Tolerance! or Intolerance!

When the movie Independence Day was created; the director wouldn’t have imagined that the reel life situation shall be one day a real life catastrophe. Fighter jets flying high, jettisoning bombs as if distributing pan cakes without realizing where it would fall. Yes, this is the situation in the country Far West in Africa, i.e. Lebanon. It is a country which has over the past century been torn up by the people, torn up for the people and made of torn up people.

The conflict of interests between the Arabs and the Jews has been going on since the start of 20th century. With both of them, gaining upper hands at some point of time. But, the troubles it has caused to the common man is immense and cannot be justified or even deliberately reasoned out. The cry of the aggrieved one’s having lost their family, the tears of small children roaming naked on the streets, the anger of youngsters for the dystopia that their elders have left , and the intensity of blood and bombs, can never be forgiven. If the world calls for mass evacuation of their citizens from Lebanon, it means that the conditions are struggling to reach the level of survival. The countries of the world know what is to come, but want to be just mute watchers. According to top Lebanon sources, the country has even struggled to provide continuous supply of basic amenities. If not a Human, then who can or should put his foot down?

The situation is not simple as it has given lead to jingoism a number of times. If Lebanon detains two Israeli soldiers to negotiate for Lebanon prisoners in Israel, against the normal flow of things; Israel calls for an all out attack, warning that it would take Lebanon 20 years back. Even the thoughts of 1982 give shivers to anyone who knows a droplet from the ocean. Israel indicates that it will permanently take Hizbollah off its feet. In turn, Hizbollah defends and makes its military wing stronger. Rumors add fuel to the fire. Where and when shall it all end?

It would be foolish for even a naïve person to think that all this is being done without the help of surrounding countries. Syria, Iraq, Iran, US, France, British, Egypt have all got a hand in the man-made potpourri. They have been the coercing hand and surreptitiously aiding the battle for inhuman rights.

Palestine is known as the land of God. The land has drunk enough blood. But unlike man it's not addict. Man can make it drink more at its own peril…

To know more about the roots and the reasons for this pathetic situation please visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Arab-Israeli_conflict#Background

Terror Strikes !!!!

It is generally said and believed that lightning doesn’t strike twice at the same place. But for Mumbai on 11/7/2006 lightning struck for the 7th time in last 13 years. A city that “never sleeps” came to a screeching halt on its very own tracks. Serial blasts took place and ripped apart first class compartments of seven local commuter trains and thereby paralyzing the public communication network of the city. In all 198 people were killed, around a 1000 injured and millions shocked. In what seemed to be a modus operandi of Islamic terrorist group Lashkar-e-taiba, the city slowly started to realize what was happening. After all, it was not for the first time.
Time and again, India’s commercial capital has been the target of several terrorist groups. With this Mumbai also becomes first city in the world to bear the brunt of serial blasts twice in a span of 15 years.
The action was quick from the government and local authorities. The PM addressed the nation exhorting us to remain united and vowed to bring the culprits to justice. The city as is known for its resilience bounced back the very next day and the life literally returned on tracks.
Resilience is good but for Mumbai and the nation as a whole, it is classical case of amnesia, which is worst. After being suffocated for the past decade and a half, the successive governments have succeeded in only giving futile promises of fighting against terrorism. The attack will be condemned, some arrests, an inquiry commission and after that would all be lost till the next attack.
Looking, how the world reacts to such attacks, it is imperative for India to act and be in tutelage of countries like Israel, which does not hesitate to bomb neighboring countries. Yes, the situation may be different, but after all the cause is similar. How long will the innocent suffer, and how long will their resilience thrive. With people like Mulayam singh adding fuel to fire by openly supporting the blast suspects, are certainly a big threat to national integrity.
The pot is boiling for last 15 years and the water may spill any moment. Let us act to savor the independence and sovereignty of our nation for which many people have sacrificed their lives and for which millions of people in today’s world struggle for.

Weekly Dose : 07 June

07/07/2006

Government puts disinvestment process on hold; Karunanidhi thanks Sonia, Manmohan
Nathu La Pass reopened
Henin-Hardenne to meet Mauresmo
Zidane and France seize their final chance
Cristiano Ronaldo tops voting list for `Best Young Player' award
Kerala to seek `Vidharbha-like package'
Judicial inquiry ordered into Bangalore-Mysore corridor project
Centre moots out-of-court settlement on AIIMS issue
CPI (M) voices concern over security breaches
Create infrastructure on the border, says Chamling, the sikkim cheif Minister
Anbumani holds office of profit: Venugopal
"Proposal to fix minimum wage not turned down"
BDR, BSF exchange fire
Cabinet nod for purchase of warships
IITs cancel seats allotment
Top Ifra team visits Infosys complex
Manmohan buckling under pressure: BJP
``Dawood not in Karachi''


06/07/2006
Front Page

AIIMS body for sacking Venugopal
North Korea test fires a series of missiles having range till US
Italy's late brace leaves Germany in a daze
28 rain-related deaths in Maharashtra
Kerala for inclusion of Professional Colleges Act in the Ninth Schedule
Cleaning up public life with Right to Information Act
AIIMS resident doctors protest dismissal proposal
Air Sahara to re-start Delhi-London fights

05/07/2006

Revive talks, India tells Sri Lanka
File returns or face taxmen, says FM
George Fernandes hospitalised
Koirala improving and comes out of ICU
Sonia calls meeting of Congress CMs on price escalation
GSLV ready for lift-off on July 10
Vidharbha package a lollipop: BJP
Lalu inks MoU in Italy for railways
Hizb-ul-Mujahideen divisional commander arrested
Reservation will not lower academic standards: Arjun

04/07/2006

Anil Kumble spins India to a memorable victory
Koirala in hospital
F-16s for Pakistan: New Delhi unhappy
Heroin worth Rs. 35 crore seized, two arrested
Chief Ministers of northern States okay 11th Plan outline
Congress accepts Bhajan Lal's resignation
Life term for Babloo Srivastava, businessman
Iraqi problem can end only when full sovereignty returns: Manmohan
Fallen heroes of 1947-48 war with Pakistan to be honoured

03/07/2006

Saran to hold talks in Sri Lanka
Celebrations break out across France
Zidane inspires, Henry scores, Brazil dethroned
Efforts to improve literacy level of women through Continuing Education Programme
`Lokayukta post cannot be vacant for long' says H D Kumaraswamy
V.P. Singh for referendum on quota
Government committed to press freedom: Dasmunsi
Experts express concern over nuclear deal with U.S.
State officials asked to monitor Vidharbha developmental works

Celebration called Football!

The carnival has come to its last stage. It has been a celebration all along. From the first goal by Philip Lahm,Germany to the rise and rise of Zizou. It has never failed to spring a surprise. It has not been just an event; it has been more than that. It was sprinkled with all emotions just as a bhaji pav(an Indian dish made by mixing all vegetables). The fans have had much to cheer about as well as jeer about. It has been a wonderful enigma in which everyone has been immersed.

The Football world Cup is an event which transcends boundaries and is the only one to do so. It makes people cry, howl, angry, anguished and also burst into joy. All packed in 90 minutes. It’s simple yet sophisticated. A street toddler will also watch the game with as much passion as a rich gizmo in his hallowed four walls. The trophy designed by an Italian draws so much fervor and anticipation that the players give more than a hundred percent. The penalty shootouts which always turn out to be nerve wracking are a part and parcel of the game. But behind all this excitement the big picture has a different say.

The Football World Cup is an event which brings people close. As President of Germany, Horst Koehler told the newspaper that Germans must try to sustain the new-found patriotism they discovered during the tournament, when for the first time since the war waving German flags and singing the national anthem were accepted as natural gestures of healthy national pride. "We are on the right track toward standing up for ourselves and taking pride in what we have achieved since 1945," he said. "The Germans identify with this country and its national colors. I think that is terrific."
How many times have we seen Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi and Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel enjoy the match together? France which has been labeled in the past as one of the racist countries, is now going gung-ho on the Algerian born Zinedine Zidane. Especially the matches between the countries who ruled in the past and the ruled country have been stimulating. After England lost out on penalty shoot outs, a humble town in the north of England called Ashton-under-Lyne, will still be celebrating the success of home grown Simone Perotta, the Italian midfielder. If Brazil lost, the whole of West Bengal went into a mourning. That’s the power of Football.

One more remarkable thing was the efficiency of German Administration. Almost every match went on smoothly. We have to give the credit to Franz Beckenbauer and his support staff. The fans, players and the German people have enjoyed the tournament to the fullest.

It’s been a beautiful show, with all trumpets and glitterati. It has been a tournament which has had its fair share of controversies, magic from the magicians, hard work from the not so talented, and of course a breeding ground for young legs. Its time we all sit up and watch the most beautiful show on earth on the 9th of July and savour it for life.