BaKhabar, February 2012, Page-6 [It's All About Elections Stupid!]

better light a candle than curse the darkness

Restrictions are good for the National Integrity

... Shahzad Alam Barni (RTI Activist, Aligarh)

In the age of freedom and rights, it really makes me so amazed to know that the restrictions are good. Now the questions come to my mind; what are those restrictions? Why these restrictions are necessary and how these restrictions are beneficial for national integrity?
This is basically all about the fundamental right to freedom of a citizen; specially the Freedom of Speech and Expressions. It has been conferred that every citizen of India has the Fundamental Right of Speech and Expression that is guaranteed in Article 19(1)a of the Indian Constitution.
Despite of the guarantee of the freedom of speech and expressions conferred by the Indian constitution there are a number of people whose voice is not being heard. On the contrary to this fact, there are only few persons whose voice everybody wants to listen to except a handful.
The recent controversy of Salman Rushdie’s visit to India in the literary fest of Jaipur (Rajasthan) is the suitable example of the same. Salman Rushdie wrote “The Satanic Verses” in 1988 in which he insulted and maligned the Honor of Prophet Mohammad and criticized the Qur’an in a very abusive language. The Muslims from all over the world protested against the maligning activity of Salman Rushdie.
As being the citizen of India he has the right to freedom of speech and expressions but he forgot about the restrictions that were imposed on Freedom of Speech and Expression in Article 19(2) of the Indian Constitution as to safeguard the benefit of the nation. He denied the pluralistic, socialist and democratic values of our constitution. It is clearly mentioned in the constitution that there should not be anything that may disturb the “public order” as was added to the constitution through the First Amendment. There are many others restriction in Article 19(2) as ‘”Decency and Morality, Defamation, Incitement of an offence” that can never be ignored.
India is known all over the world for its multi-cultural, multi-lingual and multi-religious values. Whatever Salman Rushdie did, that was a matter against the cultural and religious spirit of secular India. So being a responsible citizen of India, it is the duty of every Indian to deplore the act of Salman Rushdie; however in place of criticism, some of the groups who cash-in on the politics of religion, like BJP and RSS, supported the issue of Rushdie’s visit to Jaipur that was totally against the spirit of the Indian Constitution.
The Muslims from all over the country protested against the visit of Rushdie but government showed the positive attitude towards Rushdie which was an act similar to that of an irresponsible citizen of India. After the criticism from each corner, Rushdie himself cancelled the visit, making lack of safety as an excuse. Now the question is still unanswered; whether these restrictions should be abolished or be followed in letter and spirit?

Video: How Rushdie Fooled The West: http://bit.ly/xY5ObF
Text of Ahmed Deedat's book on Satanic Salman: Pls do read the text version: http://bit.ly/xDbwL4 (Adult content)

20 Life Guiding Principles
- Robert Ringer

By kcannone | Published: January 10, 2011

20 life guiding principles

1. Never compromise your integrity, for anything or anybody.
2. Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Learn to say no politely and pleasantly, but immediately and firmly.
3. Whatever it is, do it now. Not next week, not tomorrow, not later today — now.
4. When you feel overwhelmed, don’t try to do everything — just do something.
5. Concentrate on doing what you do best, and let others do the rest.
6. Don’t waste time talking about your plans to others. Learn to zip the lip.
7. Avoid quick fixes. Take the time to work on long-term, permanent solutions.
8. When the ball is on the one-yard line, never risk a fumble. Carry it over yourself.
9. Avoid premature victory celebrations. You’re not through until you’ve dotted all the “i’s” and crossed all the “t’s” — and the check has cleared the bank.
10. Focus your efforts on the crux of every situation. Avoid expending energy on peripheral issues that cannot yield a payoff no matter what their outcome.
11. The power of the understatement is enormous. Say what you have to say — quickly, succinctly, and simply — then stop talking.
12. Never fall into the trap of waiting for something to happen. Make it happen!
13. Learn to love truth instead of trying to make true that which you love.
14. Never base a decision on conventional wisdom alone. Question everything.
15. Life is a distance run. Don’t come out of the starting gate too fast … and be careful not to get winded too soon.
16. The most efficient way to get ahead of the competition is not to fight your way through the pack, but to leapfrog over it.
17. Make it a habit to concentrate on opportunities rather than problems.
18. The only power anyone can have over you is the power you give him. Without your permission, the other person is powerless.
19. Live every moment as though the whole world were watching.
20. Free will is the greatest asset you have at your disposal. Use it!
Please let us know if one or more of these spoke to you. If you live life with these guidelines in mind, there is no doubt you will live a life of happiness and success..