America says Kerry on Bush

I’m running late for a class and cursing the elevator for it’s speed, or the lack thereof, when it halts at a floor. But I don’t mind because as the door opens, a very attractive girl wearing a rather tempting dress enters. We nod at each other, and I struggle hard not to make my stare too obvious.

She speaks, “I’m considering whether to go for the class at 1.30 or watch Kerry’s speech at 2.” That was abrupt, but I gather myself together, “What? To watch him concede?” She agrees that it would have been so much more worthwhile had Kerry won, and decides that attending the class may be a better idea.

By now, my interest is aroused. So I go down to the business school lounge at two to check out the mood. The lounge is jam-packed with somber looking youngsters. While some show frustration (“Why did he have to concede? What did he have to lose if he waited?”), the general mood is of disappointed resignation.

I check back at three (the time of Bush’s acceptance speech) only to find the lounge largely empty. Those who are present aren’t ecstatic either. The dominant emotion in the Bush camp is relief. This is a southern state, a Republican stronghold, so one can well imagine the reaction across the campuses in pro-Democrat states.

Young America cares and more youth voted in this election than in any before it. According to The Boston Globe, at least 20.9 million Americans under the age of 30 voted in this presidential-election, which is an increase of 4.6 million over 2000.

It is abundantly clear that the young voters favored Kerry. I jokingly paraphrase Churchill “If you are not a Democrat at 20 you don’t have a heart. If you are not a Republican at 40, you don’t have a brain.” A student sitting on the next couch, says sagely, “Just because the young voted for Kerry, why did everyone think he would win? America has a very grey population and a lot of the old, ‘very American’ people came out to vote for Bush.”

The president to have won by the thinnest margin ever is also the president to have received the highest number of votes ever. That is America’s democracy for you. Quirky. Intriguing. Alive.

Quotation of the Day

"Life is dangerous; it has a 100% mortality rate."
- yours truly The Maverick

The Irony

True, I was sad but at least I didn’t know as much
Sure, I didn’t know that I was waiting for your touch

Yes, I was alone but at least wasn’t lonely
Till I hadn’t seen your face so lovely

I used to think that I was in control of my life
And then you walked in and bared the strife

You have turned everything in my life topsy turvy
An acute pain of the realization that I was unhappy

I have been longing for you since I was born
Didn’t know you but eternally love-lorn

Watching your bright smile light up the room
Makes me believe that I can ward off the gloom

The way wind blows up your tress
Reassures me that I am capable of bliss

I have the whole world in my control
And you have control on which way I roll

So near – just need move my hand to touch yours
Yet so far that I’d not try and sit still for hours

My dream that steals my sleep, My life yet not in my life,
My love, are you my greatest joy, or my biggest plight?

Quotation of the Day

"There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who can read binary, and those who can't."
- yours truly The Maverick

Whose republic day is it anyway?

I am biased. Based in Delhi, I can't help but wish that I could avoid the traffic snarls and other associated fringe benefits of the republic day. I just have to wonder whether the "public celebration" of Republic Day is worth the effort, money and inconvenience. After all, the heart of the nation's capital comes to a standstill for several days flanking the republic day.

Don't get me wrong. I am not against celebrating republic day. Far from it. I appreciate the fact that 26 January has the place of honor in India's history.

After Nehru unfurled the tricolor on the banks of Ravi at the stroke of midnight on 31 December 1929 and the declaration of complete independence was passed, Gandhi called for the celebration of an "Independence Day" on January 26 presumably to judge the mood of the nation. The first Independence Day in 1930 was, therefore, but a precursor to the Dandi march. As the independence movement gained momentum, however, 26 January came to symbolize the aspirations of the populace.

So, it posed a peculiar problem when the British panicked, packed their bags and ran away on 15 August 1947, ahead of the scheduled date, which was 26 January 1948. It was decided that though formally India gained independence on the 15th of August, we would continue to celebrate the "original" Independence Day - 26 January. In order to give tradition a semblance of rationale, 26 January was accorded the status of Republic Day.

So, in essence 26 January is our real independence day by proxy, and I'd have to be a thankless, shameless, nihilist not to respect this day. What I despise, though, is the manner of celebration.

Our republic day celebration boils down to a display of the assorted advanced weaponry accumulated by the country and a march past by the various sections of the armed forces. Both are meant to demonstrate the military might of the country. Tableaus purported to highlight our cultural diversity seem to have been added to the rigmarole as an afterthought.

To me, this smacks of an inferiority complex that India Shining can ill afford. Do we really need to shout from the rooftops post-Pokhran II ? When, if ever, will we realize that we have ceased to be a potential world-power, and have started to tread the path of realizing that potential?

The speech-parade routine is a legacy of the cold war years when the socialist states like Russia needed to reassure their masses that they were safe and had the wherewithal to take on anyone in the world, especially the bourgeois capitalist nations. Our friendly socialist nations have fallen, but we refuse to shed the baggage.

International diplomatic relations have changed dramatically during the past 5 decades, and we are closer than ever to America. Even so, we are still nursing the hangover of communism (socialism, to be politically correct).

We continue to celebrate our republic day the same way as a communist nation would. All arrangements are handled by the government. Government offices and organizations are required to "celebrate" it. And the whole ritual is handled in an unenthusiastic, cold, high handed manner that is characteristic of official business in the country of babudom.

Although republic day is ostensibly a "public function", I wonder what proportion of that public is involved in the celebrations. Come to think of it, are there ANY civil celebrations out there? Does the common man even bother to flick the remote to watch the republic day parade? I don't have to be R.K.Laxman to sadly conclude that India's republic day is a "state function", not a "public celebration".

Contrast this to how the Americans celebrate their independence day. Private Citizens participate in the floats, bands and music that parade through towns and cities. They enjoy the community pyrotechnics and organize reunions and get-togethers. And they thank the heroes who won them the independence and those who guard it. Can we move towards such a celebration, where citizens rejoice, celebrate, and congratulate each other? That would be my republic day. And yours?