the debate....
Today was the day of the great American presidential debate..... We were sitting at our friends' down a block from our apartment on Massachusetts ave, enjoying some nice cocktails, savoring the delicious domino's pizza and eating pretzels! what else do you want for a evening well spent :-)
We did not even notice that the debate began as we were too busy chatting.... and making fun of each other... But as the debate progressed more and more, we finally understood that it was not the spiritless, monotonous, boring debate which the American public (and the whole world) has been watching for the past 2 times... finally we get the opportunity to hear the thoughts which 2 people have put into, people who are gonna govern this part of the world for the next 4 years.... and may be more....
As I was thinking about the debate, a thought just ran across my mind: why don't politicians in India have this kind of debate ? In the world's largest democracy why is this so difficult to achieve? Why is it that our politicians have the strength to organize huge crowds of people with thousands of trucks and cars and lorries running with them as part of their entourage, but can't get together in a town hall and discuss things quietly? To me it seems like the only way politicians can make a point in India is by yelling and screaming at each other and threatening to stop the traffic and halting the trains and buses. Has India's politicians lost the ability and patience to sit together and talk ? and then we boast about being a peace loving, vibrant democracy!
Indians talk about the American lifestyle, the hi tech gadgets, access to education, health care and the free society here; but they definitely fail to see what makes this society the way it is.
I feel that on some levels India is facing an identity crisis... it has forgotten the roots which our founding fathers had based this democracy on as we got independence from the British....
We did not even notice that the debate began as we were too busy chatting.... and making fun of each other... But as the debate progressed more and more, we finally understood that it was not the spiritless, monotonous, boring debate which the American public (and the whole world) has been watching for the past 2 times... finally we get the opportunity to hear the thoughts which 2 people have put into, people who are gonna govern this part of the world for the next 4 years.... and may be more....
As I was thinking about the debate, a thought just ran across my mind: why don't politicians in India have this kind of debate ? In the world's largest democracy why is this so difficult to achieve? Why is it that our politicians have the strength to organize huge crowds of people with thousands of trucks and cars and lorries running with them as part of their entourage, but can't get together in a town hall and discuss things quietly? To me it seems like the only way politicians can make a point in India is by yelling and screaming at each other and threatening to stop the traffic and halting the trains and buses. Has India's politicians lost the ability and patience to sit together and talk ? and then we boast about being a peace loving, vibrant democracy!
Indians talk about the American lifestyle, the hi tech gadgets, access to education, health care and the free society here; but they definitely fail to see what makes this society the way it is.
I feel that on some levels India is facing an identity crisis... it has forgotten the roots which our founding fathers had based this democracy on as we got independence from the British....
I think it's high time that Indians get their act together.. before it's too late... so that at least our children get the chance to live in a society where democracy has a meaning other than just taking the privilege of the right the speak....
posted by javatarian at
11:00 PM
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