Monday, February 06, 2006

Is Democracy stupid?

Busy on their snacks at the canteen, people lazily watch the news on the canteen TV announcing the problems due to victory of Hamas in Palestine.

Preethi remarks: "What is this... they allow a terrorist organization to participate in the elections, and then wonder how to solve the problem when they have won."

Mark: "Didn't you hear the other part... Like the reporter said.. it is democratic to allow them run for elections. Its palestine's destiny.. had to happen.. what can anybody do about it."

Preethi: "C'mon Mark.. What destiny... you know they are terrorists, and still will give the country to them like suicide.
Why did people elect terrorists to rule their country ?, Raj."

Raj: "The Hamas is recognized as a militant organization by the US not by the palestinians itself. What Hamas is? and why they have support is something unexplained"

Mark: "But, why is US coming into the picture.. Why are they saying they are the first to be bothered by the results of the elections."

Raj: "US has been funding palestine's efforts for democracy. The Hamas victory has put question marks all-over on US efforts in palestine...

"Also I remember, a few years back a top Hamas leader was assasinated by Israeli attacks, which they say had US help. So this victory could mean more...

"But really we just know the news reporters perception of things... the details of what is happening in Palestine, or Israel or US government interests is unclear.

Mano: "I remember, after the killing of the Hamas leader, the Hamas openly called for a total destruction of Israel"

Raj: "Even today after winning elections they don't have any interests of recognizing Israel as a country and a neighbour. They also are not ready to call-off their terrorist activities."

Preethi: "Have they formed the government? Is a Hamas leader the president of palestine now?"

Raj: "The Hamas leaders are reported to have gone to Egypt where their top leaders are in exile... to discuss how to set up the government in palestine, and make a 'To Do' list. Clearly, hamas is not ready to form government, and has no idea what it has to do now.. probably they didn't expect to win the elections but only be a major opposition like always."

Mano: "Already both neighbours israel and palestine, having a setback, with palestine leader yasser arafat dead, and israel leader ariel sharon unconscious."

Preethi: "Oh!"

Raj: "Palestine now wonders what democracy means, and whether allowing Hamas to participate in the elections because its a democratic election was a mistake."

Jas: "Just like India is wondering yaar...Called the world's largest democracy.. India really, clearly is struggling internally for years, to improve its infrastructure, its population, its other national crisises like unemployment, drought, starvation, poor, etc., "

Mano: " .. except one thing, MONEY atleast seems to be well-managed in India meeting expectations from foreign investors in India."

Preethi: "Ya... when you said infrastructure.. I remembered..
Recently, the long-long due of modernization plan of India's major airports got into rough wind when political interests in the country took opportunity to press the employee unions of Airports Authority of India to go on strike. The result was a good show by the employees not knowing the intentions of their leaders, with all airports becoming dirty overnight, stinking bad"

Jas: "That stink will give a great entry into India for people who come here. Thanks to the stupid government employees.. "

Mark: "Huh.. government employees are always like that."

Raj: "And you know when this modernization thing was started seriously by the government.. Should be three or four years back.. a small 3-year old girl died in New Delhi's 'Palam' airport because her head accidentally got caught by the moving parts of the escalator, and the personnel had no idea how to stop it."

Preethi: "Ya I remember.. yes, all the politicians started actively making statements about modernizing airport, its staff etc., .. in support of the people."

Raj: "From then on, the politicians have been talking.. talking .. they have their own way of making money and making political mileage even out of devastating accidents.

"And, finally.. FINALLY when the modernization project is to kick-off, you have some stupid irresponsible people protesting.. forgeting all about the past, about the country's development, and what not...

"For the protestors, all that matters is, if I protest, I will get money or can demand pay hike, and if not now, not later.. so make use of the opportunity, and shout against the government for keeping me like this for years though I will work only the same way with the same efficiency for years."

"Atleast the airport has been stinking only now, but 50% people and 50% politics is stinking for decades in India.

"All mistakes in India, with the people being irresponsible towards the country, the government and politicians being corrupt on an average, are all attributed to the process of democracy."

Mark: "In India, democracy has a new meaning too, for the people it is: "Do whatever you want.. unless a government authority asks", and for the government it is: "Do whatever you want.. until the people ask".

Preethi: "Oh God!
This leaves me with the question...
"Is being democratic..stupid?.."

Because whatever said, a totally democratic country has problems all the time.

If it were the US, and Hamas an organization there, definitely they wouldn't be allowed to participate in elections making an exception to total democracy.

If it were China, and the airport modernation plan was protested by employees, the communist country would slap sanctions on the employees and the government would take steps to really bother them, because they are bothering the country's improvement.
"

Mano: "Just because you are democratic, giving everyone a chance, be it the militia, or the proven corrupt politician, etc., is really stupid.

"Don't you beat up criminals using the police, would you talk democracy or the criminals rights there? ofcourse only thing that can democratically be allowed is giving him a chance to defend himself in court. "

Mark: "But that too, in my opinion you should have limitations, because the law is never ever going to be perfect to hold somebody guilty..after all its just in the use of arguments..."

Preethi: "take Saddam Hussein's trial for instance, does it ever seem conclusive?"

Raj: "Democracy like any other rule or law needs stopping points and exceptions, with proper judgement on what's correct on that day with all perceptions given a consideration.

And like any other english word, being democratic can mean different things for different people, based on their culture, their perceptions about things and history. It matters how its implemented. Democracy cannot be blamed for everything."

Mano: "Yes, just like every country has its own constitution, though the objective of the law everywhere is common atleast technically. If not for differences, we could do with something like, all countries in United nations follow a common constitution"

Raj: "There's something like that when you become part of some unions like UN, or SAARC.. etc., I don't know exactly what constitutional rights they agree to follow in common. But an example would be like all countries in UN adhering to Geneva convention on treating war captives of the enemy in a human manner."

Mano: "Oh!"

Preethi: "That's nice.. like Raj said .. Democracy cannot be blamed for everything. Its not the mistake of being democratic itself.. but it matters how its implemented."