Dear Jason, While agreeing with you in the main that protests and strikes have their rightful place in a democracy, excessive strikes and protests in themselves are not the symptoms of a functioning and mature democracy but rather a failed one. In a democracy that functions as it should, the elected officials take care of the business of the people, the police protect the interests of the people, the press is the objective voice, and the judiciary is the form of protest. Now, in a failed democracy, one loses heart in all the pillars that uphold its tenets and public protests are symptomatic of this failure.
Now, as far as bandhs go, without a doubt, these are a free-fall into a fascist abyss. These are the stronghold of the goon, the gooda, the thug, the very anti-thesis of what a democracy is. If one wants proof of this cursory observation on my part, you will notice that bandhs are almost the exclusive domain of the Sangh Parivar and the BJP. The most basic tenet of the bandh, is dictatorial, depriving everyone else their freedom for day in question at the very least. It proves only one thing, that the man with the biggest stick will wield it as freely as he sees fit. If India had a political spine, which we know beyond a shadow of doubt that it doesn't, it would have long banned the bandh. There is the other opinion, ofcourse of Dr Barad, that a peaceful bandh means everyone supports it. Let us remember that the next time I organise a bandh to protest against the cholesterol level in sorpatel. Best, selma --- On Tue, 10/21/08, Jason Keith Fernandes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: Jason Keith Fernandes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [Goanet] Thinking about bandhs > To: [email protected] > Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2008, 12:21 AM > Dear Floriano, > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
