Floriano Lobo wrote: I have always felt that JC does go off the tangent sometimes, perhaps so because the readers do not understand or fail to understand what he is trying to say in between the in-laid humour. But here, he has shown the maturity of the Gandhian ( not Hazare'ian).
I too agree with JC. People seem eager for some mass momentum, whether it is right or wrong. We are like lemmings going over the cliff. We must pause to think for once. There are better ways to do it. Just because Anna Hazare is impatient to have corruption thrown out of the window, it is not going to vanish in thin air in a jiffy with one man wielding a cane of the Lokpal. More likely, innocents will be sacrificed at the alter just like the vino's being flogged at the temple posts in Raleigaon Siddi, courtesy Ann na. We must stop this herd mentality. I for one feel that this hype about Anna is going to do a massive damage to India in the long run if things are not arrested in time. BTW, yesterday, at Panjim's Azad Maidan, when I asked a friend as to why he was not inside but outside Azad Maidan, his promt reply was: "Ann na teh bitor assat ani Ann aha teh bhair. == RESPONSE: My dear Floriano, You are quite right about the "tangent" bit. Needless to say, it is quite intentional. The following is my understanding of the "Anna movement" that is presently going on. I Stand corrected IF I am wrong: Preface: There is NO doubt that a highly virulent strain of the Corruption virus is rampant in India. Since 1961, unfortunately, Goa has been infected by this virus. IF a significant percentage of the general population was NOT basically corrupted by this virulent virus, and now rendered corrupt, there is no way that the Politicians and Babus would have gotten away with the swiping. 1: Everybody has a right to protest peacefully. As long as the protest does not cause (unreasonable) traffic chaos and unmanageable public disorder, the protest should be allowed. 2: If there is a threat to the law and order situation, those charged with maintaining law and order have the duty to use reasonable force to maintain order. 3: I do NOT believe that the Anna Lok Pal Bill is constitutional. If India wishes to adopt such a bill, it should first amend its constitution and throw out the principles of the Separation of Powers and the relative Supremacy of Parliament & the Supremacy of the Judiciary. Hand over this supremacy to the Lok Pal. 4: The present dispensation at the centre is aware of this problem with the Anna "Bill". No wonder it has presented a hyper-diluted Bill. 5: This hunger-strike (like that Goa bandh) will only cause disorder. IMHO, this disorder is designed with the intention of a change in govt. 6: I believe that disorder always brings prolonged grief esp to the poor. Nothing will change for them. They will be used and discarded. 7: I say to all: Be careful for what you wish. Your wishes may actually be fulfilled......and the results may not be what you were expecting them to be. jc