Lessons to learn

For the past few weeks or so there’s been hectic activities in the ‘blogosphere’ – comments and views of all sorts condemning terrorism have filled the cyberspace. On television almost all National leaders, bureaucrats, politicians, media, police, and public (have I left out anyone?) – everybody has been criticized right, left and center. Emotions were running so high that many were clueless of the implications of their statements. In this entire melee I chose to be a silent spectator, observe the drama unfold. I did not want to fall into the same trap many had already fallen into- reacting extremely emotionally to the horrors witnessed on television screens. The pictures shown on TV would have certainly hurt many an Indian’s sensibilities. I was angry too. But events that followed made me angrier; compelled me to think of our behavior, as a nation. Forget Pakistan for a moment and its unhealthy obsession with terror – What are we going to learn from all this? Almost for 60 hours on the television screens there was nothing else but provocative statements, accusations, acrimonious outbursts- the mood of war-like jingoism was both in the air and on the air. To make things worse, some politicians generally neglected by the media (for reasons best known to them) made news by their silly, inept and outrageous comments. The unfortunate ones among them were stripped of their positions and the lucky ones were let off with a ‘strict warning’. A crash course in communication skills is perhaps something that many of our politicians require so badly. They must be taught a lesson or two in diplomacy especially while giving their ‘invaluable’ opinions during such crises. As for the public, reining in emotions at such moments, though difficult will certainly be useful. Above all the media must refrain from insinuations, instigation, crassly commercializing and sensationalizing such events with a view to enhancing their ratings – which I think was practised to perfection by almost all TV channels in India. Definitely we as a nation have to learn a few (or many?) lessons.