Every flourishing system has a (more) flourishing black market.
Jul 272008
Jul 252008
Stupidity can take many forms. This blog, for example. Or a center page article from The Hindu. In which, Julie Bindel argues that women need not assume personal responsibility for their safety.
Rape, under any circumstance, is a crime, nay, a sin. There can be no justification for assaulting a woman. Roughly, from this point, Julie Bindel and sanity part company.
In rape trials, the perpetrator of the crime can plant doubts in the minds of the judge or the jury by claiming that the act was committed with the consent of the victim. The signals of consent, as misread by the assailant, could be the victim’s promiscuity, revealing attire, lewd language, the influence of alcohol etc. Bindel argues that the victim cannot be blamed in such cases, because she is only exercising her individual right.
Fair enough. The only thing we need to check is if Bindel locks her house when she leaves it for work.
We were taught in middle school that with rights come responsibilities. Feminists like Bindel hold the view that society must protect women, even if they themselves violate their individual rights flagrantly.
“Let’s be clear; women have the right to go out, dressed outrageously and be gagging to pull a man for sex.” If Bindel’s argument were true, people should hang signs outside their homes proclaiming that a particular room has jewellery and cash worth a million dollars. A map or floor plan might help. Not just that. In case such a house is robbed, then when the case comes to court, judges should recommend the houseowner to the Nobel Prize Committee.
Locked houses get robbed, no doubt. But that is no reason why any sane person would leave the doors of his house open at all times. Maybe there is some obscure survey that says otherwise, but chances are an unprotected house is more at risk than even a half-secure house.
The theft is still a theft; it is a crime, and punishment for it must be no less than it should be for a normal theft. But what should not be lost on the courts, the victim and society is that fact that while the victim of the crime did not actively encourage the thief, criminals are only looking for chinks in the victim’s armor to advance their aggression.
Consent is a tricky issue for courts to establish weeks or months after the crime has been committed. But the legal system can only go some distance. Perpetrators of rape, or any other crime, should be shown no mercy. But the onus is always on people to protect themselves. If they fail to, they are partly to blame as well.
Jul 232008
When I first came to know of the Communist Party’s decision to expel the Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee from the party, my first reaction was one of shock and sadness. I even criticized the CPI-M of displaying intolerance and a lack of civility.
But then, why would anyone want to criticize the CPI-M of such things?
Lack of respect and civility are inherent characteristics of thugs masquerading as intellectuals. To mock at people for their natural shortcomings does not become of a, well, whatever.
In fact, I greatly welcome the CPI-M’s decision, for it reiterates their inferiority.
When someone asked me a few years ago what I thought of the Nobel Committee not honoring Mahatma Gandhi with the Peace Prize, I wondered what honor it would have brought the great man. To be honest, if the Committee had conferred Gandhiji with the Prize, it would have done the Prize, and not the statesman-saint, an honor. The Committee might have acted out of their own sense of inferiority, I thought.
Similarly, by expelling Mr. Chatterjee from the Party, the Chinese Poodles of India (Malicious) speaks of their realization that the party is not one for dignified people, and that only unabashed boot-lickers can claim membership to the league.
I might have quoted this line from Cho Ramaswany many times on this blog, but it is imperative that I repeat it here. “If the Left has a future in India, India has no future left.“
Jul 212008
… is the greatest city in the world.
But isn’t that as obvious as stating that paruppusili is the greatest food item ever?
Jul 182008
Another of those old poems struck me this morning. I think this is from a collection of poems called “Naanmani kadigai”, and I first read this poem when in class 7. Without intending to be boastful, I really am amazed at how many (useless) things I can remember so many years later. I do not recall the meaning fully, but I have attempted one anyway.
நாற்றம் உரைக்கும் மலருண்மை; கூறிய
மாற்றம் உரைக்கும் வினைநலம் – தூக்கின்
அகம் பொதிந்த தீமை மனமுரைக்கும்; முன்னம்
முகம் போல முன்னுரைப்பது இல்
It translates to “You can divine a flower by its scent.
Jul 142008
While the time at which the song was played was ironical, the lines are captivating. These are the pick of the lyrics.
“நல்ல பொழுதையெல்லாம் தூங்கிக் கெடுத்தவர்கள்
நாட்டைக் கெடுத்ததுடன் தானும் கெட்டார்.
சிலர், அல்லும் பகலும் வெறும் கல்லாய் இருந்துவிட்டு
‘அதிர்ஷ்டம் இல்லை’ என்று அலட்டிக்கொண்டார்.
விழித்துக்கொண்டோரெல்லாம் பிழைத்துக்கொண்டார்;
உன் போல் குரட்டை விட்டோரெல்லாம் கோட்டைவிட்டார்!”
Roughly translates to “Those who wasted the time at their disposal harmed not just themselves, but society. And while they were just lazy and inactive, they had the gall to critize Lady Luck for turning her back on them. The industrious reaped the benefits deservedly, while the laggards were just left behind.”
And while Kannadasan is unparalleled as a lyricist, Pattukottai Kalyanasundaram is not too far behind, what say?
P.S.: The song is from the 1958 movie, Naadodi Mannan, which also marked MGR’s directorial debut. Incidentally, the movie was re-released in Tamil Nadu last year and ran to packed houses for 2 months. (It is one of the few MGR movies that I have missed!)
Jul 142008
… is like Pokkiri, except it is much better, because it is done right.
Jul 142008
It is past midnight. I am trying to catch some sleep, which is, quite uncharacteristically, hard to come by. I put on my headphones and try some music, so I can be lulled to sleep. And guess what song comes up?
“தூங்காதே, தம்பி தூங்காதே”
Jul 092008
“The French want no-one to be their superior. The English want inferiors. The Frenchman constantly raises his eyes above him with anxiety. The Englishman lowers his beneath him with satisfaction.” – Alexis de Tocqueville
Jul 072008
Anjaathey (2008) is a modern classic!
And Mysskin is a great director. Tamil cinema has a good future.
Jul 062008
Rafael Nadal finally managed to beat Roger Federer on center court to win the 2008 Wimbledon Championships.
To me though, Federer lost this final six months before, when after losing to Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the 2008 Australian Open, he commented, “I have somehow created this monster that I have to win every Grand Slam I take part in.” That indicates, in whatever little way, the lack of appetite in the champion. And in a matchup between equals, Nadal had just that bit extra that saw him past the line.
Jul 042008
(Based on what little I know) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh deserves a Bharat Ratna, for putting up with all the bull$#!+ that the Left parties are throwing at him.
And death to coalition politics.
Jul 032008
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