tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3112258799568696095.post9015811488139895549..comments2024-03-06T13:50:29.718+05:30Comments on E's flat, ah's flat too: The bridge thingRahul Siddharthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04809667965184094636noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3112258799568696095.post-51680152311315797112007-09-19T23:46:00.000+05:302007-09-19T23:46:00.000+05:30Szerelem -- indeed one can't debate with the BJP-t...Szerelem -- indeed one can't debate with the BJP-types, but there are fence-sitters who may be swayed. But in this case, as I said, I think it's better to focus the debate on other issues.<BR/><BR/>Anonymous -- nice comment, deserves to be a posting of its own.Rahul Siddharthanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04809667965184094636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3112258799568696095.post-10945814092268696402007-09-19T18:52:00.000+05:302007-09-19T18:52:00.000+05:30km:not so prescient - it's the bridge under troubl...km:<BR/>not so prescient - it's the bridge under troubled waters.<BR/><BR/>- tr<BR/>who's feeling happy no one's ever sent him any such email till date.Tabula Rasahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16358094860426062297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3112258799568696095.post-7482015209448680642007-09-19T18:27:00.000+05:302007-09-19T18:27:00.000+05:30Obviously lost in the brouhaha is the fact that th...Obviously lost in the brouhaha is the fact that the conflict over the Sethusamudram project - whether or not to go ahead with it - is a political one. It is a scientific one only to the extent that "science" is used incorrectly by one side or the other in this conflict. In that case, the scientific community can get involved - but only to point out that "science" is being used incorrectly. Otherwise, there is no call for the science community to get involved. (As individual citizens, obviously all, including scientists can have opinions.)<BR/><BR/>If those opposed to the project on religious grounds had simply said that the Ramar Sethu has religious significance for them (and many others in the country) and ought not to be tampered with on account of that, then I would view the claim sympathetically. Those who are not religious themselves may never understand fully what it means to be religious, but that does not mean that we can simply dismiss their beliefs. We are, after all, a democracy. As Rahul notes, religion does mean a lot to many people in our country.<BR/><BR/>Two things bother me about this issue. On the "religious" side, those using science to support their arguments better note that you cannot pick and choose what you want to believe in science. You cannot just use "science" when it happens to support your position and discard it when it does not. Even less excusable is the wrong use of science. To that extent, I think the people who brought the current court case and phrased their arguments invoking "history" and "science" really cannot complain. They asked for trouble and got it.<BR/><BR/>On the "secular" side - which is most of the indian blogosphere - the contempt of such people for religion (esp. the Hindu variant) is palpable. That is fine, but the question is what happens when political decisions hinge on religious beliefs like in the present case. Most bloggers seem to argue that religious beliefs should play no role in making political decisions. In my opinion, this amounts to disrespecting millions of our countrymen/women. It is a position which is deeply anti-democratic and something I find disturbing. [After all, the religious also pay taxes and this project is going to come out of taxes. They might as well ask why they should support a project which runs roughshod over their cherished beliefs, no matter how "silly" it sounds to others. This is not to say that the religion ought to be given a veto, just that in a democracy, these things also should be given due consideration.]Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3112258799568696095.post-41876721745237529932007-09-19T15:06:00.000+05:302007-09-19T15:06:00.000+05:30Mountain out of a molehill no? Though I do agree w...Mountain out of a molehill no? <BR/>Though I do agree with you that the ASI should have treaded a bit more carefully if only to avoid provoking the loony types. <BR/><BR/>Questionable though if there can ever be a reasonably scientific debate about such issues don't you think? The BJP/VHP sorts I'd venture to guess would totally evade the debate and focus on the mythological/religious aspect of it....and probably get enough mileage and support for that....Szerelemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17911190230851186924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3112258799568696095.post-21221813529907836612007-09-19T10:44:00.000+05:302007-09-19T10:44:00.000+05:30If the Vanara Sena did it, then maybe we can all a...If the Vanara Sena did it, then maybe we can all agree that it wasn't man-made, and then change the subject?Rahul Siddharthanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04809667965184094636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3112258799568696095.post-23718362634714029692007-09-19T07:09:00.000+05:302007-09-19T07:09:00.000+05:30Led zeppelin were so prescient. Just where is the ...Led zeppelin were so prescient. Just where is the confounded bridge?<BR/><BR/>//I routinely block people who forward me that email which has "proof" that this bridge was constructed by the monkeys.kmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16040339235134145847noreply@blogger.com