Editor,
Apropos the letters to the editor “Moral Police” (ST Sep 2, 2011) and “No moral policing please” (ST Sep 3, 2011), I too was shocked to read that moral policing should be proposed by the FKJGP. If the said organisation has read Kong Patricia’s article “Evils of multi-tiered governance” (ST Sep 3, 2011), I would suggest that it focus upon more deserving matters like environment for example, rather than on such trivial issues.
While still on this same topic, I would like to raise my objections against a section of electronic media for telecasting on Sunday, the 28th of August, 2011, the raids conducted by the police on a group of youths in and around Golf Links. These youths were reported to have been drinking and committing indecent acts in and around the said area and for which they were picked up and taken to the police station. That is punishment enough considering their age. I appreciate the efforts of the police in this direction but I do not see why the contents have to be aired. Television audiences range from the youngest to the oldest, so the quality of news should have been properly edited and censored. Such news is not NEWS at all, but cheap journalism. I do not condone the actions of the youths in question but I request the media to take into consideration the feelings and sentiments of the parents and family members (of the youths) who have to bear the shame and agony of it all. Not only that, but one should also keep in mind that psychologically there would be after-effects upon these boys and girls as a result of what the said channel aired. These boys and girls are still immature and so are their minds. Has the channel considered the consequences or is it just interested in selling/promoting their channel through such NEWS? What if the young boys and girls cannot bear the exposure (for all to see on cable tv)? What if they do something rash as a result of it? These may be hypothetical questions but if the hypotheses turn to reality, will this news channel (or any other media broadcasting such new ) take responsibility then? Does the television channel have no other news to disseminate or would the news have been reported/aired in the first place if the youths were their own relatives?
I request media channels not to air such videos but report the news only. It should also refrain from telecasting anything that goes beyond media ethics no matter how ‘JUICY’ the news is. Focus on matters which are of social relevance and the concerns of each and every man like price rise, environmental degradation, rampant corruption, cleanliness etc and educate the people on the solution to these issues. You will be much more appreciated!
Yours etc,
J Lynrah,
Via email
No moral policing please!
Editor,
The FKJGP’s recent statement about “catching” couples guilty of “immoral conduct” can have far-reaching implications of the negative kind. It is a short-sighted and high-handed way of dealing with a social issue which could be termed as downright coercive. People who consider themselves to be the ‘protectors’ of our culture and tradition and set out to morally police the public tend to forget that society is a dynamic institution and is constantly evolving. When certain sections of the society like the FKJGP are in denial of such evolution, they resort to coercive, aggressive and violent means in order to preserve their version of culture and tradition. When people cow down, the perpetrators get drunk with power and their acts become criminal.
There have been several incidents in recent memory which bear out this point. In January 2009, young women in Mangalore were thrashed by Ram Sena workers merely because they chose to sit in a pub. Similarly, the display of outrage by some sections of society because Richard Gere kissed Shilpa Shetty in public during an AIDS awareness event, indicates our intolerance as a society towards the expression and display of emotion by different people. MF Hussain was targeted for obscene paintings and eventually died in a foreign land. It is another story that the debate as to what would qualify as ‘obscene’ is yet to be resolved. The pertinent question is whether the citizens of India have a right to live in the country without fear and intimidation. Notions of social morality are inherently subjective. Criminal law cannot be used as a means to unduly interfere with the domain of personal autonomy. Moral policing is the easiest and quickest way for organisations with political leanings to exploit the sentiments of vulnerable people and get attention and eventually pave a way into politics. The question is, should we stand by and allow society to be hijacked by the likes of FKJGP?
Yours etc.,
Hubert Warjri,
Via email
Anna in Meghalaya
Editor,
People are perplexed. People are intrigued. People are speechless, in fact ‘anna’ (dumb in Khasi) with surprise. Candle light vigils; placard demonstrations and slogan shouting sit-ins by upright, honest, innocent and (one hesitates to say) gullible babes of Shillong. “Down with corruption” rents the peaceful twilight air in Khyndailad, Police Bazar (have to mention both names just to avoid being labelled culturally corrupt). Every one sees it and is impressed! Sadly the irony of the whole episode seems to have escaped public notice!
Fact is the demonstrations against corruption held in Shillong were invariably held in front of the Legislative Assembly compound. A symbolic gesture, if one were to admit and pinpoint the origin and prime source of corruption in Meghalaya. Seeing the slogan shouting demonstrators, one is reminded of the CAG reports where a former Speaker, some MLAs and senior members of the Legislative Assembly were indicted for submission of fake and bogus TA Bills. Last heard SCAMOD had filed a PIL on the matter but this was one year ago. This PIL has since then been riding a very slow, slow coach. Crime by the powerful pays! So much for the institution called the judiciary. Has it become irrelevant? And the cause for the people’s perplexity, bewilderment and confusion? How sad!
Yours etc.
Zac RS,
Via email