Editor,
In response to Eva Giri’s letter, “Mayhem in Shillong” (ST June 13, 2014), I find it very disturbing that someone who has never listened to heavy metal music, or for that matter, ignorant on the subject of metal music would judge a book by it’s cover. Like a very famous saying goes, “One man’s medicine is another man’s poison”; simply not liking, or not being able to understand the basic elements of something in particular, one has no right to manipulatively project it to be “evil” or “satanic” simply because it is beyond their comprehension and simple logical understanding. This is a dangerous mentality as it is propaganda for spreading wrong information to readers young and old. It also shows that ignorance still thrives among us Shillongites. We have seen in the past what suspicion, coupled with fear of the unknown, or simply refusing to understand other’s positions and situations have led to a lot of misunderstanding; most famous cases being the witch-hunts and the suspicion of being a Menshohnoh.
If we talk about sex, perversion, drugs, murder, rebellion etc, isn’t it abundant in the media today? One is bound to see sexuality or suggested sexual images, usage of drugs and narcotics along with murder through movies, video games and books. Then why is death metal music the scapegoat here? If so much “evil” is being portrayed, then why are books still being read or television watched? Evil is a human condition; it exists in everyone, everywhere. Coming to the eerie name of the band, it’s what death metal is all about; brutality and ferocity in the music and the imagery. It’s a style of playing for that particular genre of music, no holds barred. Just as The Beatles have human beings playing in the band and not some insects, having an eerie name automatically does not make the band members serial killers. I doubt if the name “Pink Unicorns” would fit their imagery. Religion plays a small part in Death Metal lyrics. One has to be more open-minded to understand that fact.
For the record, I am yet to see any of the young people from Shillong and Tura that have been arrested on the grounds of practicing “Satanism” or accused of being a “Satanist” these past few weeks who are influenced by Death Metal, or any other sub-genre of metal music. If one is tolerant enough, one will find a lot of Christian theme Death Metal bands in the current scene also.
Yours etc., ,
Baribor Kupar Khongwir.
Shillong – 6
NGT ban-the other nexus
Editor,
On the recent NGT ruling, Ibanylla Lyngdoh’s statement that, the people in the coal mining areas will be compelled to take up “unlawful activities” after the NGT ban, showed exactly the kind of people who benefitted from coal mining – the Opportunists. In the face of adversity, a person of character and integrity, resorts to hard work and dedication to make ends meet and not to commit crime. This shows that these people who will resort to crime actually have prior inclination to crime in the first place! Now, let us remind ourselves that the only real losers because of the NGT ban are the desecrators of our environment. We have to look at the cost of pollution on our State not only in Rupees but in the number of lives affected as well. How much money has been spent to compensate the loss of agriculture in the mining areas? How much money has been spent to treat diseases brought about by pollution because of coal mining? What are the costs of the human lives lost in the mines? How about the roads stripped bare because of the coal trucks, how much for their repairs? All these are questions with no easy answers. Now, the recent HNLC bandh because of the 9 June ruling of the NGT clearly showed the relationship between the miners and the militants. Protection money is just the tip of the iceberg. The militants are employed as cronies of miners, out to intimidate and overwhelm any business rival or enemy. Perhaps more! How can an organisation which claims to be for the ‘jaidbynriew’ actually support a trade that results in the boom of illegal immigrants in the mining areas? But who dictates on price of coal etc. the coal miners or suppliers or the non-tribal buyers? How much does the ‘jaidbynriew’ benefit from coal mining? Questions with easy answers, but, which no one is interested to answer.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request