Of Fanatics and Patriots

How easily we forget loyalties. Until only a few weeks ago, we were lambasting MNS and Raj Thackeray for his nonsenscial, provocative and undesirable speeches and today we're fighting over whose city wins the IPL. More importantly- whose city to support! have we forgotten the first initial of the IPL- Indian! somebody even went to the length to suggest that supporting a team other than your own cities is like calling somebody else your father![cross my heart- it's true!]

Granted that other nations take inter-club rivalry in sports such as baseball, football, american football and such rather seriously. One friend even informed me of a physical threat they received in an American bar for supporting another team. Really, with all the inter-state commotion, do we really need more?

surely supporting a sport is more important than supporting a club isn't it? Maybe i'm completely off the mark here. If I am, we will one day see our own nation saying "let cricket go to hell if india can't win".

The latter friend mentioned above, also told me of an individual he knows who is such a 'fanatic' supporter of Sachin's, that god forbid should somebody criticize him that he will bite your head off. is this really a fan? has anyone reading this post seen the movie- "the Fan"?

the other day i had a rather lively and animated discussion with a friend about various social subjects- it was a major refresher from the usual attitude i see in fellow indians, who get peeved about the minutest thing. this individual (whom i shall not name)- not only did she not take anything personally, she also calmly and with interest, replied with reason and justification, rather than blowing her top off, reciting curses and the like, in her defense. Glad to know there still are 'Indians' out there!

Welcome Post

Hi guys,
this is my first ever post on my new blog "the true patriot". why do i call this blog what i do? really it ties in what i feel about our nation, our society, etc. etc. etc., and my philosophy around the Emperor's New Clothes- yes the old nursery tale we used to hear in Kindergarten.
i feel that we're living in a society with cliches, hypocrisy, double standards and all that stuff. all i aim to do via this blog is to voice my concerns, feelings and impressions about all those things, and hopefully do my bit for the nation. i believe true patriotism is not about singing bollywood songs, watching indo-pak war movies or waving a flag. it's about doing something! not pretending to do something!

I welcome everybody's comments, positive or negative. All i ask is that you participate, share and help. if you're part of the MNS, or believe that criticizing your own country is a bad thing, you're not helping, you're making it worse.

thanks and i hope this is the start of something truly great.