It is a sign of the times we live in that so few people remember the Tiananmen square massacre whose' 20th anniversary would be today. Except fo the usual "we need to make this token protest - but we don't really mean it - and everyone is gonna forget about it by tomorrow anyway" stuff nothing much seems to be happening in the international communiy. The weird thing is why nobody has said a thing about why the media has been so silent on the subject.
I guess if things were different now it would sort of be ok to ignore the anniversary - but the truth is that nothing's changed since '89. China continues to have a miserable civil rights record, the Commie govt still does what it likes to the environment, what happens outside a Shanghai or a Beijing is still anyone's guess, even the actual figures and facts about what happened in Tiananmen square that day is murky. The Tibetan issue has been shot to hell and back. Hell! I recently met more than one person who did not know that Tibet had been an independent country just around 40 years back.
Actually let me correct the 'no change' bit - China's economy is booming. This has basically resulted in the governments of most countries stampeding over each other in order to kiss some Dragon ass. This has obviously resulted in most nations "suggesting" that mainstream media go easy on China. As far as Indian foreign policy on the issue is concerned it's simple - there pretty much isn't any. Ignore it ever happened and maybe China will suddenly feel for us and give up their claim over Arunachal Pradesh - HA!! What else do you expect from a bunch of old fogey babus who can barely take a stand to pee much less on an issue of concern.
Anyway, I am going to do what most well-meaning, direction-less folks do in this situation.... light up, curse, and probably hope that the times actually are a' changein'.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
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4 comments:
Hmm... this is like the post I wrote on India's version of 9/11.
Fact is, in this day and age we're all just so jaded that most people don't want to make an effort.
It's sad but true. Really the only way I think things will improve is once they get really bad and we're on the brink.
Till then, light up, have a drink and just cuss everyone and everything. It may not help the world but it will make you feel better.
Fair enough Popajan, however if all "well-meaning, directionless people" thought the same nothing would get done ever (specially not with you people "lighting up". Also WRT the above comment define what you mean by "reaching the brink". On the bright side though at least blogging about it is a start.
I respect the anonymity of the net and all but you wouldn't be S Panza would you?
Ha Ha well deduced indeed. Also, I read the objectivist pieces and you are moving more right than you think. Good one on the Dorothy Parker phase.
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