Rant #567 (And Some Bad Poetry)

I have nothing meaningful to contribute so I shall rant. Rather weakly, too.

I noticed today with a tingling feeling all over that www.rediff.com, an otherwise excellent source of news about all things Indian, has decided to go all politically starched and straight on us. They are now publishing stuff from assorted Pakistani columnists.

In itself, this ain't so bad a thing. There are many balanced, insightful Pakistani journo-types out there who can make a point. Ayaz Amir comes to mind. Besides it is always useful to throw out an opposing point of view. You know, just to mix it up a little.

But when you start reprinting utter drivel written by an established moron and position that as an opposing opinion, a reality check might be in order.

Okay, some background. Rediff did a piece on the 1965 war between India and Pakistan. Two pieces in fact. One by an Indian strategic analyst and one by an odious, mixed-up, halfwit Paki.

I will not post the link to the Paki rant which loudly proclaimed that the Pakis won the war [Aside: Most military analysts--as opposed to jingoistic fundamentalist vapid half-literate cretins--agree that it was a pointless, short war that ended in bit of a stalemate for both sides]. Here are some excerpts from the idiot:

Ayub Khan's political strength also weakened. Like Winston Churchill, he won the war but lost the elections after the war. The US was also against Khan.

...

Nishan-E-Haider (Pakistan's highest military award) Aziz Bhatti became our hero. He died defending the lines near Lahore and became a legend. Many novels have been written on him. [All of them raging best-sellers, I'm sure -- Sougata]

Outside the Lahore radio station a post box was kept in which people would submit patriotic poetry. I wrote poetry too. A poem I wrote for the Pakistan Air Force became very popular:

Yeh hawa ke rahion/Yeh badalon ke sathion/Harfanshan Mujahidon/Apni jaan pe khel kar/Tum bane salamati/blah,blah,rot,rot

I wrote a comment on the article and sent it to Rediff. They will delete it. Because they are a rather prop-ah sort of magazine, you see. They have low tolerance for people like me.

Here's the short comment, for the record:

Aziz Bhatti -- what a funny name.

Sir, your poetry is incomprehensible, if not reprehensible. It is also indefensible (See, I can be a bad poet too!). It is also laughable. Among other things.

Sir, please give it a rest.

Rediff, I have no problem when you decide to reprint a Paki's rants. But did you *have* to get a idiot Paki? Couldn't you get a decent, rational, well-informed one? One whose head wasn't firmly stuck in the sand. Or up his own you-know-what. There do exist some such, you know.

Oh, and a note to whoever does the screening of comments: Before deleting this comment, please show it to your sainted boss or editor or whoever and ask him to pay attention to the above paragraph. It'll improve the quality of the magazine and not drive away existing eyeballs. Please do not become unselective in an effort to become balanced.