Skip to main content

Politicking

I watched a program on television show and am amazed at the how some of the media houses stated with certainty that Mr. Rahul Gandhi received a drubbing at his visit to Mount Carmel College, Bangalore. From what was said, some students were for and some were against the present government’s initiatives. I do not get how they (the media) perceive that he was booed and was given a thumbs down. Is this some way for television houses to let the Congress know that they are on a constant sticky wicket? Sure, they did not get the numbers in the 2014 elections. The BJP did prove to be victorious – that is a given. What is quite baffling however, is the constant negative publicity that goes around about Mr. Rahul Gandhi. This constant rant of dynasty politics bashing is bordering on the ridiculous. It is time to give it a rest. Why talk about this form of dynasty hand me down’s I wonder, when this form of ‘politics’ occurs across the board. The family business being handed down from generation to generation is a prime example. Here is a poser - how can people perpetuate the rant saying that the country suffered under the leadership of the Congress for decades. How pray did we get our freedom if it wasn’t for the ‘Gandhi’ name along with many other amazing freedom fighters?

Taking potshots at someone in the public eye has become a constant. Under the veil of anonymity people diss public figures. It is when one has the guts to sit across someone with an opposing point of view, do things progress. Not everyone is made out of the same fabric (read opinion) and that is where diversity plays a vital role. Yes? Take the well known actor Mr. Amir Khan who said something that triggered an upset with certain folk. Doesn’t he have a right as a citizen of the country to air his views? The chant of ‘go to Pakistan’ is so boring. Yawn. Time to change the rhetoric.

Let’s go on another tangent here – this constant bashing of our Prime Minister leaves a bitter taste. Okay, some don’t like his style of governing – so be it, everyone is entitled to an opinion. But, this constant bashing repeatedly is pretty darn nasty. Time to give it a rest, already! The refrain of ‘you get what you deserve when you are in the public eye’ is so not cool. Have any of us who tear people’s reputations to shreds wonder about the pain that we are causing the person? Let me state for the record, that I am the most apolitical person – do not believe in being for or against any particular party. What stares us in the face on a daily basis is the nastiness everywhere. Seriously, does it make the news as to where Rahul Gandhi went for a 50-day holiday? Does it matter that XYZ has a large wedding? And so on… By putting, it out there for people to discuss at length and ridiculing the person is dirty politics. Sure, everyone is entitled to an opinion, but when there are serious matters to discuss, aren’t we just digressing? Who cares if our Prime Minister wears swanky suits while he travels abroad? Come on, guys he looks smart – what is the problem? Case of sour grapes? Perhaps people are tired of being nice, that being fashionably nasty has taken over mainstream debates and tea table discussions.

Needless, to say, being fair game when you enter politics is definitely ‘on’, or so we have heard. Does it really matter if Mrs. Sonia Gandhi is of Italian ancestry? She has adapted to the rule of the land and in fact, she speaks Hindi way better than I can ever do. I struggle every day. When an Indian goes abroad and does well, we applaud the person. If s/he enters the political arena and makes a name for her/himself we practically scream – ‘s/he is Indian’ because we preen with happiness which is great. However, when someone from another country marries into a well-known political family and carves a niche for herself in the domain, we bring on the venom. Blah blah blah… Are we so intolerant that we haven’t yet accepted the Gandhi bahu who has embraced our culture and practices with grace?

If you don’t like the methodology of any political party – settle the score with decent debates. It is quite distasteful when participants of any party are shouted down on television shows because they do not share the point of view of the anchor. Another annoying concept is when certain bytes are aired repeatedly just for those TRP’s. Therefore, based on logic because of editing of various video clippings, should the public really believe this? Or should we go with the response by public figures stating that they were misquoted because the footage aired was out of context? Should we, as the audience, take what is aired in front of us with a pinch of salt?



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

In the Bloghouse

Pssssssssst I have a secret that I wanna share with you… I have been diagnosed with an illness called FIMS aka Foot In Mouth Syndrome. I’ve tried many times to get over this, with mind-over-matter techniques, herbal remedies and even self awareness classes online, but to no avail. Trying to soothe a friend who was dumped by some loser dude I listened to her rant and rave about his meanness for some time and then advised her with “forget him, there are many more fish in the sea.” Needless to say that was FIMS playing havoc again which nearly earned me a black eye! All she needed was some hand holding during this period and I advocated the “move on” mantra. Since this has proven time and again to be the bane of my existence, I have decided to do something and get this out of my system ASAP. The first step that I’m going to do is curb my enthusiasm about juicy news that I hear and refrain from spilling the beans to the person being gossiped about! Crappy feeling, but I have to tr...

Can You Chill Out with Your Mom? Can You Add Her To Your Facebook List of Friends?

Whoever said that you couldn’t be friends with your Mom is probably thinking old school mother. I am certainly no teenager, neither am I in my 20’s but getting closer to dotage (uh uh). Over the years, however, I noticed that my Mom was one of the coolest Mom’s in school, college, while I worked, in between relationships and when my marital cord snapped. Let me let on how cool she was and has been through the years. When I had my first crush – she was very disappointed, and rightly so, though at the time I was angry that my secret was out. Here was her youngest with a boyfriend, and in her teens! It was hard for her to digest this since none of the older siblings went down this road. When she found out, all hell broke loose, she screamed at me, stopped me from going out, but she also stood by me. The boyfriend went away as did the friends’ circle. She never left my side, and held me while I sobbed away because he was my one true love (at the time). Ah, the throes of the first dabble...

Narrow Path

When I look at your arms on the cross stretched wide Your eyes filled with love encouraging us to drop the divide But no matter which way we trudge You love everyone without even the slightest grudge. Temptations all around enticing us with its wares How do we ignore these pangs and stop its glares? Many ridicule us because of the road we follow Help us set an example and travel the path of straight and narrow.

Doctor Hungry

I have been the route meeting with so many quacks that I am fatigued at the way some doctors/specialists don’t think twice about ripping patients off. Having said that however, I would like to point out that there are so many earnest doctors who go the mile and are an honor to their profession. This post is not about the earnest doctors, but the rip offs. Sometime ago I sought the professional expertise of a renowned specialist who had an entourage to handle her every whim and fancy. I paid to consult her but was tossed aside to meet her intern! Being ill and hazy, I had no say in the matter but this left me extremely annoyed that I had to stiff up a large bill… for what? With irate friends, colleagues and relatives who have been shortchanged by a few quacks, I have penned a couple of lines below… Doctors, physicians, radiologists, new life healers, and others we have met Treat us with disdain and mere guinea pets A pill here, blood transfusion there and scans everywhere Set...

Beginning of the End?

A short story here... Just read and let me know what you think? I haven't concluded the story just going with the flow. The erratic nature of the power supply left the entire city in the lurch and this seemed to be a frequent occurrence. In spite of pleadings to curb global warming people paid no heed to the warnings and this brought about the swarm …. The beginning was when the entire country was wiped out in darkness and stampedes all over going on well into the night. Headlights of passing vehicles were the only source of light as generators were giving way because of the scarcity of fuel available. Every living being was being held hostage because of the “no power and no water” adage. No rainfall = less electricity = no water = no produce = malnutrition. The crops were in a mess, pets were getting crazed, and livestock was dropping dead by the minute. Drought was at an all time high. Neighboring countries pitched in, but this deluge was gaining momentum across cou...

Search This Blog