Quotable Quote

When I was a young, I read this from Kipling and somehow it stuck a chord in me.

Just yesterday, while reading a book before bedtime, I read the quote again in the book and I am putting it here for posterity:-

If:

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or, walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

I think Kipling is talking about equanimity here. I may never reach upto the high benchmark he is talking about. But, from now, atleast I shall die trying....

Section 377

First of all, I do not know if I should write anything about the recent Delhi HC ruling on this subject.

I have this dilemma becos after almost few days of reading so much in the newspapers and watching news channels, I still do not have a definitive opinion on this issue.

While on the one hand, I welcome this ruling becos the majority (which I presume to be straight) can not castigate GLBT becos they happen to be a fringe minority. Moreover what happens between two adults, if it is not coerced, is none of the 3rd persons business. If being a Gay is a crime, so is adultery. Why no discussions on that? Also, I do not see any reason for us to follow some old archic laws which were thrust upon us by the British. And remember, Britain has already found it irrelevant and moved far far ahead.

Having said that, I do have some reservations on this. While the court have only decriminalised it, so that a fringe minority can live without fear, I do not think we need to go gaga over this judgement, because at the end of the day, it is still against human nature. Some pro-activists quote from ancient texts that mention about homosexuality to bolster their case. I do not understand this point of referring to ancient texts only to suit ones purpose and abhor it at all other times. Also, we need to bear in mind homosexuality is also found to be an effective carrier of AIDS & HIV, to control which the Govt is spending huge resources in terms of finance and education.

Also, to think that society will start looking at Gays differently becos of this one single judgement seems a little too far fetched to me. In the best scenario, this has only released them from the clutches of a draconian law and India still has a long way to go before socieities start looking at them without a jaundiced eye.

That brings to my mind, the constant stories we hear about honour killings becos the bride and the groom are from different castes & communities. I am waiting to see how we react to same sex marriages, in future.

The die has been cast.