A Simple Quiz
Attention all: This quiz is to be completed by SPAM members and supporters only.
Ok, blogdai will make this simple, short and sweet. All you SPAM people, put down your stones for a minute and take this quiz. Blogdai will turn off the comment moderation and post your comments unedited; but, you must complete this simple quiz first. I've included the likenesses of Alexis de Tocqueville, Thomas Jefferson and, in the spirit of democratic compromise, B.P. Koirala for your inspiration. So, in front of these great democratic thinkers, answer:
1. Name one democratic concept, practice or idea.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Well, that's it. Just do that.
Since you are all probably in a big hurry to get back to destroying Kathmandu, blogdai will help you out and save you time by providing some anticipated answers that will not be accepted:
1. Kill Gyane.
2. We are going to break every window in the palace.
3. We refuse to talk to anyone.
4. Kill Manisha.
5. We want "absolute democracy."
Easy enough? Take your time, and good luck.
-=blogdai
Update: April 17. Only one person has shown a knowledge of democratic principles. That person gets an "A." Unfortunately, she is an Indologist who is possibly either British or American. No SPAM members have gotten within a mile of answering the quiz, so far. Stay tuned. -=BD
posted by blogdai @ 4/15/2006 02:38:00 PM
13 comments
13 Comments:
Excellent P.R. job. Long live Gyane and Paras (Why should I write "Kill Gyane?") Unfortunatley to the dismay of "good" P.R. people like you, tens of thousands (perhaps millions) of Nepalis know what it means to be democratic. You need time to understand why Nepal's four martyres (Char Shahids)happily died fighting against the Ranas. Your are poorly informed why and how people rebel. You are very much stuck to a "mob" theory, that has been largely discarded in the 1960s (heard about any thing about the civil rights movement, forget the Iranian or Frech revolution?) Did "char Shahids " fought for food? Did they fought for peace? It takes a bit time for you to understand why people are against Gyane and why your "mob" and "ignorant" Nepalis theory does not hold.
I have some more thoughtful questions to those who would destroy Kathmandu:
How many times should the King call for meaningful dialogue with the political parties and how many times should they refuse to talk to to him before they negotiate?
How many times should the King call for general elections as the head of the state under the present constitution before the political parties agree to participate?
What are political parties when they are unelected? Where is there political mandate to represent the people?
The King is no able politician but he is not a brutal dictator. He can choose to surround himself with buffoons from the panchayat era or buffoons from democratic oligarchy of pre 2002. Where are the political leaders who understand what democracy is more than just empty words?
If 50% of the population supports the protests and 50% of the population does not support the protests; what right do the protestors have to disrupt the every day lives of Nepali citizens? Or to destroy their livelihoods through protest? Or to cause injury and harm to them either indirectly or directly? We can change the percentages in favour of the protestors but what right do they have to disrupt other people’s lives? How can this be democratic?
If we all agree upon democracy, why this refusal to speak and preference for protest and disruption?
What do the political parties stand for? What do they believe that is different from what the King proclaims to believe?
Finally, what are our friends, the Maoists, up to whilst chaos reigns in the streets of Kathmandu?
It’s difficult to take the middle ground in conflict because everyone just ends up hating you. Good on you, Blogdai, for standing firm to your beliefs –it is more than others would dare to do.
I am probably not the only one to think that this blog post served no useful purpose whatsoever.
Bzzzt! Wrong. Failed to answer the question.
If this is all about settling some 200 year old score with the Ranas, then let's leave "democracy" out of it, ok?
-=blogdai
blogdai said...
and Bzzzt! Wrong again. Failed to answer the question.
Since you all will not stop until you achieve "absolute democracy," wouldn't it be nice if everyone knew your level of comprehension of the term? Or is this indicative of the kind of government you will lead: Plunge head-long in your emotions and don't worry about substance, it's merely syntax, right?
I mean, if we are going to fall down and worship your new "democracy" shouldn't it contain a few democratic elements?
Do you know any? Answer the question!
-=blogdai
9:26 AM, April 16, 2006
The latest news i have from Nepal is that the Kathmandu Valley is ghosting at the moment.
The political parties have ordered all shops, schools, tranportation to cease immediately. Everything has come to a stand still.
If you want to go any where at the moment you need to walk.
The streets of Kathmandu are unsafe to walk despite the end of the curfew and protests have spread all around the valley to villages. Village protests are largely peaceful but violence continues to reign on the streets of Patan, Jawalakhel and Kathmandu. Protests have even hit the Thamel area.
Doctors, Lawyers, Tourist workers, Bankers, Civil Servants, Journalists, Students, Shop keepers and people of all trades, all castes and professions in society have joined the protests. Even school children have been protesting on the streets for peace.
I am under no illusion, this free for all demonstrations is not an incication of support for the political parties but support for peace and democracy. The continued protests are an indication not just that the people are angry with the King but that the people are angry with a lack of resolution to the problems in Nepal and this applies in equal measure to the political parties.
I have heard from a friend in Patan that this situation is likely to continue for at least one more week. My friend also tells me that the protests are growing in size and intensity and popularity.
The general impression i get from Nepal is that a lot of people are locked away indoors or sitting around doing nothing -hoping that the King and political parties will talk so that they can get back to their daily lives.
As a thief of wisdom, I use the following quote from Mahatma Gandhi to make my point: "What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy?"
Where is our Gandhi?
If this free-for-all actually DOES turn into a referendum angainst the idiocy of both the Alliance and King and someone who actually KNOWs a thing or two about freedom and democracy steps up; then THAT'S THE KIND OF PROTEST I COULD SUPPORT.
Unfortunately, the little boy tyrants running the streets continue to foul their own nest: their latest cry is "stop paying taxes." Real smart. Any ideas on how they would start to re-collect them should they win the day?
Can't tell that to a crowd of angry little boys, though. I nominate Gagan Thapa for tax collector under the new administration.
-=blogdai
2. alliance with the maoists could have appeared a way to ' control' them, in reality it gave way to more chaos and pople interested in just violence.
There is no such thing as the people, possibly Tony Blair and George Bush are more hated than KG, but I don't think the name of democracy has been used to bring them down....
Thanks for your blog, dai. i look forward to reading your views on one of my favorite places, Nepal. i had often wondered during my 5 months there last year if the students ever really studied, or just threw bricks all day.
democratic concepts?
one person, one vote
freedom of speech
freedom of press
and i think you could include
right to pursue happiness
freedom to practice religion
I love Robbie Williams. But it’s not because of his music, it’s because of his idiosyncratic views and behaviors. He once said that he couldn’t talk for a minute without contradicting himself and how true he was. I for one, think, you fall in that same category, Blogdai. I’m a new visitor to your site, and though brash, I find your views very well delivered indeed. But the problem with you is that you contradict yourself so often. One moment you’re acting as though you’re a hardcore royalist and the next moment you’re cursing King G. You say people may one day accept the crown prince as their king and it’s you again who says Killer P. What is it Blogdai, afraid to confess that you’re a royalist? You might not know it, but you’re turning into a big hypocrite, unless of course, the legendary Blogdai happens to be, well, a collection of Blogdais or you’re suffering from the worst case of split personality.
Bzzt! Sorry. Flattery will get you everywhere here on blogdai, but you didn't answere the question.
Sirensong! At last, an attempt to define democracy! But blogdai fears this answer is coming from a learned thinker, not a SPAM activist, as was our requirement. But, thank you anyway, Siren..
-=blogdai
"Democracy: the worst possible form of government - unless you count all the other ones." - Churchill
Wow, I got called a "learned thinker"? A nice change for me on the Net. Thanks, Dai!
Personally, I would love to see real democracy while retaining some role for the monarchy and all the better parts of your traditions. Of course, I have romantic notions - I am a Yank and the closest thing we have to a royal palace is Graceland.
Actually, I get kind of a regal feeling whenever I see Wayne Newton.
-=blogdai
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