Comments on: I Haven’t Forgotten http://www.sillymaidon.com/2009/11/i-havent-forgotten/ Indian Cricket Fan - For Better Or For Worse. In Sickness And In Health Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:47:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Megha http://www.sillymaidon.com/2009/11/i-havent-forgotten/comment-page-1/#comment-1230 Megha Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:29:39 +0000 http://www.sillymaidon.com/?p=226#comment-1230 Check your mail... uh...you already are if you are reading this, isn't it ;) Check your mail…

uh…you already are if you are reading this, isn’t it ;)

]]> By: Megha http://www.sillymaidon.com/2009/11/i-havent-forgotten/comment-page-1/#comment-1228 Megha Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:28:36 +0000 http://www.sillymaidon.com/?p=226#comment-1228 I am totally with you on what you are saying, Som, but i do belive that we can go that one step further. Not just be more understanding of others, but also be ready to stand up when something wrong happens. Not shy away from filing that police report...not looking the other way when that officer asks for some <em>chai-nashta</em>. Take action...demand results..you will be the only one doing it today...maybe in a few years, a few thousand will be doing the same.... I am totally with you on what you are saying, Som, but i do belive that we can go that one step further. Not just be more understanding of others, but also be ready to stand up when something wrong happens. Not shy away from filing that police report…not looking the other way when that officer asks for some chai-nashta. Take action…demand results..you will be the only one doing it today…maybe in a few years, a few thousand will be doing the same….

]]> By: Sharath http://www.sillymaidon.com/2009/11/i-havent-forgotten/comment-page-1/#comment-1227 Sharath Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:43:14 +0000 http://www.sillymaidon.com/?p=226#comment-1227 Sure, Megha :-) I'd forgotten to check the 'Notify me' check-box when I last replied here, hence the delay in getting back. Feel free to add me to gtalk too - I am usually online all day from work. Yeah, IBM is good that way. Sharath (This time, I AM checking the box). Sure, Megha :-)

I’d forgotten to check the ‘Notify me’ check-box when I last replied here, hence the delay in getting back.

Feel free to add me to gtalk too – I am usually online all day from work. Yeah, IBM is good that way.

Sharath

(This time, I AM checking the box).

]]> By: Som http://www.sillymaidon.com/2009/11/i-havent-forgotten/comment-page-1/#comment-1217 Som Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:32:09 +0000 http://www.sillymaidon.com/?p=226#comment-1217 This is just another another blog post. I've thought a lot and my own conclusion is, there is no dearth of people who want to do something. It's not just about preempting the next attack. That's basically the job of the government and its agencies. We mere law-abiding citizens can't do much about it except tipping them off if we are in such a situation. I guess, it's all about loving each other more. It's probably not in my power to change the face of my country or the world. But it's definitely in my hand to be a little more sensitive to my neighbours and certain social issues. Chipping in someone's hour of crisis, lending a helping hand here and there, helping a poor but meritorious student in his career -- these are things that don't need much. It's all about being more sensitive to the world we live in. In our small, little way, we have to trigger the change we want to see in the society. This is just another another blog post. I’ve thought a lot and my own conclusion is, there is no dearth of people who want to do something. It’s not just about preempting the next attack. That’s basically the job of the government and its agencies. We mere law-abiding citizens can’t do much about it except tipping them off if we are in such a situation.

I guess, it’s all about loving each other more. It’s probably not in my power to change the face of my country or the world. But it’s definitely in my hand to be a little more sensitive to my neighbours and certain social issues. Chipping in someone’s hour of crisis, lending a helping hand here and there, helping a poor but meritorious student in his career — these are things that don’t need much.

It’s all about being more sensitive to the world we live in. In our small, little way, we have to trigger the change we want to see in the society.

]]> By: Megha http://www.sillymaidon.com/2009/11/i-havent-forgotten/comment-page-1/#comment-1211 Megha Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:36:20 +0000 http://www.sillymaidon.com/?p=226#comment-1211 Re-reading my post, "ensuring this doesn't happen again" seems like a tall statement to make...no, I cannot ensure it doesn't happen again...in fact there is little that can be done to stop people who are willing to blow themselves up for whatever their cause is. But I can certainly make it a little difficult for them to get an oppurtunity to do so.... Re-reading my post, “ensuring this doesn’t happen again” seems like a tall statement to make…no, I cannot ensure it doesn’t happen again…in fact there is little that can be done to stop people who are willing to blow themselves up for whatever their cause is. But I can certainly make it a little difficult for them to get an oppurtunity to do so….

]]> By: Megha http://www.sillymaidon.com/2009/11/i-havent-forgotten/comment-page-1/#comment-1210 Megha Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:30:18 +0000 http://www.sillymaidon.com/?p=226#comment-1210 Anusha, I am not a votebank because frankly speaking I never tried to be part of one. Can you imagine the changes possible if the entire middle class realised the power in their hands? Speaking for myself, I have done nothing for my country. I have only taken from it and not given back. I have twisted and bent rules, and even broken them, as and when they suited me..whether it was something as small as not taking a pakka receipt from my grocery store (so that they can cheat the govt out of taxes by fudging actual sales), to getting my DL made through a "broker" (if it was that easy for me, it can't be more difficult for the terrorists to get their "Indian" passports/entry clearances done). Then why do I get shocked at the incompetent system I helped creating? Unless I change myself, what right do I have to expect others to do so? And so, Sharath, in short, this is my promise to myself. To repeat the cliche, I will be the change I want to see. (To answer your other question - I am in England right now, but will go back to India...soon) Call me naive in thinking that being an honest upright citizen in every sense of the word would put an end to atrocities like 7/7, 26/11 and many others. But I will change today, I will inspire 10 others to follow me tomorrow...and maybe one day those who run the country will be forced into doing their job properly. It might not happen in a year, it might not happen in 10..but it took us 200 years to gain Independence :) Change will be slow, but change will happen. Because I will bring it about. And if it doesnt happen, at least I will have peace of mind in knowing that I did something concrete rather than just blogging about it. Anusha, I am not a votebank because frankly speaking I never tried to be part of one. Can you imagine the changes possible if the entire middle class realised the power in their hands?

Speaking for myself, I have done nothing for my country. I have only taken from it and not given back. I have twisted and bent rules, and even broken them, as and when they suited me..whether it was something as small as not taking a pakka receipt from my grocery store (so that they can cheat the govt out of taxes by fudging actual sales), to getting my DL made through a “broker” (if it was that easy for me, it can’t be more difficult for the terrorists to get their “Indian” passports/entry clearances done). Then why do I get shocked at the incompetent system I helped creating? Unless I change myself, what right do I have to expect others to do so?

And so, Sharath, in short, this is my promise to myself. To repeat the cliche, I will be the change I want to see. (To answer your other question – I am in England right now, but will go back to India…soon) Call me naive in thinking that being an honest upright citizen in every sense of the word would put an end to atrocities like 7/7, 26/11 and many others. But I will change today, I will inspire 10 others to follow me tomorrow…and maybe one day those who run the country will be forced into doing their job properly. It might not happen in a year, it might not happen in 10..but it took us 200 years to gain Independence :) Change will be slow, but change will happen. Because I will bring it about. And if it doesnt happen, at least I will have peace of mind in knowing that I did something concrete rather than just blogging about it.

]]> By: Anusha http://www.sillymaidon.com/2009/11/i-havent-forgotten/comment-page-1/#comment-1202 Anusha Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:31:36 +0000 http://www.sillymaidon.com/?p=226#comment-1202 Megha, I remember this time last year. It was just a few months since I had come to US. I remember how angry I was seeing the news telecast..The anger was for the attitude for the Govt, for taking our lives so lightly, for the system which has failed so many times... It is not that there is nothing we can do about it..One of the big problems is that people like you and me are not a part of the vote bank. The politicians don't woo us for their votes..To please educated people they will have to do a lot of work..At the very least we can go out and vote..The changes won't be in a year or so..it will take time.. Megha, those who showed guts and character are the people who give us hope..And Mumbai always had people like these..It is a great city! God bless India! God bless Mumbai! Megha,

I remember this time last year. It was just a few months since I had come to US. I remember how angry I was seeing the news telecast..The anger was for the attitude for the Govt, for taking our lives so lightly, for the system which has failed so many times…

It is not that there is nothing we can do about it..One of the big problems is that people like you and me are not a part of the vote bank. The politicians don’t woo us for their votes..To please educated people they will have to do a lot of work..At the very least we can go out and vote..The changes won’t be in a year or so..it will take time..

Megha, those who showed guts and character are the people who give us hope..And Mumbai always had people like these..It is a great city!

God bless India! God bless Mumbai!

]]> By: Megha http://www.sillymaidon.com/2009/11/i-havent-forgotten/comment-page-1/#comment-1174 Megha Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:12:30 +0000 http://www.sillymaidon.com/?p=226#comment-1174 Sharath, If the id you filled out in the comment form is correct, and if it is ok with you, mind if I email you instead of a long-winded comment here? Sharath,

If the id you filled out in the comment form is correct, and if it is ok with you, mind if I email you instead of a long-winded comment here?

]]> By: Megha http://www.sillymaidon.com/2009/11/i-havent-forgotten/comment-page-1/#comment-1173 Megha Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:41:21 +0000 http://www.sillymaidon.com/?p=226#comment-1173 That is the hope Chris..No one should forget it till justice is delivered... That is the hope Chris..No one should forget it till justice is delivered…

]]> By: Sharath http://www.sillymaidon.com/2009/11/i-havent-forgotten/comment-page-1/#comment-1171 Sharath Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:51:34 +0000 http://www.sillymaidon.com/?p=226#comment-1171 "what I can do to play my part in ensuring this does not happen again..." You live in Canada, don't you? What can you possibly do from there to 'ensure it doesn't happen again?' Come to think of it, even if you did live in India, what would you do to ensure it doesn't happen again? I am not asking that to be confrontational; I am truly curious. What happened was at a scale removed from that of the common man. Is there anything that you or I could do to prevent it from happening again? I doubt it. (But you might know better, so please tell me if you do.) I was struck at the time how everyone everywhere (especially the NRIs - I know, I am one too) came out of the blocks and called out to the people of India to unite and face the situation together. The sentiment is praise-worthy, but of what practical use is it? I am yet to come across a single argument that details exactly HOW it is that we, the common people, are supposed to fight terrorism. I am not suggesting that what happened in Mumbai was not a bad thing. Of course it was. But the truth is there is precious little the average Indian can do about it. Now or in the future. Maybe we should channel this 'need for action' to causes that ARE in our hands and those that we CAN influence... “what I can do to play my part in ensuring this does not happen again…”
You live in Canada, don’t you? What can you possibly do from there to ‘ensure it doesn’t happen again?’

Come to think of it, even if you did live in India, what would you do to ensure it doesn’t happen again?

I am not asking that to be confrontational; I am truly curious. What happened was at a scale removed from that of the common man. Is there anything that you or I could do to prevent it from happening again? I doubt it. (But you might know better, so please tell me if you do.)

I was struck at the time how everyone everywhere (especially the NRIs – I know, I am one too) came out of the blocks and called out to the people of India to unite and face the situation together. The sentiment is praise-worthy, but of what practical use is it? I am yet to come across a single argument that details exactly HOW it is that we, the common people, are supposed to fight terrorism.

I am not suggesting that what happened in Mumbai was not a bad thing. Of course it was. But the truth is there is precious little the average Indian can do about it. Now or in the future.

Maybe we should channel this ‘need for action’ to causes that ARE in our hands and those that we CAN influence…

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