29 November, 2008

Be Angry. Be Very Angry.

The terrorists are back. Innocent people are killed. Heroes are martyred. Politicians mumble platitudes. It feels like this is never going to stop.

Not unless we take matters into our collective hands. And that means all Indians, as one. No divisions, no implicit partitions. Nothing that allows loopholes for terrorists to slip through.

First, demand accountability. File your RTI applications, petition your elected representatives. Make a nuisance of yourself until you get an answer, even if it be "I don't know" or "Nahin batayenge."

Second, use the power of the web. Communiate - thoughts, doubts, questions, ideas. Let's build a consensus on what works.

Third, fight corruption. Especially black money and processes that link to black money. That's what funds terrorists - and their accomplices who make our borders and coasts porous, our cities vulnerable, our loved ones defenceless, our brave soldiers martyrs.

Fourth, fight discrimination. Stand up and make yourself heard unless you support the new Hitlers who seek to create disunited, disjointed Us and Them sub-Indias, Hindus and Muslims, Domiciled and Inter-state Migrants, Gujjars and Meenas, Haves and Have-nots. The latter become prime targets for terrorist recruitment, and mutual distrust between groups creates grey zones in space and time that militants freely exploit.

Finally, vote. Make a choice, even if a sub-optimal one.

To fight terrorism, we must first fight corruption, communalism and casteism. Else there will always be loopholes for terrorists to slither through.

Empowerment is never given, it is always taken. Someone took our Bombay; we must now take back our India.

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9 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Bravo!

30/11/08 11:46  
Blogger infertilitydho said...

you are right ,but i believe that during the rapid spread of terrorism throughout the glob we all have to be prepared to face it and deal it.we should always be alert for it ,depending on government for everything is not the sign of a vigilant citizen.because every citizen is the part of government and the country,

30/11/08 19:41  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

there's something more that we can do. we can get together and help out the people that lost their primary breadwinners in this massacre. that would be real change for these people. it doesn't take much - its just a few people spending a little time and money organizing a funding drive for these people.
we already know their names and in some cases where they live and how to reach them.

come on guys, lets do this -- lets help. we can still be angry.

3/12/08 10:49  
Blogger 1conoclast said...

Thanks Anjan, for recommending solutions instead of the usual rants we're see these days.

4/12/08 19:02  
Blogger 1conoclast said...

One more suggestion:

If they can make the whole country safe, they won't need Z security. Can we get them to stop moving with security cordons? The Swiss Prez apparently doesn't need one & frequently travels by train & bus alone.
Let's ask why we can't get there.

4/12/08 19:04  
Blogger 1conoclast said...

And yes... I agree wholly with gwalyar!!!

4/12/08 19:05  
Blogger Anjan said...

Thanks folks. I agree with Gwalyar that we will have to learn to live with this looming over our heads... but let's fight it anyway, else it will never go away.
And Anonymous, I think you have a brilliant idea. Any idea which online forum can be used to build the donation kitty - and how we can make sure it reaches the bereaved who need it?

5/12/08 22:32  
Blogger Anjan said...

Thanks folks. I agree with Gwalyar that we will have to learn to live with this looming over our heads... but let's fight it anyway, else it will never go away.
And Anonymous, I think you have a brilliant idea. Any idea which online forum can be used to build the donation kitty - and how we can make sure it reaches the bereaved who need it?

5/12/08 22:32  
Blogger 1conoclast said...

Mutiny.in has paypal that it uses.

6/12/08 15:51  

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