Thursday, February 01, 2007

Rants of a Political Ignoramus

Have been running hither and thither for my new passport. It is very exhausting, firstly because my energy reserve is naturally low, and secondly because the whole system is geared to make you feel powerless. A grinning idiot in the hands of the bureaucracy. I have made several new 'uncles' and my politeness level has gone up tremendously. Such are the uses of this system we inhabit, imbibe and trash regularly.
Tis election day here, and I am at a loss. My name is on the list, but I know so little of any of the candidates....
It's lethargy, I know. I always have been happily unaware of politics. Well, not so much politics as the politicians. I recently reviewed a book on the life of Nani Palkhivala, written by M.V. Kamath who was his contemporary. All I know of Palkhivala is that he was passionate about the Constitution and that his oratory skills were superlative. He fought against Parliament's right to make amendments to the Constitution.
The Director has heard him speak. She says he was truly inspirational. I have never heard a political speaker. And certainly not one who inspired me. The closest I got to politics was my International Relations class in the A Level course. I don't like too many names and dates, but I liked the concepts.
To me politics is symbolizes ultimate power and a heap of murkiness. We take it for granted that people will do anything for power and money, and as long as our work gets done, we are willing to pay. Politics make it impossible for me to travel without a stack of papers which take months to prepare. Politics, now criminally mixed up with organised religion creates imaginary lines all across the globe. Stepping across could mean death. Or at least detainment. Even language has become a political tool. Should English be the 'universal tongue' or should we stick to our native languages? Certain countries refuse to speak English even if they know how. The resentment underlining this is old. Politics is defined as 'the social relations between groups'. Politicians have made it into the sharp delineation of differences between people. Differences which they use to further their power. East-West. India-Pakistan. Hindu-Muslim. Shia-Sunni. Agriculture-Industry.
I'm sure it's not easy for them. But what I am I voting for?

2 comments:

º··´`·.¸» Dragöness º··´`·.¸»™ said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
º··´`·.¸» Dragöness º··´`·.¸»™ said...

we all r voting 4 dick heads... which ones bigger thn d othr n rammm the country better...
"wham bam thnk u mam"