An Actual Letter to HT
Let's see if they actually print this.
Sub: Marie Antoinette
Ed,
I am apalled that you should print an article such as that of Dia "Marie Antoinette" Mirza's(Open Source: Monday, April 17). I have many problems, regarding what she has written, but first and foremost is her blatant classist attitude which is the bane of all society today. Throughout her article she has made references of "celebrities" vs "the common man" defeating not only the entire philosophy of human equality, but undermining the very basis of her OWN article, "equality before law". If you are set, mentally, to look at the world as "celebrities" and "common people" you can never have logical correctness in any argument based on human equality of any kind.
Having said this, I would like her and all other celebrity-huggers to know that what is going on in Salman's case is perfectly fine. The man may be a saint, but at some point in his life he has blatantly broken the law repeatedly and must now atone for his crimes. If the law states anywhere that people convicted for poaching endangered species should not be kept in the same cells as "muderers and terrorists", I would greatly appreciate it if your journalists would quote these sections of the law in the future. As it is, I don't expect celebrities to have the time to care about the environment, what with their noble job of supporting the film industry (just like British colonials nobly provided jobs for slaves), but in case you do, let it be known that the Chinkara is endangered and killing one is not just "killing a deer" but a move towards wiping out the Chinkara all together. If that's ok with you, you might as well go out and kill tigers, who needs them anyway?
All this aside, I must admit that what angered me first is the quote judge not lest ye be judged. What is Dia Mirza trying to say? That because we all make mistakes we should ignore mistakes all together? Of course i want "what measure I mete to be measured to me agian". The move should be towards self improvement, not degradation! If I have killed, i should definitely not want other people to run around free killing people! The punishment should be equal, not the lack of it.
Lastly, in a democracy, the laws made are the will of the people. The enforcement of these laws is no way tyrrany. And if you argue that in reality the laws are made by politicians, remember, they are our representatives ellected by us. If they are corrupt, swindling, thieves, what does that say about us?
Sincerely,
Chitrak Bandyopadhyay
PS Although you may not think it feasible for a letter of this nature to be published, I sincerely request that your articles be more balanced and informed in the future. Any opinions and emotions should be restricted to the style section. Thank you.
Sub: Marie Antoinette
Ed,
I am apalled that you should print an article such as that of Dia "Marie Antoinette" Mirza's(Open Source: Monday, April 17). I have many problems, regarding what she has written, but first and foremost is her blatant classist attitude which is the bane of all society today. Throughout her article she has made references of "celebrities" vs "the common man" defeating not only the entire philosophy of human equality, but undermining the very basis of her OWN article, "equality before law". If you are set, mentally, to look at the world as "celebrities" and "common people" you can never have logical correctness in any argument based on human equality of any kind.
Having said this, I would like her and all other celebrity-huggers to know that what is going on in Salman's case is perfectly fine. The man may be a saint, but at some point in his life he has blatantly broken the law repeatedly and must now atone for his crimes. If the law states anywhere that people convicted for poaching endangered species should not be kept in the same cells as "muderers and terrorists", I would greatly appreciate it if your journalists would quote these sections of the law in the future. As it is, I don't expect celebrities to have the time to care about the environment, what with their noble job of supporting the film industry (just like British colonials nobly provided jobs for slaves), but in case you do, let it be known that the Chinkara is endangered and killing one is not just "killing a deer" but a move towards wiping out the Chinkara all together. If that's ok with you, you might as well go out and kill tigers, who needs them anyway?
All this aside, I must admit that what angered me first is the quote judge not lest ye be judged. What is Dia Mirza trying to say? That because we all make mistakes we should ignore mistakes all together? Of course i want "what measure I mete to be measured to me agian". The move should be towards self improvement, not degradation! If I have killed, i should definitely not want other people to run around free killing people! The punishment should be equal, not the lack of it.
Lastly, in a democracy, the laws made are the will of the people. The enforcement of these laws is no way tyrrany. And if you argue that in reality the laws are made by politicians, remember, they are our representatives ellected by us. If they are corrupt, swindling, thieves, what does that say about us?
Sincerely,
Chitrak Bandyopadhyay
PS Although you may not think it feasible for a letter of this nature to be published, I sincerely request that your articles be more balanced and informed in the future. Any opinions and emotions should be restricted to the style section. Thank you.
Labels: commentary
posted by Chitrak at 2:19 AM
15 Comments:
In all fairness, you should probably read Dia Mirza's article in HT. The date and column are given in the letter.
here is the article:
Judge not, that ye not be judged. For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
— The Bible I WRITE best when I am most upset. Salman Khan is a friend.
He is a kind-hearted, generous man. He saved my mother’s life. He is also human and fallible.
The recent verdict on the Salman Khan chinkara case has raised a few serious questions in my mind. Is a crime any worse if the perpetrator is a celebrity? Why is the punishment of a celebrity being made an example to society? The desire to make examples of celebrities to enforce the law reeks of the fact that the law is otherwise ineffectual.
In the eyes of the law, everyone is equal. Case in point: the dismissal of the ban on dance bars in Maharashtra by the Bombay High Court. The ban allowed performances in three- and five-star hotels, which the Bombay High Court said was discriminatory. This ruling proves that everyone is equal in the eyes of the law.
Why then is the law singling out a celebrity simply because he is a celebrity? Is this not a transgression of the spirit of the law?
Moreover, what kind of an example are we setting by severely punishing celebrities? Are we saying, therefore, that a common man can get away with something that a celebrity cannot? Or are we saying that the common man is above the law? Or are we saying there is no equality in the eyes of the law?
Think about the Jessica Lall murder case. Nine accused were acquitted. Many witnessed this act of wanton criminality. We still can’t tell what was more shocking: the fact that a woman was murdered in full view of bystanders or the manner in which the judiciary sought to bring justice to the alleged killers?
A law that is subjective is no longer law. It’s tyranny. What faith can you have on a law that is not blind to who you are and judges you on your background and on your position in society?
St Thomas Aquinas said almost 800 years ago: “Human law is law by virtue of its accordance with right reason, and by this means it is clear that it flows from the Eternal law. In so far as it deviates from right reason it is called an Unjust law; and in such a case, it is no law at all, but rather an assertion of violence.” Punish a celebrity by all means if he has committed a crime. But do not penalise him excessively only because he is a celebrity. No one else has received a five year jail sentence for killing chinkaras.
Of the 76 odd cases, there have been just three convic tions — and Salman Khan’s was the harshest. (One man was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for killing a chinkara and lifeimprisonment for killing a man who tried to protect the deer.) Why then is Salman Khan the first to receive such a harsh sentence?
Let the punishment fit the crime. How can you put a man in central jail with terrorists and murderers for killing deer? What of the socio-economic consequences: the money riding on films and the families dependent on these projects? What will you tell them when they are laid off and unable to find work — that the law wants to make an example of someone, so your family must not eat?
Nobody is saying that simply because an actor has a few hundred crores riding on him, he can burn, pillage and plunder. But what we are saying is yes, punish him by all means, but let the punishment fit the crime.
Celebrities do not owe a greater debt to society than the rest of its citizens — celebrities contribute more towards the national exchequer than many small proprietorship companies, they pay their debt to society, they pay their taxes, they contribute to infrastructure and health and development like all of us. So why do they need to be vilified to exercise the law? Is the law so impotent that it needs Salman Khan to be heard?
It would appear so.
Why do celebrities have to work harder at being citizens of their own country?
Are you aware that begging is illegal? How many policemen chase beggars away when they play in traffic in front of your car? Why not? Perhaps we should have a celebrity beggar to punish as well. Will that make an example (Salman Khan Caught Begging, Gets Life Imprisonment)?
Why not have separate laws then for everyone? The Celebrity Code, the Farmer’s Act, the Rules of Begging, and so on.
Yes, I do write best when I am most upset.
I agree with chit, and I have a few more questions for her:
1> Is the law(against black buck hunting)wrong in principle? Or do you disagree with the punishment that is mentioned in the law?
2>Do you or do you not want to Police to investigate a crime completely and then prosecute the accused and ask for the maximum punishment? Coz they did not do so in the jessica lal Murder case, and the media hounded them. Now they have done so in the Salman Khan case and you again think that the police has made a mistake? Its ....Dammed if you do, dammed if you don't
3>Where exactly has been unfairly treated by the authorities? He was given the benifit of the law for 8 years(via the usage of Bail), his trial was a free and fair one, and he was tried for only hunting?
well said, and thanks for the link.
They DID print it, after shortening.
it is here letter
i totally agree with you chitrak.
very irritating article by dia mirza.
"How can you put a man in central jail with terrorists and murderers for killing deer?"
wtf?
Xaviers, Mumbai. Umm, why?
I saw your site on Indian Bloggers. I had started the Xaviers Mumbai blog, so was naturally curious when i saw yours.
interesting blog btw, will be returning there once in awhile, if you don't mind.
I'm sure there've been several times when Celebs have been let off the clutches of the law, when "other citizens" haven't. Surely she's forgotten that!
i have found all this ridiculous too?? what are they complaining about??
the fact that law ha not been imposed at all times??thats quite fair then start opposing everytime you think law has not been imposed ... but now that it has you start stating everytime it wasnt and say dont impose it even now??
it is ridiculous...
not just this letter but all the opposition that this decision has led to... making an example of salman... what the hell is that?? he broke the law he gets punished.Whether ten thousand other people have been allowed to go free is a different issue all together... its atleast good that he wasnt freed.
And yes in the letter the celebrity v/s common man thing is a bit too much.
"common man"?!! sheesh. She could atleast have used "non-celebrities"
Ziggactly!
i like this blog. i like i like.
and about the entry...its all been said already.
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