Enough is Enough

Enough is ENOUGH
It seems to be a night without end. More so because its being played out in 4 camera angles on every TV channel.
Its Die Hard 4, if it were not so tragic.
From Day 1, all I have been filled with is a seething sense of rage. I sit like many of us with my fists clenched , and no where to go. I can imagine the politicians pouting and preening before the mirror , practicing the perfect sound byte for the cameras. This is not the usual Priya, sanguine and optimistic. Like many of us though, I am filled with helplessness watching tragedy unfold, but also a growing sense that we need to do something about it this time. But what , but what ? But we must .
Lets put our heads together . Not just vote . We need to do more. I refuse to be Collateral Damage .Or let my fellow Indian or overseas guest be Collateral Damage either .
There are people dead , there are people who were minding their business who suffered and died agonizingly. Our brave forces went in and did the clean up for the mess that the system created . They did it with their duty . And what is your duty , Mr Neta. To us ? To your caste ? To your bulging wallet ? But people DIED. I am sure it didn’t stop our politicians chewing on high energy dry fruit , drinking a glass of milk , and ensuring their white clothes were starched and ironed to perfection . So yes- maybe we as the public need our whipping boys, but hey you Neta in the crisp cotton, walk right up . You'll do .
Your sacrificial lambs were the police , the firemen, the RAF , the NSG , the commuters at CST who went in and took what you should have . Responsibility for being an Indian citizen. It does not always come with a bullet in your back, though .. For them , it did.

Who takes responsibility for this ? Lets find you excuses, Mr Neta . Poor ones. For example, do you want Taj and Oberoi Trident, to admit to a security failure? They pay the taxes , dammit , they deserve to be safe, not to ensure security. But they did what the Netas didn’t. Put their neck out , saved people, ensured sanity , and stood their ground. A Taj GM did his job, handling his team , frightened customers, in a burning building at siege. He did his duty with all his heart when his own heart was breaking . While his wife and 2 kids burnt to death in the most agonizing way possible.
And where were you ?
A frightened woman who gave birth at the Camas and Ableless Hospital between explosions , talks about her son coming into a loud world filled with blasts and mayhem, taking his first breath in his new world with not a sound or cry. When he grows up , she whispers , I will tell him he is made of steel.
I close my eyes - that statement just tears me up .
And where were the political might , the systems , the awareness that could have avoided this horrendous, catastrophic situation ? Staying indoors. Come right out , now that it is nearly over , you cowards and useless flotsam. We have no use for you anymore.
I have anger at against the terrorists who tore us apart for the last three days. Helpless knotted rage. But I have even more anger and rage against the politicians, the system and the in-fighting , posturing of this waste of DNA , the politicians, who not only weakened our system , brought us to our knees , but colluded to ensure we stayed there.
Wear the black arm band today .
We have a lot more than the helpless , the dead , the injured and bereft to mourn