Tags:
Journalism of Courage
8226; A commendable job has been done by the police in a short time. They have arrested militants connected with the recent attack in Ayodhya. But now there should be a speedy trial and punishment must come quickly. It takes years to build up the complete case and yet finally all these people get released because of political compulsions or lack of evidence. And they are free to mastermind another attack. Or, they may be released on bail, which they will jump, never to be traced again.
8212; Sham Langer Delhi
Against unreason
8226; Faith-based unreason, be it the kind of Islamic fanaticism of the London suicide bombers or the secular fanaticism espoused by many, is a clarion call to the world for framing a reasoned approach to tackle terrorism. There is a need to channelise insights from neuroscience, philosophy and mysticism into a modern foundation for peaceful co-existence. This is a challenge not just to Muslims but also for Hindus, Sikhs, Jews, Christians.
8212; Mukund B.Kunte On e-mail
Gandhi8217;s way
8226; One is grateful to T.V.R. Shenoy in 8216;Define the enemy8217; IE, July 14, for drawing our attention to the Mahatma8217;s emphasis on moral clarity in all matters including violence in any form. However, Kofi Annan8217;s statement that Shenoy quotes 8212; 8220;8230;The simple definition we are asking the Member States to embrace is that you cannot kill or maim innocent civilians and non-combatants. That is terrorism, pure and simple8221; 8212; is a sad reflection of the world8217;s continuing de-sensitisation to violence. For, implicit in the above definition is the assumption that it8217;s okay if you kill anyone other than an innocent civilian. It is presumably okay if militants in Kashmir or Naxalites in AP or Maoists in Nepal target security forces. That would mean legitimising insurgencies. Is there any alternative to questioning the legitimacy of the use of violence of any kind, except in pure self-defence? Certain truths are relevant for all times. Gandhi8217;s non-violence is one of them.
8212; Rajat Narain Faridabad
Missing on screen
8226; In8216;Indo-US ties: Bhishma8217;s wisdom8217; IE, July 16, K. Subrahmanyam says that the US in the last three months has been making highly publicised efforts to improve ties with India. As an American who follows TV news and studiously reads the American press, I have not seen a significant article regarding India in this period.
8212; C. Wijeyasingha New Orleans
Our Taj
8226; The Taj Mahal is owned by the citizens of India through the machinery of the democratic state. It cannot be handed over to the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board for the sake of a lapsed imperial decree. The Taj is an artistic creation par excellence. It cannot be viewed as a mere grave.
8212; Arjun Chaudhuri Kolkata
Piped dreams
8226; Apropos of the editorial 8216;Pipeline, Lifeline8217; IE, July 15, as the only democracy in this pipeline deal, India must consider the plight of the Baloch, oppressed by Pakistan and Iran. The leader of Opposition in the Balochistan assembly has quoted the former Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha as saying, 8220;India must consider Balochistan8217;s rights in the gas pipeline project.8221;
8212; Walid Garboni London
