She tagged me to play another one of this things!! 

Everything in bold and itlaics is copy pasted from from blog. 

Dear All

Most of the bloggers have second though on this. I am sure.. That’s just an image problem. How I look good in mirror. I would love to know what it is. I am planning to read all the beautiful blogs which you yourself suggesting. This may be a good retreat also. So try this.

Which is your best blog written by you? (Only One)

In A Fool’s Paradise

Which is your best comment written by you (Nearly impossible but try)

Sometime last October, CVRajan wrote a blog titled, Bloggers Are Out To Reform The World. It was a sort of reply to my blog which talked about stepping up there and changing the world. Well, then I had to go back and reply to CVRajan. He..he.. those were the good days! So here goes my famous last words  kind of a comment:

'Well.. I need to sit down before I begin. This is going to take some time. But it's all about you. So, I promise, you will be entertained. I'm doing this partly because I like the sound of my voice and partly to give you a sense of achievement. So, let us begin..:) Just stay with me till the end.

You are right, my learned friend. There IS such a thing as 'Arm-Chair' Journalism. It loosely means 'news that comes from reporters sitting in their chairs and making a phone call or two, then writing news stories as if they were present.'

But I guess the word you wanted to use was 'Arm-chair Activism.' That would have been more appropriate. Anyway, I'm not here to correct your syntax problems.

I have read your opinion of bloggers on Sulekha who wish or are trying to change the world by writing. You have made it very clear. Your arguments are all in place. So is your passion. It is a deadly combination, you know. The combination of a mind and heart that knows what it is doing. Most of us, lesser mortals, cannot claim to attain that spiritual plane in our everyday lives.

Now, after going through your blog (which, of course, you left as a comment on mine, and like the gentleman you are, requested my permission to publish on your's) there is just one thing that I am not able to understand. I really wish it wasn't so. After reading almost 600 odd words, I do not like to be left with absolutely nothing to chew on. I don't think you would either. The problem with your blog is that it does not reveal what exactly is bothering you. Or what is the real 'inspiration' for this 'blog?'

Your blog offers five basic inferences to a general reader.

1.                  You believe people should not 'talk' about a better life. At least, not publicly.

2.                  You consider this world as 'Maya' and hence, all human endeavour useless.

3.                  You are sure that we, human beings, are good for nothing. Because great saints and divinities have themselves failed on this Earth.

4.                  You affirm that Indian mythology and saints should make for the entire world view.

5.                  Last but not the least, you also believe that being old makes one wise enough to understand all 'this!'

Now, which of these points really create a conflict with Arm-chair Activism? You claim it is 'Arm-Chair' Journalism (as you wrongly put it), that is bothering you, isn't it?

What exactly is it that you dislike about this new phenomenon on Sulekha? Do you hate the fact that people are talking about how crappy life has become and still not doing anything about it, or are you miffed with the fact that people are talking about how crappy life has become?

That, I believe, is the million dollar question here.

If it is the first, then there is something wrong with your logic. Cause you suggest the futility of 'human' action yourself, isn't it? What are we meek, stupid, creatures to do to change the world where saints, blessed souls, 'avatara purushas,' and divinity itself has failed so miserably? So, you should not be complaining about people not taking action. Just consider them enlightened souls who are aware of the 'futility' of actions in this world of 'Maya.' Don't speak against them. It would be against your own logic, isn't it, sir?

On the other hand, if you are upset with people talking about the decay and deterioration in the world in which they find themselves in, and desire change and say it, then we have a bigger problem. Because now you are doing something really unimaginable!

You, as a human being, are saying that people should not talk about 'what is' no matter how destructive, demeaning, and demoralizing it is. Is it so, my dear sir? Are you saying people should just believe this to be their 'fate' and live without even raising their voice? Or wishing for a better life? But if that was so, we wouldn't be an independent nation to begin with, isn't it?

Not to forget that we still would be living in caves, hunting wild animals with rocks and wearing loin clothes to hide our shame. Don't you think we are where we are because we wanted a 'better' life and tried for it? I am just asking.

What is it that really bothers you when people talk about what is wrong with the world? What is it that you dislike when they speak about change? Why do you find it worthy of your disdain?

Behind this facade of enlightened superiority, is there a heart that is a little bit human and is just jealous that people are talking about things of which you are not a part of? :-) You yourself say you are not part of this new phenomenon on Sulekha, isn't it? Is there a child within that is missing the attention, my learned friend? So badly that you will do anything to get it? Even write a blog justifying wife beating? What do they say, any publicity is better than no publicity at all, isn't it? That's the motto of the cut-throat entertainment world, by the way. I am just asking.

Coming back to 'arm-chair' activism. Don't tell me you do not believe in the power of written words. Of course, you do. You live by Bhagvat Gita, don't you? You quote scriptures to prove your points. Don't you get inspired by Upanishad (By the way, do you consider Upanishad arm chair activism?). Celebrate Ram as the lord of the universe because Ramayan says so? It is said that the largest selling book in the world is the Bible. Is it any wonder that Christianity is the largest religion too? Do you see a connection there? I really hope you do.

Because you believe Ram or Vishnu will come to save you, my friend, are you ready to say that Jesus does not exist, or that Allah is an illusion? Are you suggesting that the largest religion in the world is 'talking', writing about nothing but a fantasy? Or the biggest minority in our country is a farce? If you believe changing the world is beyond your power and belief, are you saying it is beyond human power and belief? I am just asking.

Now, the last point I want to make. There is no such thing as 'Arm Chair' Activism. If it were so, you would be asking the carpenter to build the house, not just do the woodwork alone, isn't it? There are very many skill sets to build a complete house, right? Men/Women with different skill sets, different roles, that they play in order to build a house. If they play it well, they have a beautiful house.

Like wise, if someone writes about change, maybe someone else will come to make that change happen. Maybe that is how the roles are. And no matter what the motive of the writer is (Not that I am justifying ulterior motives here, just accepting it if they do exist), if there is truth in what has been written, it will find a reader who needs just that to start changing the world. To start making a difference. Maybe by turning off the tap before water flows out his bucket the next day. Or walking to the nearby store instead of taking his car. A little more water saved, a little less polluted air today is better than making no difference at all, don't you think? There are a thousand small things an individual can start with. Maybe all he/she needs is a blogger who 'speaks' passionately enough about it. :-) Why are you condemning the medium, if the message is good enough to make a change?

By the way, have you ever gotten up from your chair and checked how many of these “Sulekha-blog-world-reformers” as you call them, are doing anything to make a difference before writing about 'them?' Done any real homework before ranting on the blog, my friend? LOL

Oops! No?? Damn!!!! That would make YOU an arm-chair journalist, isn't it? Sorry about that!! ha..ha...

It is said that Thomas Alva Eddison failed 999 times before he successfully invented the light bulb. You have 998 more chances to get your argument right. I wish you all the best. :-) 

Which blogger you like most in Sulekah (Only One – how painful to choose)

None! I have such high standards that no one, including me, meets them!! Not consistently enough to be my favorite. :-)

Well I don’t want too many question. I really want to read all the stuff. There is no rule or regulation. This is straight from heart

7 people tagged

Ah! I believe people like me will be inspired to play this game anyhow!! We are so full of ourselves that any opportunity to talk about ourselves is grabbed with open hands!! So, if you are reading this, get on with it, my friend. Give us a little bit more of your precious self. :-)))

And of course, like binumuscat put it: ALL of the wonderful bloggers who love to share this can play this game

Thank you all