http://desicritics.org/ Superior South Asian bloggers on Culture, Media, Politics, Sport, Business, and Technology. en Copyright 2006 by the authors Tue, 5 Aug 2008 11:32:14 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss BC custom software http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338572 Rohan Just relax. There is a lot of bs, a little bit serious serious discussion here. Don't get overly concerned. 338572@desicritics.org Tue, 5 Aug 2008 11:32:14 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338568 Bye Rohan. 338568@desicritics.org Tue, 5 Aug 2008 10:59:18 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338551 Warned of what, like a care about being able to access this fascist site. I'm not interested in a site that promotes one sided propaganda and abuses from commonsense and edits all dissent and replies. Ironic that people like you all project yourselves for Democracy, free speech etc. You can stuff your silly site where the sun don't shine. Bye wankers 338551@desicritics.org Tue, 5 Aug 2008 04:04:05 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338539 Editors, I would expect something more than a last warning to Rohan for deliberately impersonating me, but I am not questioning the decision. As long as everyone knows that it was him. 338539@desicritics.org Tue, 5 Aug 2008 00:40:40 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338534 Editors, I checked my email account and it seems it has not been hacked. Who knows?? I will refrain from conjecturing who it could be even though I have a good idea. 338534@desicritics.org Mon, 4 Aug 2008 21:58:42 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338533 Editors, I mean I did not write message # 63 338533@desicritics.org Mon, 4 Aug 2008 21:33:36 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338532 Huh??? Editors, I did not write this message! Please check the IP address of the impersonator. Pointless to conjecture. 338532@desicritics.org Mon, 4 Aug 2008 21:31:41 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338529 Rohan: consider yourself warned one last time - Editor From that IP: * "Rohan" has posted 9 comments * "Rohan [Edited]" has posted 1 comments * "commonsense" has posted 1 comments 338529@desicritics.org Mon, 4 Aug 2008 20:52:02 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338528 [Edited] 338528@desicritics.org Mon, 4 Aug 2008 20:45:30 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338517 court jesters like me are thankful for any source of income. hungry? 338517@desicritics.org Mon, 4 Aug 2008 17:13:34 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338511 [Edited] 338511@desicritics.org Mon, 4 Aug 2008 16:57:25 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338464 AN This 'epiphany' thing sounds like something BO said a few days ago :-) I dont know what to say about Ledz's example but surely, we will find an opportunity where we can test this patriotism thing better..... 338464@desicritics.org Mon, 4 Aug 2008 08:16:22 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338451 Chandra: "I will prove this to you in time" I cannot wait. :) I do fervently hope that your proof and logic is in simpler forms than Ledzius's confounding statement above which I cannot even begin to comprehend. Cause if what Led describes in comment #57 is the accepted idea of patriotism then I've had an epiphany of why I may not be patriotic. I am almost sure I don't identify with Khasi tribals in Assam. :D 338451@desicritics.org Mon, 4 Aug 2008 04:15:04 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338450 I agree with Chandra. Patriotism means a Tambram identifying with a Khasi tribal in Assam or a Bora Muslim in Lucknow more than with another Tambram who has become an US citizen. Otherwise it is other shared identities passing off as patriotism. 338450@desicritics.org Mon, 4 Aug 2008 03:21:42 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338443 AN I am not sure that all the examples you mentioned have anything to do with patriotism. I personally get irritated with one's desire to replicate your Indian life in a foreign country. Anyway, each man or woman for himself. Patriotism in my view is about protecting the interest's of one's country and country men. You can argue day in and day about this definition and I admit it is not perfect. But this whole I donot believe thing is too much idealism. Of course it sets you apart but it is not practical at all. I will prove this to you in time. rgds 338443@desicritics.org Sun, 3 Aug 2008 23:17:39 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338440 Sorry to repeat this phrase, but whatever condition Rohan is afflicted with, I bet it's hard to pronounce. 338440@desicritics.org Sun, 3 Aug 2008 22:26:28 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338427 Rohan: I wish you a speedy recovery from whatever it is that ails you thus. I hear close-mindedness is terminal. So my sympathies. 338427@desicritics.org Sun, 3 Aug 2008 19:22:15 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338410 AN, It is not my "patriotism" which is questionable but your very rights in the society. While you choose to live in a society and benefit from it, you donot take any responsibility but are quick to project your own rights within the society. It's you who is truly Parasitic. While i talk of a symbiotic relationship, if you donot understand that, it means a give and take for the benefit of both. Rights cannot exist without responsibilities. People like you intend to break down society at all levels. Classic anarchist behaviour. Oh, and i despise Bollywood, i don't need some moronic bad actors to tell me what is in my interest. If i was an American i'd be Patriotic toward the USA. My comments relate to the individual and his duty toward the society he/she benefits from. 338410@desicritics.org Sun, 3 Aug 2008 16:11:03 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338393 "Your position is largely based on the relaity that you are going to be stuck in a foreign country for a very long time (for ever probably)" Well firstly, it doesn't matter what my position is based on. I'm not changing it. Secondly, it is actually the other way around. Since I do not get mushy and warm when patriotic songs come on and feel pangs of guilt when watching Swades, that makes it easier for me to live in another country and make it my home without always looking like a sullen outsider who complains about what America doesn't have that India does on weekends at the Hindu temple and at desi parties where everybody gets all desh-premi for the sake of it. You are right there is a difference between idealism and reality. A vast one. For me it is impractical to base sentiments on political entities. As I said the way I see it patriotism is impractical. Its just a matter of perspective. 338393@desicritics.org Sun, 3 Aug 2008 09:56:39 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338382 AN I think there is a huge difference between idealism and reality. I can understand your perspective but I donot think you are being practical at all. Your position is largely based on the relaity that you are going to be stuck in a foreign country for a very long time (for ever probably). 338382@desicritics.org Sun, 3 Aug 2008 01:41:59 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338326 Chandra/ Rohan: It doesn't have to be one or the other you know: patriotic, jhanda wielding freedom fighter or gaddaar traitor spy :) Thats taking things to an extreme (very Bollwyood like of you guys!). One can be perfectly ethical and principled without pledging their loyalties towards a particular nation and still abiding by the rules and regulations set for immigration. If you guys don't understand the concept of not being patriotic thats another thing but don't expect everybody to have the same outlook as you. Thats just being close-minded. I don't suddenly expect you to denounce your own patriotic tendencies....no matter how questionable Rohan's "patriotism" is. So you can at least do the same for others who don't share your view. No? Or is that asking for too much? 338326@desicritics.org Fri, 1 Aug 2008 18:50:41 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338306 Mathematically speaking Human Being= Function (Identity1, Identity2, Identity3.....). Although I appreciate the intentions of the author, his ideals are clearly UTOPIAN. Identity is not only something consciously or accidentally chosen, but is also something that is assigned by the others on you. So it is practically impossible to live without identities. At least in my life so far I haven't yet come across anybody who is completely identityless. I also garner from the article very clearly that he is clearly worked-up over his Indian identity. Even if he or she doesn't want to identify himself as an Indian, he will be labelled as an Indian or any "ian" by the others that constitute this world. So instead of whining over identities it would be better off if the author concentrates on the best elements of his or her existential identities and use it to better his or her life and thereby make this world a better place. 338306@desicritics.org Fri, 1 Aug 2008 16:24:11 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338275 Nation is more than sum of its transient crop of individuals, its government, its political apparatus, its law enforcement and armed agencies. Armed forces have the very limited mandate to defend the political entity. Same goes for law enforcement agencies. Political entity is not the only valuable thing nation has. Its only a starting point and not an end in itself - when it is made into an end in itself, it becomes highly reductionist and destructive - which is why people allergic to patriotism usually hide behind this reductionist notion of loving Indian statism/governmentism but hating what India as a nation embodies in its sum total. In a way, it creates a weird inclusivism that allows people of all shades to find something to love about India and hate the rest. In absence of political consensus about what that sum total of India is, we have reduced our expectation from people, that people, at a minimum, would pledge allegiance to a bare basic and minimal base line - India as a political entity and its borders and laws. For patriotism nay-sayers, even that would be jingoism. Unless Indian statism creates an antithetical adversarial dichotomy with Indian nationalism, they withhold all forms of patriotic expressions. As a result, neither of them succeed, neither Indian statism nor Indian nationalism. Enemy's Mission accomplished. 338275@desicritics.org Fri, 1 Aug 2008 13:16:31 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338258 Rohan No point trying to persuade people here. Some of these folks would have come up with fantastic arguments even supporting British rule before 1947 . The difference between us and the Chinese is that the Chinese would take a US passport and spy for the Chinese Govt while some of our Indian brothers and sisters would take a US passport and spy in India for the Yanks. (Example: Rabinder Singh) 338258@desicritics.org Fri, 1 Aug 2008 11:40:02 EDT http://desicritics.org/2007/06/01/001135.php#comment-338247 Aditi, So you want borders but no exclusiveness. So, since patriotism has "lately" been misused according to you you'd like to bag it absolutely. You are no different from a totalitarian commie. So stop going around in circles trying to catch your own tail and catch it already. I'll repeat you classify my patriotism as a parisitic dependence! I consider it a symbiotic relationship. I don't understand you needing a magical tale to inspire you for"unselfish patriotism". Your moral high horse of unselfishness is just an excuse to present yourself in better light than my so called "cowardly parisitic existence" as you put it and people can see through that. 338247@desicritics.org Fri, 1 Aug 2008 10:04:40 EDT