Democracy, Dictatorship and Superman

A heated discussion was going on between the three sitting next to our table. They looked like the top executives of some company enjoying a small break. My friends were busy watching the TV that was playing some movie that I was not interested in. So I decided to take pleasure in overhearing the conversation taking place next to me.

"What we need is a dictator!",claimed the first speaker. "Not one like Hitler but a benevolent dictator. The History of India speaks of Golden Ages when the land was ruled by a King. The sole power who will rule the land. Not a mess like the one we are in now with the so called democratic government. The minority is suppressed, a lot of people have too much power and they do not know how to use it and its all a khichdi. A khichdi that is causing some severe indigestion", the speaker seemed to be too excited.

"You are looking it at the wrong way", countered the second person."If a dictator can be benevolent, why cannot the present system be made better. Citizens of the nation can have their say and there is a sense of equality around. History speaks of a number of dictators that the word itself has become synonymous to autocracy, oppression and tyranny. I believe that apathy can be a root cause for the failure of the system. People curse the system not realizing that they themselves are the system. No one single person is responsible for any kind of mess. That would be a situation in case of a dictator."

The third person, who looked the senior most amongst them, then said,"Maybe we should think of a system that has the merits of having a dictator and a democratic government. A balance between the two." A perfect answer, as expected from a man of his position. Neither there nor here.

But it set me thinking. A balance between the two. I stared at the TV screen with my mind trying to find a way out. And at the same time the answer came in front of me.

The lady in the movie (guess she was some reporter) was writing an article titled 'Why the world needs Superman'.

A balance between the two. A highly unrealistic situation. But with a highly realistic solution.

Superheroes like Superman can exist in any kind of government and bash up the bad and help the poor. There is always Batman to save Gotham city. In some terms, they are the dictators of the land. The government is for the people but it is run by Superman. He cannot be controlled by anyone but he controls the system. There is always the fear of the ---man around. But in the end people love them because they are good and right.

I laughed at this thought. The debate is to continue for a long time. And the answers provided by Marvel Comics are not possible. Back to square one.

-prmdbk

Half Full or Half empty?

The interview was monotonous as usual. The same questions were being asked and the same answers were being given. The job was a challenging one and choosing a suitable person was even more challenging.

'Nothing different in this Candidate. No clear winners so far.'thought the Interviewer. He was almost done with his questions. The only one remaining was the question that his Partner used to ask. His Partner,who was absent today, insisted on asking the question every time for some crazy reason and so he had decided not to break the routine.

'You see the glass of water on the table. Describe it to me.'he asked and waited for the answer that could be found in a third standard textbook.

'It is half empty.'came the reply to the surprise of the Interviewer. He raised an eyebrow and looked carefully at the Candidate. This person looked promising than the others in some aspects but this reply of his clearly threw him out of the race. For the first time in his life as an Interviewer, this stupid question had worked. No point in continuing with the Candidate . The Interviewer crossed away the name of the Candidate from the list.

'Before ending our interaction, would you like to ask anything?' he asked.

'Yes,sir. I would like to know why the last question was asked?'

Dumbo. He has not even read the stories. Half full, you are an optimist. Half empty, you are a pessimist - you are thrown out.

Patiently, The Interviewer explained the reason to the Candidate.The Candidate listened and then replied.

'Sir, this is what I thought when I gave the answer. When I say half empty, I am looking into the empty space above , the space that could be filled up. There is always room for improvement. There is always an upper level to be reached. I believe that a person who says it is half full is happy with what he has though he can have more. He has no aims and would like to exist with half a glass of water than a full one.'

The Candidate got the job. For the Interviewer, the question was no longer stupid. For the Candidate, presence of mind had worked and ignorance had turned out to be bliss. Else he would have replied that the glass was half full.

-prmdbk

Uneasy lies...

The kingdom was under threat. The enemy was mighty and huge...
The King was a sensible man.

The most sensible thing to do was to surrender. To accept the enemy. To avoid bloodshed. To protect his people from the pains of the war. The enemy was known to be righteous. They would respect his people and not enslave them. It was ambition that drove them. It was the hunger for power that drove them. He could be cursed for his cowardice. Or would he be praised for his care?

The most sensible thing to do was to fight. He had faith in his men. He had a legacy to live up to. The Royal Family was known to be the Protector of the Land from times unknown. He could not give away the power. He could not give away the respect the Family name had earned over the years. He could be cursed for the war. Or would he be praised for his bravery?

He could live a slave or die a master.


He was a leader.
A leader makes no sensible decisions. He makes the right decisions....

Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown

-prmdbk

The Window

There's nothing between me and the peak of the mountain. The snow covered pure white tops that seem to be embracing divinity. To get there would be a great feeling...

There's something between me and the world outside. Something stops me from going out and walking to the top. I know that it is cold outside. Its snowing. And the walk is not an easy task. Once up there I can simply close my eyes, tilt my head heavenwards and feel the cold wind against me trying to blow me away.

It cannot blow me away. The way up was rough and it has made me tough enough that I stand there as if on a rocky pedestal.

I would like to enjoy that feeling. But something stops me. Crystal clear water droplets are visible hanging in air as if from an invisible thread. They seem to be trickling down. But the scene in front of me is so clear that these droplets make me aware of something i am uncertain of. Something in between that I must unlock. Something I must open.

The feeling out there would be great. But how do i get it........


Based on the background image of my blog spot

-prmdbk

Dreams

Dreamzzzzzzz...
They make you wander with no one to stop you ...
like the free wind

They give you reason to wander....
to blow to the top of the mountain....
towards the endless sky.......

Close your eyes...
you ll feel the blowing wind
Close your eyes...
you ll see beautiful dreams.

-prmdbk