Sunday, January 25, 2009

Guys, grow up...




Other day, my friend - 'AD' forwarded a mail which was titled as (withot any changes) :
Why times of india is so excited for OBAMA!!!Does OBAMA give it some money!!!!!

The purpose of this post will be greatly served if the guy who sent that email in the first place gets to read this.

So, this is what I have to say :
There can't be a better example of cynism and narrow mindedness if someone thinks TOI is being paid by Obama.
If Obama is getting this much of publicity and adulation from Indian media then the cynicists should tell themselves that probably he deserves it.
I don't work for TOI but come to think of it, what would one want to read on the front page of TOI when the world's most powerful and the oldest democracy witnesses shift of power (and that too a landmark one what with a African-American President) ? News and pictures of Obama and his wife or the same brickbatting about fuel price hike / rape / murder / dirty political games played by age old Indian politicians?

In fact we (every one who reads TOI on a daily basis) must be thankful to TOI for having brought the news with pictures of latest developments in Washington. Or else how are people in India (who don't have access to tv) supposed to get to know the glitter and admiration with which the people of a country which is one of the world's richest, welcomes the new president to his seat of power and to his official residence?

As for the oaths of Indian PM and President, is there anything different? They read out the pledge with the most boring tone and voice and forget about it and get on with regular life. I am disgusted with Indian politicians to say the least. None yes none of the current politicians speak on his / her own at a ceremony. They need a well prepared speech which they read out like a 3rd standard student would read out being afraid of punishment.

There are a lot of things to be learnt and understood by us Indians about America if we want to be like America (BTW our ex president wants us to be a developed country -like America -by 2020) because America is not just a country, but it is an idea.
One should have a big heart to appreciate the fact that smooth transition of power is a compulsory part of democracy in that country.
It has a proper procedure. I didn't know that in the US, as a part of democratic procedure, the ex-president is seen off at the helicopter by the newly elected one soon after the presidential luncheon after the inauguration. My GK has only grown after reading this in TOI and if someone thinks TOI has done a mistake by writing about Obama and the US then he wants us Indians to remain oblivious about the way democracy functions in the developed countries.
If there are people who want to discourage the media that brings news and views about the US then it's unfortunate and we need to grow up before we are called 3rd world country and India - chauvinists..





7 comments:

  1. I completely agree with what my friend Prasanna had mentioned here. TOI has played a vital role. I personally thank them in bringing this information to the common man and i strongly believe that it will put some in light to the Indian politicians as well. If you see the paper circulation during that time, it has been increases comparing to the previous days.It clearly states the success of TOI in bringing the news to more and more people.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Arun,

    I am glad and happy that your views do match mine.
    I only hope we Indians start thinking beyond the most obvious and prima facie..

    ReplyDelete
  3. I agree with you Prasanna that we have a lot to learn from America,but there are two things I would like to mention:
    1. India is the largest democracy in the world with maybe even less than a tenth of America's resources. Despite that we have been achieving the second fastest economic growth. We shouldn't forget that.
    2. We also shouldn't forget the mess that America has landed the world economy in, due to it's own greed.
    So there are somethings to be proud off too being an India :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dear Sila..

    I am always proud of being an Indian and I'll always remain one..
    Thanks so much for your comment...
    This debate is throwing so many nice points to discuss and ponder over..
    I like this..
    Carry on guys..

    ReplyDelete
  5. You said:
    "Boss...
    You have a strange choice and on top of it you have no knowledge of photography..
    So, I am done with your pictures...
    All The Best.."

    Thank you for your valuable comments from time to time.

    Earlier you had commented, asking me to click larger wide angle shots of the city like the old photos of MG Road etc.

    My reply: I would love to. However, the city is filled up with concrete that such shots do not look very good. So i focus on the details. So i go close up and click little things that look good.

    However, i do click pictures where it works like this one: http://mainsandcrosses.blogspot.com/2008/06/kasturba-rd_30.html

    As for today's comment:
    How I see things may seem strange to you. It's called point of view. As for my photography skills, I'm not a trained photographer. I'm just one of the millions with a digital camera, who blogs. I'm sure you have a camera, you can do what I do too and in a much better way. And share it with a world on your blog. That's the beauty of the internet.

    Peace
    Gopal

    ReplyDelete
  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  7. @karthik...
    You fat constipated red face.... You mind your own business.... Everyone is entitled to his / her views.. Gopal and I have had a dialog about my views.. You don't have to poke your nose in others' asses unneccessarily..
    And don't ever come on to my blog... Cause we don't like hypocrites and conspires around us here...

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.