HEART TO HEART (FEB 12, 2006 - Herald)
By Ethel Da Costa
The Politics of Ego Management
Nail me to the tree for being blunt, but baby, I'm party to this
gate-crashing, nose snooping number (whether I like it or not), every
single day of my life, simply because I invariably get to see the
underbelly of a person behind the face eventually. It will probably shorten
my life span, more, following close encounters with the snob kind, laced
with ego, zero on integrity, liar to the core with a public image that
could chase Dettol out of the market. Within the system, outside it. Life
is a bitch, sure I understand this. But think what it does to you when you
meet their kin and family face-to-face who behave oh-so-mighty-important
with no real claim to fame of their own, except a surname. Yeah, by some
default, it's a famous surname. So, you grit your teeth fighting your
instincts not to punch them in the face when they throw you bad vibes
(you're like honey, what's your problem?), or you hear them running
somebody down, when they could do with a visit to the laundry themselves. I
usually don't let someone's manifestation of insecurity or deep-seated
inferiority (that's the base of ego as we know) flap my feathers or tousle
my mane. Life's too short any which ways. But, it gets my goat when people
can't see beyond themselves, especially the rich, the famous and the
powerful, when it comes to a cause.
Of course, causes are a matter of personal conviction, but hypocrisy is an
act of disrespect when people attach a price tag to a belief. Sad to say, I
know this first hand whilst running around putting together the 'Gagged by
the Bag' festival at the Municipal Garden seeking to highlight a city
malaise that needs correction immediately. And what better way to do it
than to ask city dwellers to come forward and make a participative
statement. While I tip my hat for citizens of Goa like Sonia Sirsat, Lucio
Miranda, Young Chico, H Britton, Tomazinho Cardozo, George, Chico, Cliffy,
Caitaini, Allan, Dhillon, Roland Martins, Patricia Pinto, Valerie, Clinton
Vaz, Sujit, DJ Troy and all those who came to the venue and had a great
time participating at the event, it is some famous surnames in the city
that have greatly disappointed me with their ego politics.
When one gives, one gives freely from the heart. And it is with gratitude I
say Thank You to them. Their participation is the base of humanity. That is
the base of leading by example. It is not about once done it's over, so
where's the paycheck, dude? Or starry tantrums (honestly, there's no time
for this). Similarly, it is also not about taking for granted people who
contribute freely, time and again, and so
it's-a-job-done-so-go-home-now-because-you've-pumped-up-my-ego (people also
misuse clout just because of who they are). It is about sincerity. I
believe heroes are the common men and women who go about their lives
battling their issues and surviving without a song and dance and billboard
routine.
They are the people who stop you on the road just to smile at you simply
because you're smiling back. They are the people who still knock on your
door even if unsure of your hospitality. People who are nameless and
sometimes faceless in a crowd, at a job, because there is no godfather to
give them a pedestal to scream their achievements or realize their
potential. These are the people that make a city. A State. And these are
the people who must empower themselves to assert their rights, to smell the
rot and initiate action. Goa needs more heroes to speak the voice of
community. Goa needs you. The man on the street. The woman in the office.
Take charge of your cities. Do it because you care
====
