Some serious crap... for a change

It happened to me the other day. Speeding with a rundown scooter off into the sunset, i saw a familiar traffic signal. It was one of the inconspicuous ones, which blink on and people pass on under it, unaffected. Seeing the signal, I revved to full glory and was about to pass when I noticed the traffic guard, giving me the extremely appalled look. i just about managed to hit the brakes and slowly shuffled back into the waiting traffic. If it was any consolation, I had a scarf around my face which protected my identity from further tarnish. The others looked down on me with the expression of "Fie! Shame on thee!" I wished I could give people the "Boo me??? Boo you!!! You do it everyday too, I was merely the unlucky duck for today!"

It was then that it struck me. We point fingers at politicians, branding them corrupt. What about us, Each one of us? How many of us have obtained our driving license in the legal manner? A friend of mine once joked, that he kept a hundred rupee note on the dashboard while driving, expecting to be caught as he was bound to break a traffic rule. It didn't strike him that if he drove carefully, he wouldn't be necessary. But oh dear me! Wouldn't that be uncool now? Bribing peons for proxy attendance at college, visiting illegal food joints, driving without license, getting jobs through wrong means, we have been through it all.

I was visiting a sister of mine, who took me out on a drive in the city. She waited at a signal when she could have ignored and passed under it. I thought, finally! A worthy citizen. Then, she turned to me to apologize for waiting. She felt embarrassed for doing the right thing! Is this what we have been reduced to? We do not mind partying late night, but it hurts the ego to participate in a debate, or even worse, to read the newspaper everyday. It is a style statement to be ignorant of everyday affairs. I see stuck up snobs saying, 'I don't know, ya!' And then peals of laughter follow, while the 'geek' is unappreciated for knowing and doing the right thing.

It is true that corruption begins at grassroot level. Let's face it. If we didn't start the practice of giving, there would be no takers. We are responsible for this practice and instead of making amends, we turn and point towards the next person. Corruption is not necessarily big issues like foeticide, forgery and scams. Innumerable minor bribery transactions take place every minute. We rank 57th in terms of corruption out of 179 countries. What does this spell for us? We have radio stations blaring out 'Lokpal' in the most melodramatic fashions. Facebook statuses keep updating on the same issue. We have Anna Hazare fasting unto death for Lokpal. But does it change anything? The everyday unlawful transactions will continue to take place. The change will occur when each one of us wakes up to the issue, recognizes the true essence of a corruption free world and works towards it. But, after all, man is an opportunist, We go by the motto, strike while the iron is hot... not live and let live. that is a thing of the past.