“ARE YOU A PAKISTANI TERRORIST ?”
“CAN’T YOU SPARE 52 SECONDS FOR YOUR COUNTRY ?”
“WHAT KIND OF INDIAN ARE YOU ?”
These are some sentences used by some people in the cinema hall towards the people who
didn’t stand up during the national anthem before the movie.
I’ve been seeing many news clippings where people are harassed, abused, bullied and beaten
up because they were not standing during the national anthem in the cinemas. I have asked
many people regarding their inclination on the subject, most of them replied they only stand to
avoid any kind of conflict which I think is okay from their point of view because we live in a country
where some people think they have the right to moral police others.
But what I think is, is it really patriotism or just fear that someone might pick on you if you don’t?
It is the question which everyone must ask themselves. If you truly believe that standing up is your
way of showing love to the country, then it is well and good. But if you think you are just standing
because everyone is, just remember the fact that you are acting. I think it is better if you sit down,
at least your legs don’t hurt.
As far as I know there is presently no law which says that a person has to stand during the national
anthem. According to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, it is a punishable
offense if a person intentionally prevents or disturbs the assembly which is singing the national
anthem. Also according to Article 51-A, it is a citizen’s duty to abide by the Constitution and
respect its ideals and institutions, the national flag and the national anthem.
But what constitutes respect? Nowhere I've seen that respect means standing up. Google
defines respect as “a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their
abilities, qualities, or achievements.” Standing up is just a form of respect. If a person doesn’t
stand up it doesn’t mean he is disrespecting the nation nor does it make him less of a patriot.
I don’t think we need these regular tests to prove ourselves as patriots. Patriotism is something
which one must feel from within, it cannot be forced onto people.
To all the people who believe that standing up during the national anthem is your way of showing
love for your country, all I want to say is like you, even others have their own way of showing love
for their country. It is not that they are wrong, they are just different.
-P05eid0n
Comments
Post a Comment