Philip Thomas wrote:
If there is one thing which saddens me more than the sight of rabble
rousers who pour out of the woodwork it is the unvarnished cynicism of
those who should know better. The latter may console themselves that they
are only being "chauvinistic". Its a thin line which separates them and
their ilk from "jingoism". Elsewhere such folks form fringe elements and
they are firmly put in their place. Here the state of virtual lawlessness
allows them
to flourish. Laxman put it well in one of his recent cartoons: Go out,
lazy youngster, start a crazy agitation or two, you can always rationalise
things later. That's the way to get ahead.
I don't quite understand whether I am being accused of being a "rabble
rouser" pouring out of the woodwork, doubly cursed with unvarnished
cynicism. Nothing comes from nothing. Therefore, all I asked is that it be
examined why a large number of Goans feel like this. Besides, have any of
the powers that be ever addressed any of the serious issues raised by
Goans until they agitated? ANd believe me no "lazy youngster" can start
an agitation so easily. It takes blood, sweat, tears and much sacrifice.
Its a two way street. One set of people cannot be expected only to absorb,
while the other lot keep asserting their constitutional rights. There is
a spirit which should go with the letter of the law. And as has been
rightly pointed out, the virtual state of lawlessness makes people feel
that they have to protect their own interests, because they cannot depend
on the state to do so.
