Good points, C'da. But I will have to respond later (probably later this evening).
Till then --Ram On 8/14/07, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Ram: > > > > > > > At 11:35 AM -0600 8/14/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote: > > C'da > > > > >I did not say anything is WRONG with flag waving, did I Ram? > > > > No, you did not, but the implications are strong. > > > > > > > > > *** Can you explain HOW you read that in my post? You attended St. > Xaviers' College and thus don't qualify to invoke the 'that damned English > language' defense :-). > > > > > How do you infer that I was telling Thakuria that his flag waving pursuit > is wrong? I am pretty straightforward about what I want to say. I don't beat > around the bush like a lot of other netters do. If I had deemed it WRONG I > would have said so, without hesitation, because over the decades I have > found that subtlety of language is not a desi-strength. One needs to be > blunt for it to register. And that is why I take the trouble to explain > everything in so many words, like now :-). > > > > > But I must say this: YOU are belaboring the point, because you know that > you don't have a leg to stand on to challenge what I wrote. > > > > > > > > > > > > This from your other post: > > > > >What I have NO respect for is when flagwaving or absence thereof >is used > as a yardstick to judge somebody's patriotism. > > > > Now, what could be wrong with that? Count on my support here. But how did > you deduce that Thakuria & others are* NOT patriotic*, and that they just > wave flags - and hence, by inference, not really 'intellectuals' (HG Wells > et al!)? > > > > > **** You are mixing up different contexts. Stay to the subject if you have > any respect for objectivity. I posted the Flagwaving Blues to explain my > views about others' falg-waving, because you charged me with telling > Thakuria that it is wrong. > > > > > >What is that role, C'da? Why can't the media cover a broad spectrum - > some supportive of your cause, >while others not? > > > > > *** Again let us remain in context. Did I somehow imply that the Press > need not perform other > functions ? While it is your prerogative to jump to conclusions of your > liking, to air the figments of your imaginations in this fashion has its > consequences. And I hope you know what they are :-). > > > > > >For all the critisism of Desi Democracy, the media in India is pretty > free. > > > *** And look how they are using that freedom. What they are CONTRIBUTING . > Or for that matter take a look at your own judgement in what makes for > useful or constructive contributions from the press when you posted that > infantile Op-Ed piece from the sentinel. Good thing Kamal wrote in judgement > of the piece instead of me. > > > > > >Maybe there should be a Chinese style Democracy - then everything would > straighten out, and people >will soon be singing praises of India. > > > *** Come on Ram. You can do whole lot better than that. Try it! > > > >I think, C'da you might want to take off those rose-colored glasses > > > *** Sorry Ram. They are my original eyes that can see right thru the > obfuscations and spin. And they shall remain where they are :-). > > > > > *Finally, why don't you tell us WHAT exactly is it that troubled you so > about what I suggested to Thakuria for being useful and constructive for > Assam in this context?* > * > * > * > * > c-da > > > > > > > > > I think they are. I have often enjoyed DN B's columns. I think of him as > one of Assam's intellectuals. I would not doubt his patriotism for Assam or > India. > > > > The fact that these intellectuals are sending out a mass appeal to all the > people in Assam, and urging them NOT to be afraid and cowed-down and > celebrate with the rest of the Nation, is very laudable. > > > > >Because that is the role of the press in a democracy. > > > > What is that role, C'da? Why can't the media cover a broad spectrum - some > supportive of your cause, while others not? > > Are those that support your views the ONLY ones on the right track? Are > they the only ones that are patriotic, true upholders of genuine jouranlism > etc etc? > > > > For all the critisism of Desi Democracy, the media in India is pretty > free. That is why even near anti-national views are tolerated, and are free > to publish almost anything. Maybe there should be a Chinese style Democracy > - then everything would straighten out, and people will soon be singing > praises of India.:) > > > > I think, C'da you might want to take off those rose-colored glasses :):) > > > > --Ram > > > > > > Further, > > > > On 8/14/07,* Chan Mahanta* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I did not say anything is WRONG with flag waving, did I Ram? However most > intellectually able people do not hold it in high esteem. Anyone can do it. > Just like wearing ones patriotism on one's shirtsleeves. That is why > thoughtful people also do not give any importance to such demonstration, in > fact some very well thought of people have called the pursuit the* 'first > resort of a scoundrel*' or* 'the last refuge of a scoundrel'.* > > > > > I merely explained that it is meaningless , without anything constructive > in it, as far as I am concerned. Like HG Wells said. > > > > > Why my opinion ? That is because Thakuria was kind enough to inform me of > their effort with the appeal, no doubt something they believe is useful or > constructive or beneficial for Assam. > > > > > See my post from 2002 on the topic I am forwarding next. > > > > > > > > *>Why? Is there a sudden dearth of supporters, that you would urge > Thakuria & Co. to carry water for such causes?* > > > > > > > > *** Why don't YOU take a wild guess? But considering the question I guess > that would not be all that useful, so allow me to help out: > > > > > Because that is the role of the press in a democracy. > > > > > But I realize, desi-demokrasy and the Assam press' role in it does not > necessarily reflect that. > > > > > c-da > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > At 9:34 AM -0600 8/14/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote: > > C'da, > > > > As this is a public forum, thought I would weigh in too. > > > > I really do not see anything wrong with some people wanting to and > encouraging others to celebrate the Independence Day by hoisting the > National Flag. > > > > It may irk some that there are many Assamese who actually want to > celebrate in such a fashion. That is understandible. > > > > What is so wrong that some people are willing to celebrate as they wish, > instead of staying home for fear of violence? All they want to do is > peacefully celebrate the Independence that they cherish - but of course, > only if others will let them! > > > > >It seems to me that a far more useful activity for those of you who are > able, would >be to analyze, inform and educate the people about how such > things as an >armed insurgency came about from popular discontent brewing > over decades in >Assam > > > > Why? Is there a sudden dearth of supporters, that you would urge Thakuria > & Co. to carry water for such causes? And who decides what activities are > useful and which ones are not? > > > > --Ram > > > > I > > > > > > On 8/14/07,* Chan Mahanta* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Greetings Thakuria. > > > > > I hope you are carrying the torch of Oxomiya journalism high and bright in > the international field as Assam's representative. > > > > > Thanks for sharing the appeal. Even though I don't, as a rule, indulge in > 'flag-waving' of any kind and think of the pursuit in the same vein as how > HG Wells viewed 'patriotism':* " A mere national self-assertion, a > sentimentality of flag cheering, with no constructive duties",* I felt I > owed a response since you were kind enough to send me a personal copy. > > > > > It seems to me that a far more useful activity for those of you who are > able, would be to analyze, inform and educate the people about how such > things as an armed insurgency came about from popular discontent brewing > over decades in Assam and has not subsided in spite of tens of thousands of > Assamese lives taken and given by and to Indian military operations spanning > a quarter century; what the much touted 'democratic' governments, past and > present have done ( or not done) to eradicate the causes of such discontent > and how to hold what you all present to the world, by default, as the > 'legitimate' government accountable; offer achievable and sustainable > solutions instead of merely crying hoarse without anything to contribute. > > > > > And if you are unable to that yourself, go seek out those who can and make > use of collective wisdom of the people who call Assam home, and help giving > it the exposure from which the people can learn and act to change things for > the better. > > > > > > > > > That would be something meaningful. > > > > > Best. > > > > > cm > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > At 6:22 AM +0000 8/12/07, Nava Thakuria wrote: > > AN APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE > > > > We, the undersigned urge the people of Assam to > celebrate the 60th anniversary of our Independence Day > on August 15 in a befitting manner ignoring the > threats that have come from certain quarters. > > We believe that we, the people of the State have every > right to celebrate the Day, as we have inherited the > spirit of the freedom fighters who had made immense > sacrifices and a good number of whom, like Kushal > Konwar and Kanaklata, had even laid down their lives > to free the country from the clutches of colonial > rulers. The Independence Day this time has added > significance as it coincides with the birth centenary > celebrations of martyr Bhagat Singh. > > We therefore, call upon the people of the State to > hoist the National Tricolour on the Day atop their > houses and also to organize community celebrations in > their respective localities. > > On the Day, we will also hoist the National Flag on > the Guwahati Press Club campus at 11a.m. So, it's our > appeal to the people to join the programme and make it > a success. > > Nirupama Borgohain, > > Dhirendra Nath Bezboruah > > Dhirendra Nath Chakravarty, > > Sushanta Talukdar, > > Bhupen Bargohain > > Ajit Patowary > > Rupam Baruah, > > Nava Thakuria, > > Ranen Kumar Goswami, > > Hiten Mahanta > > Ratna Bharali Talukdar > > Sabita Lahkar > > Girindra Kumar Karjee > > Mukul Kalita > > Dhanjit Kakoti > > Pramod Kalita > > > > > > > <http://adworks.rediff.com/cgi-bin/AdWorks/click.cgi/www.rediff.com/signature-home.htm/[EMAIL > PROTECTED]/1307758_1301384/1307141/1?PARTNER=3&OAS_QUERY=null+target=new+> > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > assam mailing list > assam@assamnet.org > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org > > > > > > >
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