The Kite Flyers aka The Lotus Eaters

Lord Tennyson writes about the fabulous Lotus Eaters, who live on the north coast of Africa, a people that lived on the lotus which brought about happy abandonment. I wish our people would start eating the lotus as well, since they are in a constant state of abandonment as well, which unfortunately is not happy, to say the least.

The whole kite flying issue is representative of our national psyche. Here are the details, a few months ago, the Supreme Court decides that kite flying is bad for the nation and a ban was imposed on kite flying. Which in effect meant that it was illegal to manufacture kites and related stuff, as well as flying them. Suddenly somebody realized that Basant was approaching, and if we didn't celebrate that with the usual kite flying, it would spoil the whole deal. Suddenly Supreme Court says that it will be ok to fly kites for two weeks.

This is so typical of the powers that be in our land of the pure. I have the following questions

1. If kite flying is so bad, that the Supreme Court had to step in to declare it illegal, allowing it for two weeks isn't so bad? So its not the kite flying, but how long are you allowed to fly kites before it starts having the effect. And in their infinite wisdom, that period is two weeks.

2. Where does it end? This process of the judiciary stepping in to tell us what is right or wrong. What are the legislative assemblies for? They are either not representative of the people, and if they are, legislating this sort of morality is not going to last very long.

There was a little girl that died because she got in the way of a kite string, a terrible thing to happen. But instead of outlawing dangerous kite strings, we decide to put an end to kite flying. So far so good, but why this two week relaxation? The poor father has approached the court, asking the same question. Lets see what the court has to say.

So what's the solution? I think in a reasonably law abiding society, prohibiting dangerous items and only allowing people to fly kites in a designated area would work. But for us, where breaking the law is sign of stature, it won't. The implementation of the law is another thing altogether, and our law enforcement agencies are exactly the opposite of what their name suggests. They are there for the pleasure of the people in office.

Singapore as a country legislates morality or whatever passes for morality in that little island. Chewing gum is banned, its not sold anywhere. And if you are caught chewing gum, the consequences are heavy fines. So be it. What's the use of passing a law that will not be enforced? What's the point in banning kite flying, pillion riding, food at weddings, etc. when all of this will be done?

None, I am afraid.

So lets start growing lotus, and forget about the other sorrows of life. It would be the only way to go.