Is India’s democracy its biggest strength or weakness?

This was the question put up to everyone in the event of the 26th November-29th November terrorist attack that gripped Mumbai. My friend, Smeet Thakkar probably explained this in the best way possible. This is what he had to say:

Democracy – its biggest strength; Illiterate, emotional, and gullible
public (with a herd mentality) in the electorate – Weakness

Now – they will beef up coastal security – Strength; but they will not
think of other avenues for this to happen until it happens – Weakness

That the whole world knows this was the intelligence failure of
unimaginable magnitude – Strengths (maybe not a strength… but at least
its clear what caused it); that R R Patil has the audacity to say in a
press conference “Bade shaheron mein aise ek adh incident ho jaate
hain” – Weakness

That the public will be angry and upset about it – Strength; but noone
(including me) has the balls to do anything about it – Weakness

A billion people want to make a difference – Strength; a lack of
opportunity and millions of detractors for people wanting to do so –
Weakness

A tear in our eye cause we are angry and upset – Strength; These angry
and hurtful reactions will be misdirected because of stereotypical
views – Weakness

Intelligent, patriotic, passionate and capable people (like us) who are
Indians – Strength; that so many of them are in US, Australia, UK and
other parts of the world too busy sorting out the ‘basics’ – Weakness

The armed forces – Strength; the political ‘machinery’ – Weakness

A bold, (relatively) honest media – Strength; the media still
influenced by political pressure to show and exaggerate (what little)
the Government has done – Weakness

A great film industry – Strength; the bastards will make a movie, get
lots of money, and popularity out of this And that the public will
watch such a movie – Weakness

A great cricket team – Strength; they make more money and get more
investment in their equipment, sponsorship, support and management than
any security agency – Weakness

The resolve and resilience – Strength; the fact that we allow that to be exploited time and again – Weakness

The fact that we can stand-up after falling and losing – Strength; We
are getting better at that than actually trying to win – Weakness

The intention of making something happen – Strength; the perennial problem of intention translating into outcome – Weakness

The hope of a good leader – Strength; no bloody options – Weakness

We are expressing our views – Strength; Still doing it only on Facebook – Weakness

Its a Perfect answer.

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