Haven't read the comments in here but wanted to throw my two cents out there. I love the times we are living in! Bigotry these days is being sold as being patriotic. And jingoism is being sold as nationalism.. Nobody needs lectures from folks who call themselves "patriots" yet go around beating up people of their own country because they are "outsiders" ,as in have migrated to Maharashtra from some other state. I find it hilarious when these people preach about what being a patriot is! WTH have they done for this country! Beating people up. vandalizing things doesn't equate to patriotism. Parties like these grab the headlines by bull**** tactics like these or by beating their fellow countrymen. These are the same folks who were calling Hemant Karkare a traitor not long before he lost his life during the Bombay attacks in 2011. Their hypocrisy is truly astounding to say the least.
And since when did banning artists or banning contact between regular citizens help in eradicating terrorism. The artists have become soft targets and nothing else. On one hand I see people preaching artists from Pakistan to condemn terrorism that is emanating from their country yet the same people would call artists from their own country "traitors" the moment they speak about the atrocities happening in our own country. It's funny as to how "selective" some are when it comes to freedom of speech. Do these folks who are asking them to condemn such acts realize they are soft targets in their own country too , just like our artists are soft targets in our own country. So many people have been shot dead in broad day light for speaking up against such things in Pakistan , so many human right activists have been put behind bars in India for speaking truth to power.
Of course one condemns what happened in Uri in the strongest terms possible. Our army , our jawans do a whole lot to keeps us safe. But banning artists , threatening them ain't the effing solution here! Calling for "war" is darn easy when you don't have anyone from your family fighting at the border. What is difficult is sustaining peace or at least trying for it even in circumstances where things seem bleak. The least we can do is give artists from both countries the freedom to be artists! Art , sports ...these are things that can bring people together. That can perhaps provide some levity in these dark times. I know I'm being idealistic here but I'd rather be that than be cynical and bigoted.
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
Shiv Shakti
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