Terror: My Take

Last updated on: December 11, 2008 at 2:19 pm by Jonathan Askonas

Terror: My Take 2008-12-11T14:19:17-06:00 Jonathan Askonas

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I might be totally off the mark here when I say all of this. But then again, if I feel so strongly about it, maybe there is something right about it, if not completely. I’m not a revolutionary. I’m not half as intellectually inclined as most of the people who have been talking about the recent terror attacks in Mumbai. My knowledge of the state of world affairs is greatly limited to the

Be it the terror attacks or be it the floods or merely the unhygienic conditions existing in most parts of India including Mumbai; I feel the core problem is a complete lack of self respect amongst the residents of this country. The same people who were shouting “Bharat mata ki jai” outside Nariman House were also the ones spitting on the same road. And they were also the ones who would not think twice before throwing a gutkha or a chocolate wrapper on the road.

We don’t care what happens to others as long as it doesn’t directly affect us. I’m reminded of Naseeruddin Shah’s monologue in a recently released film ‘A WEDNESDAY’ (quite ironically named so), where he aptly says, “our problem is that we get used to things very fast.” I’m sure, after the attacks, we all must have sent ‘sms’es and called our friends and relatives all over Mumbai. Ensured that they are ok and then stayed glued to our TV screens. One of my friends described the whole media coverage of the incident a “3 day long thriller”. And I’m sure somewhere that holds true for most of us who did not know any of the victims directly or indirectly.

I’m not suggesting that there’s much we could have done in terms of action at the given point in time. I’m only talking about an overall attitude.

It’s not like India or in fact even Mumbai has been under attack by terrorists for the first time. In fact, strategically, Mumbai is the softest and the most potent target for such attacks. I distinctly remember how the security had suddenly been beefed up at all local railway stations, hotels, malls and other public places after the train blasts. The entire vigilance episode lasted for about a little over 2 weeks. And then, we were back to square one. We still had police beat tables at the stations but no police personnel there. And even if sometimes you saw one or two, they would be rather busy reading the newspaper or scrutinizing the various parts of female anatomy or any other such engrossing activity. I have, personally, walked in & out of many malls with a huge bag on my back and no real check. All I had to tell the security personnel was, “Its a laptop bag”, and I would be allowed to go through without frisking. As if carrying a laptop was a guarantee that you cannot be a terrorist carrying a hand grenade in the same bag. Isn’t that cool!

Terrorists, according to me, are not born. Neither does any religion breed them. They are very carefully crafted by the small things we all do.

We pass through a clean lane eating a banana and once we are done, the skin of the fruit takes up a place of pride somewhere on the same street. Then suddenly, because we have been walking for so long, we feel the urge to pee. What better place than a clean lane right next to us! And as is a habit with a lot of us, we have to spit once we are done with the act of relieving ourselves. Now, we obviously wouldn’t go looking for a new place to spit, right? We do all this in that clean lane for a few days. Then, one day, we cross that lane and suddenly a stench fills up our noses. “Disgusting. No one can help this country. The government sucks man. No one cleans up this shit or what?” are just some of the thoughts that cross our minds.

Well. Welcome, my friends to India. And if you don’t remember, all this is something you have created. We create misery and then crib about it. And get frustrated by it. And a frustrated mind is the best raw material for the amazing craftsmen who I refer to as “the terror breeders”.

The irony of this whole situation is that if you put any of these people in any of the European countries or US of A, they will not repeat this sequence of events. They’ll walk an extra mile if they have to but they will make sure that the chocolate wrapper only goes into the dust bin.

SO, MY WHOLE POINT IS: it’s no point blaming the security agencies or the terrorists. What we as citizens of the country need to do first and foremost is, to take up responsibility. And I’m not talking about big things like policy reforms or compulsory military training for all. I’m not even talking about things like practicing your right to vote for the right people. No such revolutionary ideas. Just very basic things. Like look under your seat when you sit in the bus or train. And I’m not talking about just terror attacks. I’m talking about inculcating a feeling of respect, both for the individual as well as the nation. Because according to me patriotism is not about hoisting the national flag and chanting “Bharat Mata ki jai”. It’s about ensuring that we keep it clean of garbage and anti social elements.

I’m sure, I’m sounding repetitive. I’m sure I’m saying nothing new. Honestly, I don’t intend to either. The objective here is to remind all of us about the ground realities that we all know of but don’t do much about.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

December 11, 2008

Hallucinations of Pak media and the Pranab Mukherjee phone call

Next Post

December 11, 2008 Highly Energizing our Loving Hearts

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Aarti Achievement and Leadership AfPak Africa Annual and Year-end Asia Audio Australia Behavioural Sciences Bhagwad Gita Bhagwad Gita Blogging Blogs Business Business Intelligence Business Strategy Cannes Careers Chanakya China Conservation Corruption Creative Daily Links Desh Poems Development & Welfare Devotional Audio Devotional Songs Drama Earth Economics Education Entertainment Environment Europe Everyday Quotes Featured Articles Featured Songs Finance Flickr Pictures Food Geo-Political Global Warming Globalization Health & Medicine Hinduism Historic History Humour India Indian Culture Indian music Indian Weddings Israel Issues Legal Link Love Minorities Misc Motivation and Personal Development Movie Lists Movie Reviews Movies Mumbai terror attacks Natural Disasters Nature News Outsourcing Pakistan Parenting Personal Philosophy Poetry Politics Poverty Quotes Recipe Regular Blog Post Relationships Religion Religious/Spiritual Audio Sciences Showcase Slideshow South Asia Special Stories Spiritual Quotes Spirituality Sports Stories Strategy Technology Technology Terrorism Travel Uncategorized US Video Women Women_s Rights Worship Yoga

Select a Month December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 June 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 September 2014 August 2014 January 2014 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Elijah call down from heaven to defeat the prophets of Baal?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Rain Fire Water Wind