The King's Mistakes
Well, this is way-past due. It's no secret that blogdai feels the royal takeover was a necessary step, but it's time to get those "blogdai is a royalist" creatures off my back. Where the king is blowing it is featured below. -=blogdai
To King G,
1. Forget the haphazard Paras makeover. Listen G, you are telling the Nepalis that they are not smart enought to remember the past. If you want to do some good, take Paras completely out of circulation for a few years and then maybe we'll give him another chance. This new "sportsman" image plus his golf fiasco insults all of us.
2. Relax the heavy-hand on the media. Yes, we realize that there were initial tactical reasons for shutting up the press immediately after the takeover, but continuing to hound these guys is excessive and counterproductive. You want people on your side? What and who gives people in the world their ideas about you? That's right, the media. The lazy idiots of the Western media can't get past your press supression and therefore, won't give you a chance on other issues, so get your head involved in the world and let these guys be. They neither have the power nor the ability to organize anyone on behalf of your enemies so who cares? Sure, they'll always give front page coverage to every bowel movement Girija makes, but people no longer take the old goat seriously; he is a novelty story.
2a. Plus, stop the harrassment of demonstrators. Bust them up if they block traffic, sure, but hauling away "Maoist victims" gives the press fodder for calling you a despot. You want to stop demonstrations? Cut off the cash-flow from the organizations, like the Nepali Congress, who pay for them. Don't wait until it comes to the street where all the news-wire photographers are waiting.
3. Restore some form of democracy. Maybe you already tried this with the local election bit, but you just gave the old corrupt regime something to rant about. Come out with a nation-wide election plan, only don't invite anyone from the old government. Ask for fresh, uncorrupt citizens who want to form a new government. You can still kill Maoists if you want but at least you will have begun the democratic process again. Just the appearance of you trying to do everything yourself sends a bad message to the world. In fact, any autocratic gesture, no matter how benevolent will look bad for you. Any unilateral takeover sets a bad precedent. You're not the King of Thailand; he can get away with it.
4. Same thing with human rights activists. I know, I know, Amnesty International has called for everything but shutting off the oxygen supply to Nepal, but ignore them. They are doing what they do best: pandering. Turn everybody loose, let them try to organize. Who cares if they do? Your job is to restore peace and you've got the army; 'nuff said?
5. Tone down that new love-affair with China. If you were trying to embarrass India, it worked; but don't give the Chinese any more openings or you'll all be eating Peking duck and selling cheap watches on the street corner. And, so help us all, if Paras was involved with that Tibetan Welfare Office closing right before your takeover, we'll never forgive you.
Overall, G, you need to hire a good media relations person. Your mistakes are fundamental and show a lack of insight towards world sympathy. Hire a sympathetic westerner (not from the BBC) who can teach some of these fundamentals to the palace.
-=blogdai
Everybody happy?
posted by blogdai @ 6/28/2005 02:59:00 PM
14 comments
14 Comments:
Ha, Ha! Hell as officially frozen over! Have you turned?
Come to think of it, with Samudaya and freenepal.org touting the party line, who is left that is royalist if not Blogdai?
-following on from the original posting -
Also we would like to know what plans you have for the future of the people of Nepal when (eventually - it will happen!) this mess is sorted out. If you want continuing support you must demonstrate a realistic intent to improve the lot of all Nepalis, particularly those groups who have been so disadvantaged in the past.
I would like to make two comments. The first one is that Samudaya is not touting any line. Samudaya and its members have no predisposed agenda or afiliation with any group. Saudaya welcomes all contributions from any side. Be it from the party line or the royalist. So if you feel that your side is not represented properly pick up that keyboard and make a contribution. Is that not what progressive thought is.
I am sorry to blogdai if i sound like promoting samudaya in his blog. That is not my intention. I merely wanted to correct a previous comment.
My second comment is directly relating to your second point regarding heavy hand on the media. I agree with you that clamping down on the press is not only excessive but also counterproductive. Personally it is a futile attempt in this day and age. However I do not agree that the media will not be able to organize anyone. I believe that if the monarch is truly committed to a democratic nepal he should be strengthening the media not weakening it as it is an essential ingredient to a successful and democratic nepal.
Lastly I would like to point out that if you just take take first line of each of your point it reads like the demands of all agitating parties and activists. So does it not make sense that a democratic nepal is what both the royalist and the parties want and is in their best interest. To flip it a little more each problem that you address put it on a list. The list describes the conditions of current Nepal. Now we must each think to ourselves is this the kind of Nepal we want.
From my experience with Samudaya, it is very clear that you do exactly what you imply: you take the first sentence of statements and form an opinion. Sometimes, however, the first statement sets up the second statement that sets up the entire opinion.
I bowed out of a discussion on Samudaya early last week, but took great delight in watching someone named Angela try to coax responders into making sense. Seems like the lot was full of knee-jerk opinions that were taken "from the first line" of a posting.
While you do not tout the party line outright, the tone of Samudaya is unmistakeable. I applaud the fact that you allow Maoists to post their idiocy--we get some of that here as well--but you are as fair and balanced as FOX is liberal.
Let's not put together a big list that includes the parties needs, ok? We've had enough of the parties greedily going after "what they want." Let's instead have the parties put together a list of how they are going to do things for the benefit of Nepalis for a change.
-=blogdai
Granted lets not tout the party line or what the party needs. I would be the first to admit the parties have failed nepal and maybe just for an instance lets give the monarch a chance as well. But have we seen a roadmap how things are going to get better under the king. I do not see it. All I see is things get worse. Have we seen anyone release exactly how things are going to change for the country. No one has done this not the king, not the maoist and certainly not the parties. So why should I trust the king. Give me a reason to trust him. I have even less reason to trust him than the parties. At least with the parties I can at least vote rather being forced to accept someone through birth. We are not here to serve the king. A true King is there to serve the people. So give the people a reason to trust the king. Instead of coming out with how to strengthen the kings position lets come up with a plan to help the people. Then lets see who can best implement it. You claim that you were unable to show us the light well yur arguments seem just as misguided and the feeling is mutual. You said that you bowed out of the discussion well maybe you should come back so you can share your views. If people like you bow out of discussions then how are discussions suppose to be balanaced. As for forming opinions with the first lines it was just an observation of how similar the demands are. So I agree with you our leaders, who they may be, have failed us. So who is going to carry the responsibility now? Who but you and me. So if you feel you have a plan to make it better share it with us. That is what is needed in my mind not more restrictions in my freedoms. A true leader never has to force anyone to follow him.
Let me ask you, who did you vote for under the parties other than the old men who were already in power? Do you not have any faith in the recent call for local elections either?
I bowed out of the discussion at Samudaya only, not the entire debate. It is because respondents picked apart little clue words out of context and made their arguements. I bowed out because no one could argue effectively. I bowed out because no response to my posting made sense or even followed a logical pattern of debate. I see from your level of response that you yourself may have come over from Samudaya, is that true?
Readers, we may have unwittingly unleashed a can of worms here by inviting Samudaya posters to come over to our blog. This pattern of un-related, out-of-context arguement and nit-picking verbalism was standard fare during my time on their blog.
Your comments are always welcome, no matter what the position, but WE will not spend our time here explaining ourselves and backtracking to a remedial level just so posters can "get it." Let's keep moving.
So, the good parts: I agree that the king should layout a more specific plan--it is an excellent idea. But is this a reason for not giving him trust? When during the last 10 years did the government under Koirala or whomever ever bother with the courtesy of giving Nepal's citizens an honest plan for the future? How about a budget? How about even acknowledging anything outside of Kathmandu? Never. Just as you apply this to the King, you are also not here to serve your government, the government is here to serve you. It is amazing to me that after 5 or so months you have completely lost your faith and trust in the kings move. Where was your faith during the last 10 years of government incompetence and corruption? In fact, after a re-read of your posting, it seems that your accuracty would increase tenfold if simply replaced the word "King" with the word "Girija."
But, I digress. I promised that I would be a good host to our friends from Samudaya, but I've already started out on the wrong foot. Apologies all around. So, post away and make as little sense as you like.
-=blogdai
Mr. Blogdai,
I cannot sit still any longer. Please reconsider your invitation to allow the folks at Samudaya to post their views, without editing, on your site.
You were a part of, and may have subsequently followed our debate with these people. It took me the better part of a week to weed out the ridiculous self-absorbed comments and get down to where I could communicate with one or two sane people. Are you sure you want that for this blog?
In defense of higher standards,
Angela
Re: Samudaya
As I have said on another thread - Samudaya contains many interesting points of view - however it also contains a lot of thoughtless rant. And I mean a lot. I have considered making contributions here and there but have felt it to be wasted effort as a number of posters, as Blogdai points out, just pick 'nits', usually out of context, and aim to destroy others' arguments with meaningless waffle. As I said elsewhere - this gets very boring.
I salute all those contributers with the patience to persist with genuine arguments.
To our readers: this is the famous Angela who gave the masterful performance over at Samudaya http://samudaya.org/articles/archives/2005/06/towards_a_lasti_1.php
Give it a look.
-=blogdai
Yes, it seems to be getting tougher to keep a cool, clear head these days.
Kudos to Brit, Naagboy, Roger and all the others for calming me down and taking the high road.
-=blogdai
I am sorry to dissapoint you folks but I am not affiliated with samudaya in any way sort or form except being a visitor as I am to many other blogs. However there is a fatal flaw in your argument. You claim that your arguments are logical and most postings in samudaya nit pick over trivial words. This is a fallacy in itself as the people who are nit picking over your logic and not over your concepts alone. So how can you claim to be logical. I admit my postings are not always logical but I am open to criticism. Should you not be open to yours as well. I applaud blogdai for opening up his blog fro discussion because that is the only way we can have constructive discussions. I believe the only way we grow is by challenging our comfort zone and that is what I am hear to do. Again I do not represent any other blog including samudaya and am here as an indvidual.
Now to move on to your argument sure I could replace Girija for king in my post and it would be more accurate. However whay should i be forced to chose between one tyrant and another tyrant. At least with Girija we had hope that he would die one day and believe me fellow countrymen I have wished this in many a times. Again let me stress the parties failed us as did our old senile leaders. That is why we need new blood but do you think that is possible within the present context of Nepal? Furthermore I feel we gave up on democracy too easily. We often hear 12 years of democracy to be touted as failure and believe me they were a failure. But was 12 years really enough. Look at any other successful democratic system. It is a system that has been tinkered with and perrfected over time. So I put you this what if 12 years are just a learning process. Yes fell down but that does not mean that we have to turn back around. Do you truly believe that we are not smart enough to rule ourselves? As for losing trust in the monarchy it is something that is earned not given. What little faith I had in the monarchy following the royal massacre was squandered by the king. What kind of a country is this where the king drives one of the most expensive cars in the world while more than half his subjects are below the poverty line. You find the logic in that and I will give the monarch my trust. You contend the Royal move was the only alternative for Nepal but all that it has done is polarise the nation. It has destroyed the middle ground. Ww must all understand that any extremism is not healthy for the nation. What we need is a middle ground where we can find a consensus. So don't put your trust in the parties, I don't, but tell me how are you going to unite the country. Brute Force? So lets come up with a plan. Do not look for the answer. Solve the problem.
Well, if you're all waiting for me to say something after that, you underestimate ol' blogdai.
A thousand places to begin an argument: all leading nowhere and all making no sense.
I give to you all: "The Samudaya Standard."
-=blogdai
Dear Anon Visitor
1) Democracy will happen in Nepal. - I was going to say 'return' but I am by no means sure that you have ever really had it.
2) It is normal for any head of any state to ride around in expensive cars - it is no reason to lose faith in them.
3) I thought Girija also has following offspring. Also poorly regarded.
4) Believe me, if the maoists ever achieve control of the government youwill think both G's were angels.
the king has failed
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