I am a qualified c.a.working with an internationally funded ngo working in the field of HIV/AIDS. Our organisation has some projects with MSMs & transgenders also.Although I am not a technical person but whenever I have met people from these projects, I have seen the pain in their eyes. The pain of being considered "ABNORMAL". But who decides what is "ABNORMAL"? What is normal for one community can be abnormal for another. Marriage of a girl with her maternal uncle is an acceptable tradition in southern india but the same is not acceptable in the east. So what is normal!! we consider ourselves a progressive, open and tolerant nation. I was horrified to read the messages posted by so many people expressing their negative thoughts on this article. My horror is at the level of ignorance they have. I wonder how many of them really know anything about what the author has written about. The reactions are knee jerk reaction. Yes, we have the freedom to express ourselves. But as responsible human beings, is it not equally true that what when opinions are expressed, they should be well informed and deliberated ones??
RE:Amazing to know that we call ourselves a progressive nation!
by Srinivas on Sep 29, 2006 09:25 AM Permalink
Hi Maya. nice post. I agree that people should make well informed arguments and not indulge in empty rhetoric. I would like to extend your argument to your own title. What is a progressive nation according to you. According to me it is one which ensures we grow as a human race and not indulge in mere appeasement. I am a strong supporter of human equality. I don't deny that people are often unjustifiably tortured or harassed or excluded from mainsteream society. Yes, the society has these evils. Trust me this isn't the way of solving it either. About the author's perspective, i have written enough in my post which exposes the shallowness of content. I am awaiting a better and more appealing argument. I also appreciate the sensitivity you have shown towards understanding the emotions of people you have come across.
