an opportunity for self-righteous, “morally-sound” politicians something to thump their chest about.
Why would you want a separate day to celebrate something that you stifle the next 364 days is beyond my comprehension. I would even go to the extent of saying that our Independence has lost it’s significance in the wallpaper of daily living.
So why flog a dead horse?
RSS/XML
August 16th, 2004 at 2:17 am
after 57 years of being free, the freedom to rant is one of the few gains we have acheived.
so feel free to rant to your hearts content.
August 16th, 2004 at 5:01 am
“Nilu-like rant” ? Believe me.. thats not worth it! lol…
August 16th, 2004 at 8:54 am
Hi Kautilya!
I guess we have something that’s valuable after all. But we claim to be a free country but everything we do has restrictions on it. When the frmaers of the constitution decided to give us some freedom and rights, why didnt the go the whole hog and grantus all kinds of freedom. Why the restrictions.
And Independence days, like I mentioned in the post, is more a day for indluging in rhetoric and big speech and stuff, and little to celebrate our liberation.
Anti: I guess not. Thanks for pointing that out to me.
August 16th, 2004 at 9:09 am
patriotism indeed
Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel – Samuel Johnson on April 7, 1775
That is what Selective Amnesia’s post reminds me of.
Two days in a year, everyone goes about thumping their chests proudly. One is the Republic Day and t…
August 16th, 2004 at 10:13 am
Limits on Freedom are the making of one’s own mind.
Even in Nazi Germany, a Jew had freedom – free will can never be taken away
August 16th, 2004 at 10:54 am
Nilu: True. Free will and spirit is not something tht can be curbed. But I was not talking about that at all.
Why would somebody continue to celebrate something that has lost all modern relevance?
Independence day these days is something
people don’t care about.
ALl it does is let these politicians strut about in a righteous indignant way
August 16th, 2004 at 10:58 am
I usually don’t bother about whats’ the point.
August 17th, 2004 at 1:59 am
The post reminds of the song in Jaathi Malli…the crux of the song being, tell me mother india, has the freedom you acheived worth it? Is all the blood shed, greed, hatred that we see today worth it?
I also feel, that the situation we are in, are also due to our own inaction. True, a single person cannot change the face of India, but many of us together can!
To me, the Independence day, still is relevant, because of all those who lost their lives during the struggle, all their principles, their vision. I have not lost it…have you?
August 17th, 2004 at 3:33 am
Queer,
I never had it. Maybe ‘cause am not queer!
August 17th, 2004 at 7:47 am
Queer: Their principles would/might have been relevant in their time. I’m not sure they have any value today.
Not that I am “un-patriotic”. I’m just saying that sacrifice and personal chastity and poverty are not useful if we need to be a country that’s a powerhouse.
Economical development doesnt happen because of struggle and personal values. They happen only when we as a people realise the pits we are
in and stop being sentimental and get more rational.
In essence, let’s do something about the freedom rather than talk about it.
The other thing is that why do we celebrate our Independence day, when every other day one or the other of our “liberties” are being curtailed in some form or other?
Isn’t Independence day then too much of a farce?
It’s all right to be patriotic. It isn’t right to be sentimental fools and hang on to custom that shrouds the real issues.
August 17th, 2004 at 11:06 am
Even in Nazi Germany a jew had freedom- news to me. but i think the mere fact that u r able to make these statements suggets something different isnt it?. ya may be v r not perfect- but tell me who is perfect. how will u value freedom. the significance of shade is known only in the sun. only when v dont have the freedom will we value it i think. I agree with one point that we havent been true to being free, but is freedom to be blamed for this?. I beg to disagree. it is v who have n r betraying the system. v do wot not in the freedom.
I will post a seperate post in my blog. thanx 4 inspiration.
August 18th, 2004 at 9:17 am
>>> thanx 4 inspiration>>>
Welcome. And go ahead. As I mentioned to somebody else earlier, if my post makes other write about something related, if I can start conversations, (like Kingsley) I am very very happy.
>>>I beg to disagree. it is v who have n r betraying the system>>>
Don’t beg. Just disagree, or agree. Feel free.
We might betray a system, but the system never was worthy of our trust. So i don’t think it is betrayal.
Why shouldn’t we do what we want. We are rational, free people. Why should we not do what we want to do? Who is to say this is how one should or shouldn’t act. Who has that authority on us?
Nobody is perfect. I agree. But that shouldn’t be the reason for a government that’s run like a monastic jail. Only when we are truly free, without government control on all our liberties, will the true spirit be realised. Whatever, or wherever it is.
Glad to have had this conversation Krish. Go ahead, post it up, and let’s talk.