Are we becoming a “ self certifying” community

                I think Shoaib Akhthar is wrong. When he says “Sachin and Dravid are not match winners”, He is categorically wrong. Sachin has played more one day internationals than anybody in the history of the game and statistically he has won more man of the matches in one day cricket. Rahul Dravid has been the wall of Indian cricket for so long and has saved many more matches than probably shoaib has ever played. So, Shoaib is statistically wrong as well.

                But, is not greatness and match winners’ relative statements? And can relative statements be quantified absolutely? It is always easy to defend anything philosophically, is it not? But, the fact of the matter is, even if Shoaib’s statement is proven wrong, why are we getting angry? Shoiab Akthar has the freedom to think, to say whatever he feels in his mind, Or to put it in a politically correct term, Shoaib Akthar has the “right” to speak what goes through his mind.

                Even if Shoaib says Sachin does not know to play cricket, I don’t mind! Why should I? One, he has every right to say what he wants to say and two, that his saying in no way demeans Sachin as a cricketer. Sachin, was, is and will always be a great cricketer, no matter what X or Y or Z thinks about it.

                We as a community have misplaced the words freedom and right and are searching for it in the wrong place. If I don’t have the right to say who according to me, is a great cricketer; what “right” are we talking about, when we talk about human rights and freedom of speech? Are there any more rights left, if I don’t have the freedom to tell that Ajit Agarkar is India’s best fast bowler and the bottom line is I have not hurt anybody. I really don’t think Sachin and Dravid will be hurt by Shoaib’s statements.

                Ah, we have become a “self certifying” community. As a country we think, whatever we do is always right and sadly we also think whatever the other person says is always wrong.  Let us be always right, and let others be always wrong. But, there is a way to treat the people who were wrong and banning the book release function is definitely not the way to do it.  Only if we respect others, we will be respected!