Idiocy: Fascination with Hitler

[Previous Post]

The incident of Mumbai's restaurant was just one of those not-so-rare cases of idiots crossing the line of civic propriety for sake of being "different".

However, what should be far more troubling for anyone who identifies with Nationalism, is relative indulgence and even appreciation for Hitler among a section of Indian youth.
Part of this can be attributed to ignorance of history or intellect and arising from them social shortsightedness which results in unwillingness to grasp the import of crimes perpetrated by Nazism and hideous nature of Nazism itself. However I do not think that this fully explains this morbid attraction.

It is the disenchantment of middle class with present day polity. As I said earlier while Indian citizen when given opportunity has succeeded, our leaders have repeatedly failed India and her people. This undermining of nation and society was done by Congress (and other secularism fetishist) for more than five decades, worse even a supposedly Nationalist government like that of NDA disappointed Indians by conducting itself in a manner to propitiate high gods of secularism (of course that these eminent progressives would not be appeased and continue with their agenda, was apparent to everyone except leaders of BJP).

What wonder then, present youth who never had a chance to experience first hand the degradations of British rule and the exultation of freedom, and who lacks an Indian role model to look up to,identifies with Hitler, because he believes in his ignorance that Hitler stood for nationalism and he made Germany a better place. It is indeed sad to see idea of Nationalism being reduced to Hitler or third rate polemics/wannabe like Rang De Basanti.

What the incident underlies is that it is the lack of a idea, which India suffers from, India which is the oldest civilization has lost her compass to guide her. The reinvention or rejuvenation of Indian republic which is founded upon Indic civilization depends upon rediscovering that idea.

Idiocy:Subtext

Recently some harebrained, waste of polluted air in Mumbai stumbled upon a way to gain notoriety, calling his restaurant Hitler's Cross, and notoriety he gained. The moral(s) of the story.

1. Most of schemes conceived for gaining cool coefficient (and recognition) are full of idiocy.

2. Indians do not care about history. It goes for our own history as well as world's history.

3. Corollary to 2#: Since they do not know about history, they are bewildered when history repeats itself.

4. Ignorance has nothing to do with number of degrees or fluency in English.

French courage in face of Hezbollah:

After forcing Israel for ceasefire by criticizing its offensive against Hezbollah, France is not ready to contribute forces unless their safety is guaranteed. (via lgf)

Meanwhile UN is begging for troops.(again lgf), again after criticizing and pressurizing Israel to cease its offensive.

To make things more interesting the UN forces may consist of Malaysia and Indonesia two nations who do not recognize Israel. (once again lgf)

So much irony, so many levels.

I don't feel lucky

In the latest manifestation of craven political correctness

UK telecom service provider has fired its employee Inigo Wilson for purportedly posting Islamophobic articles. (via lgf).

The main push not surprisingly came from British Muslim Public Affairs committee [Wiki]

The definition of Islamophobia in this case.

"Islamophobic" : "Anyone who objects to having their transport blown up on the way to work."
"Palestinians" : "Archetypal 'victims', no matter how many teenagers they murder in bars and fast-food outlets"

Therefore a satirical article if a little on politically incorrect side is converted into hate speech!

And then people wonder why is there resentment against adherent of a particular faith.

But considering how images of pig were banned last year and a visa application of a girl was rejected as her shoulders were bare and hence could "offend" this should not come as a surprise.
The dhimmification of Britain continues

I feel lucky

So Germany was spared a terrorist attack of magnitude not less than that of Mumbai blasts.

Two points

1. This should make faux root cause crowd pause. I am kidding, when reality is subservient to ideal, facts are bent to suit narrative.

2. Germany was spared not because of any sleuth work, but because the bombs were defective,
May be, just may be this will make Europeans sit up, again a wishful thinking.

Aphorism: EconomistSpeak

What economists say, “It is a case of superrational”

What they mean, “If we can’t astound with our erudition, then surely we can confound with our bullshit”

Aphorism most arbit

Life present a dilemma between rational contradiction and hypocrisy. It exists somewhere in between.

How (not) to solve terrorism

By limiting the debate to platitudes

I think even Orwell would have been surprised at this role reversal.
So the situation even after the increasing terrorist attacks and even after the evidence of local support, there is no pressure, no call for introspection.
All this for sake of political correct arising out of moral equivalency and delusional idealism

Category : Media, Security, Politics, Society, Secularism

Terrorism gayab !

Well, the reason the blogging has been light lately is that I am seriously thinking about the way to rid India of terrorism (and the minor matter of null pointers*)
Atlast I have stumbled upon the solution. But first, what exactly is the problem? Let me say, unequivocally! Violence doesn’t arise out of thin air, it has root causes.
And I have identified the root cause and it is fiendishly straight forward.

Think, from Ghatkopar to Mumbai local, who were the targets? Why, it was Gujaratis, and mind you not any Gujaratis, it was upper caste Gujaratis , the trading class.

There we have the problem, people of Gujarat represent the anti-thesis of the aims and goals that the secularists have cherished and for which our “socialist secular” republic was founded. Gujaratis are entrepreneur, preferring to slog it out than depend on doles handed out by welfare state, poorest of Gujarat has this never say die attitude which means no groveling masses before our two penny Caesars. This in itself is a slap in the face of our Fabians.
However the blasphemy doesn’t stop here. They are religious, which is not a bad thing in itself, but it is the wrong religion for Nehru’s sake. And when I say religious, it is not “I am more of spiritual than religious” or “All believe in all religions” or some weasel maneuver like that, it is “Jai Shri Krishna” waala religion. Imagine the pain and strenuous effort of our eminent secularists to rid India of the blight of that superstitious, morally repugnant and evil religion called Hinduism.
All this for naught! Because of undermining by Gujaratis, Marx! Marx! This menace has to be stopped right here.

The solution is not extremely complicated.

The first part is establishing the role communal Gujaratis have in all the communal violence.
Second part, from first holding the bigoted Gujaratis for all the terrorist attacks by the misguided and oppressed member of a religion, which must not be named but which is the best thing after chawal-rajma. Cause and Effect, Action and Reaction. Considering the dhimmitude of Indian subject ofcourse the question will not be reversed.

Third part why stop at second step, sure Gujaratis couldn’t have become so intolerant all of sudden, they must have been such prior to that, and simple induction will prove that they were communalists even when they were nothing more than chemical cocktail. Hence blame for any communal violence, at any time in India should be pinned on Gujaratis with retrospective effect. Further Narendra Modi is to be termed as reincarnation of Hitler, Ivan The Terrible and Vlad The Impaler.

After it has been done Gujaratis should be sent to reeducation camp and made thoroughly secular by Das Kapital. Any residual Hinduism is to be treated with Atlas Shrugged**.
Sure terrorism may or may not disappear with this, but this will keep unwashed Indians busy and help secularists in instilling “rationalist” and “secular” ideas.


* When you use pointers, check for null pointers.
** I have an irrational dislike for Ayn Rand, frankly speaking it is only irrationality which makes my life pleasant.

Independence Day: A delayed thought

The thing that is remarkable about India is, after independence while individual citizen has succeeded, the state has failed.

I think that this is not some coincidence. Our cultural DNA is such that left to himself, an Indian will make most of it, however if a state which restricts freedom and opportunities, and at the same time promises welfare, exists, he will expect the state to provide for his welfare in a measure which is in no way connected to his individual effort and at the same time accept control without any resistance.

The other point is once an Indian occupies a position of power and discretion, on average there will be a tendency to misuse it. This is not to say that all such Indians will be dishonest, also this is not to imply that world over politicians and bureaucrats are opposite. Rather the point is the tendency and craving for power and pelf is much stronger.

I speculate that both these tendencies have their roots in our culture which is defined (at any rate heavily influenced) by feudal rule and strict social hierarchy. This coupled with a long history of suppression by successive foreign rulers (first Islamic and then British) has engendered a natural meekness in the Indian as an individual towards authority.

While there can be a position that Indians had autonomy in not insignificant percentage, that autonomy had community (primarily caste) as the unit and not the individual.This can also explain why the Indian who is meek as an individual can be most violent when a part of the mob.

While I am not thrilled by various individualistic movements, who while embracing individual at best ignore and at worst strongly reject the relevance of social structure, the fact remains that freedom as well as state has to be primarily in context of individual. Therefore this should be the agenda for a stronger India.

Ultimately the aim for stronger India should be to disconnect from idea of governance from idea of suzerainity (both of which are represent atleast in Hindi by a single word, Sarkaar)
 

 

Category : India, Society, Culture, Civilization, History

... And Surveys

Surveys are a reflection of reality; the data obtained from them represents the opinion at ground level.
Well not exactly! Surveys much more than simple reporting also mold the popular opinion; they do not just inform but also manufacture the reality.
Hence so much inaccuracy. These inaccuracies are not simple results of errors in sample size or methodology. These inaccuracies are deliberately introduced because of partisan biases and in zeal to wrest the initiative and frame the reference.
Regardless of the merit of the subject, if it can be shown that it doesn’t resonate with the “Aam Aadmi”, it is more dead than the parrot in Monty Python.
And therefore how much weight age is placed upon a particular survey by someone depends on the confidence about the neutrality of the surveyor himself. This differs from the neutral citizens to a partisan shill like me.
And therefore surveys are the natural progression to the series

Luddites, beneath the skin.

Sometimes I despair over this country, whereas other times I am convinced us Indians deserve the mess we are in.

Point in case, (one of) my ex room mate, (who earns 9 Lacs pa) whose argument against allowing FDI in retail sector was that such a move will result in job losses for small retailers.

I guess the irony, that as a software developer his endeavour is to make computers smarter and humans redundant, was lost on him.

A small test in logic

What comes next?

Lies, Damned Lies, Statistics... ?

Goebbels (re)sighted

Who says Goebbels is dead ! Ladies and Gentlemen, he is very much alive and currently editorializing for Indian Express.

Mr Shekhar Gupta, in his hatred of Narendra Modi has officially jumped off the edge of sanity (or perspective for that matter) and like a true monomaniac is looking for an angle to implicate Narendra Modi. That Gujaratis are being maligned and slandered in this process can be written under the heading of collateral damage.

Since the Mumbai Blasts this low life has been trying to manipulate the facts, in order to establish that the terror attacks were revenge attacks for Post-Godhra riots, thus not so subtly suggesting that Gujaratis had it coming!

That it is a despicable falsehood has not deterred this stooge of Sonia Gandhi.

In his latest peroration he uses the same tactics in the interview with Sharad Pawar

"• ...But this time Gujaratis, upper caste Gujaratis, were targeted.
This time also, I am not involved with whatever is happening in the investigation. (But) what I know about Mumbai, and about people who are involved in this type of crime previously - their psyche, their mind is always running. You see there are three type of trains in Mumbai, one is western suburb, second is central and third is the one that goes to the Mumbai Port side. You see, western railway is the only railway where a sizeable middle-class, higher middle-class, trading community, representatives of the stock exchange, of the diamond business...

• ...And many Gujaratis...
...Ya, ya, they travel that side. So they selected that train, they did not selected the central railway.

• ...So someone who selected this knows the sociology of Mumbai.

That is one. Secondly, you just see, that each compartment of the various trains (in the blast) was only first class. Who travels first class? Those who can afford. You see, you'll find very few muslims who can afford, very few other sections who are poor who can afford. Essentially, Gujaratis, Marwaris, financially better-off people, all higher salary class, they travel western railway, and first class. So, it was a clear cut design to concentrate on a particular section of people, and simultaneously , might be, that a particular section should not be affected. And again in 10 to 12 minutes"

Sick, unbelievingly sick !

 

Category : Media, Secularism, Politics, Security

Evolution as Voodoo Science

Fairness is determined by absence of melanin. Melanin screens from sun and is a natural sun screen. Fair people are more prone to sun burns and skin cancer compared to darker people. On the other hand since melanin blocks sun, darker people (like me) are more prone to Vitamin D deficiency and need more exposure to sun light.

If fairness has evolutionary advantage it is either in colder climates (where sun light is scarce) or as a curiosity amongst darker inhabitants (which makes it a social construct).
But it is, in NO WAY indicative of health.

Now I propose to start a fund for a primer course in genetics, because frankly speaking as a dark (and ugly) person I am very much annoyed when people write stupid tripe like this in all their glorious ignorance.

Arre bhayya, why not atleast search Wiki.

This robbery is sponsored by government

Warning: Written by a novice

Ila Patnaik recently wrote an interesting article providing rationale for takeover of agricultural land by government. Setting up of industries or any infrastructure project requires a considerable amount of land. However the nature of land holdings in India means for anyone intending to buy land for executing a project has to deal with a large number of sellers which has practical constraint primarily of co-ordination, it is given that few people will keep holding back even after a majority has sold for the reason in expectation of greater price.

It is a very valid and real world concern, however in order to resolve this vesting state with power of appropriating private property is a serious violation of rights (as they should be) on two counts.

One is right to property, although Ila Patnaik defends eminent domain by enumerating the benefits arising out of it to a larger group of people, I am not sure " greatest good of the greatest number" should be allowed to overrule individual's right which should be paramount if a equitable and a just society is to be established.

Another is this practice strikes at the very core of economic freedom by undermining the seller's right to determine the price of commodity.

The markets work because of freedom that sellers and buyers have for determining the price they wish to sell or buy, I see what is wrong if farmer wants a higher price from developer.

Granted that this may not a perfect case of free market (is it some specific case of monopoly or prisoner's dilemma, I don't know), but I do not think that eminent domain should be the only way of resolving this. Instead there may be some process devised which does not undermine the basis of free market.
Sadly I am hardly knowledgeable in these matters, may be some sort of Dutch auction will work or some sort of collective coercions (not force ofcourse mostly boycott and such). The bottom line is that rights of citizens are not to be trifled with.

And the above arguments are not merely of academic value, farmers do not sell their lands not necessarily because of family attachment but because it is their profession and ensures their earnings. Even as India has made half hearted progress, our population which is engaged in agriculture or related activities is willfully neglected due to a combination of romantic delusions of Gandhism and half baked central planning.
For all our new found love for free trade, the fact remains that we do not allow free trade of agricultural products even between the states. Any solution to this problem will involve not only easing of archaic restrictions but also migration of such percentage of population to urban areas. So instead of flogging dead horses, we should encourage industrialization, (which essentially means that hindrances to this should be curtailed with even more urgency).

Coming back to the point, if the farmer doesn't sell its land it is because he doesn't have any avenue available. By and large the farmer is not savvy enough to invest the money in a business neither in absence of proficiency able to change profession easily.

Therefore from practical as well as more fundamental considerations, eminent domain doesn't seem to be a good idea.
Amit Varma has written on this subject [Link 1, 2 ] as has Nitin [ Link] (I disagree with the thrust as far as eminent domain is concerned).

In theory however I am not sure how it stands, the reason for this is that usually there is a time frame for intellectual property rights [ Link].

If that be the case either a distinction must be made between land and IP, or otherwise even the restriction of IP must be opposed.

Related Articles:
Pratap Bhanu Mehta has tangentially touched on this point.
Swaminathan Aiyar had an article on dangers of real estate bubble.
 

 

Category : India, Economics, Society, Politics

Relapse of dhimmitude

Tony Blair : Terrorism in J&K is a manifestation of global jihad (as opposed to being merely confined to regional dispute between India and land of pure)

Pakistan to India: Turn your cheek, morons

India to Pakistan: Why cheek goodsir! we are going to bend over.

Pakistan to India: Get the vaseline, bitch. On second thoughts we will do it the rough way.


PS. Does the title make one a " Saffronite Scum" . If it does, I am proud of being one.
 

Category : Aside, India, International, Security

गदर

राय साहब, रूटर पर आई पी ब्ल‍ो‍क लगा देंगे तो आपको क्या लगता है गौरव प्रिंसेस किंबरले का ब्लोग नही पढ़ेगा,

मुझे मेरी कंपनी का समय बरबाद करने से कोई आई स पी, कोई डिर्पाटमेंट नही रोक सकता

(सनी देओल जी को धन्यवाद)

(जी मेरे पास अभी भी लिखने को कुछ नही है)

Out of idea

Neumann machine is an interesting concept. Among other things it has been used by Arthur C Clarke to explain monoliths in space odyssey series.
However one wonders how did Neumann conceived of such a concept. Methinks he was inspired by the oldest institution in human history that is bureaucracy.
Alternatively he might have got this idea while filling his income tax return form.

Speaking of which reminds me of Freud, who famously said that when a man insulted another instead of throwing a stone, civilization was born. [Link]
If this is the criteria I think that civilization started declining after first committee was formed, things have been going downhill since then.

Tit for tat

Related Posts [1],[2],[3]

Let me reiterate my assumptions first

1) In some cases not only “an eye for eye” is justified, it is the only course left.

2) If by sacrificing the life of 10 Americans or 10 Israelis or 10 Pakistanis, I can save life of 10 Indians and neutralize any threat to India; to me it will be a fair deal.I may not find pleasure in it, but still I will do it.*

3) To expect that peace process will somehow convince the ruling clique of Pakistan to shun terrorism against India or goad the awam of land of pure is absurd, illogical and in light of all evidences to contrary seriously (as in life threatening) delusional. And this stands irrespective of the fact that across the border same food is eaten, or same stupid soaps are watched.

If the above assumptions are repulsive to you, skip the rest of post.

So one may ask, if peace process doesn’t work what is going to work?
Answer is pain, stick, in other words punitive action.

Now sticks come in all sizes, what kind of stick should India use?

Consider the first, threat of retaliation.
Problem with this is threat in absence of credible ability and demonstrable willingness has exponentially diminishing return. [The poet had nailed it]
This has already happened, I have a suspicion that when the enlightened dictator needs a good laugh he listens to recordings of Manmohan Singh alternatively threatening to walk out from table (imagine the horror) and in the next sentence groveling for peace.

Second is Hot pursuit or Cold start. I have trouble with this approach.

First people assume that rational position of Pakistan will be not to escalate it into full fledged war.Problem with this is that according to me, the only rational position for Pakistan is to escalate it (or maintain a demonstrable readiness) into full fledged war.

Reason? The incursion of Indian Army into Pakistan in order to dismantle terrorist infrastructure can not be a one time event, it has to be a prolonged and continuous process. Now Pakistan is at best suspicious and at worst mortified about threat to its existence from India.
Further, by allowing Indian Army to cross the border, a precedence would be established whereby India can enter into POK in order to capture terrorist, which very much defeats the purpose of Pakistan of supporting terrorists.

Therefore relaxing and allowing incursion by Indian army even for one time inside Pakistan is one time too many. Therefore the Pakistan can not afford it.

There is another point, establishing terror infrastructure is unlike building, for example nuclear installation (if the instructions are in Mandarin, even more so). Basically what one needs is lots of ammo and a hell lot of crazy guys, rest is mostly detail. Sadly for us, our neighbor is not lacking in either of these. Therefore even if assumed that Indian army is able to destroy terrorist camps in POK, it will not be a very difficult to reestablish those, this time in all likelihood in Punjab or NWFP, where Indian Army can not enter without launching a full scale war.

Ofcourse it is highly doubtful that world will even agree to the possibility of Indian incursion into Pakistani territory.

To summarize, beyond a point military response to terrorism is not the best response in the situation. Also strategy wise I am not sure how sensible it is to start a high intensity operation in response to what in essence is low intensity warfare.

To me the most sensible option before India is to reply in kind, that is inflict the pain in such a way that Pakistani state is convinced or forced by the common public to stop warfare against India. If low intensity sabotage is to be carried inside Pakistan, then it is crucial that it should not be directly carried out by India.

Basically there are two approaches. One is to incite different extremist religious factions inside Pakistan against each other. Another is to encourage secessionist movements inside Pakistan. The basic idea is to have any impact violence can not be random.


* I am in general pro US and pro Israel, the purpose of the example was just to emphasize extent I am willing to go to secure India and her citizens.

Opportunism and Posing

Dear Indians,

 

When we accuse America of being a bully and in the next sentence whine about how America is not rescuing India from terrorism we do ourselves a disservice.

Not because it is hypocrisy or opportunism (indeed international politics is nothing if not these), but because it is pointless moral melodrama, which is devoid of any undestanding about international relations and worse even our self interest.

So if we want to beat America with some stick atleast be consistent and choose one stick.

 

And while we are ar it, please stop criticizing Israels. Israelis protect their fellow citizens, which is more than we can say about ourselves.

As I said Israel rocks

 

Update: Nitin has a much more sensbile take

 

Category : India, Security ,Politics, International