MORAL POLICE???????

So what IS this new buzz, a MORALE brigade? Who are these people and more importantly what are they trying to achieve.
Once more they raise their saffron bandaged heads to create a ruckus about another "immoral" act, the one where Richard Gere gave Shilpa Shetty a peck on her cheek. They claim the act to be un-indian. EXCUSE ME! First of all there is a HUGE difference between a kiss and a friendly peck on the cheek and secondly since when has kissing become "un-indian". Oh wait, a kiss out of wedlock is un-indian, so thats what it is. But what about the filthy stares indian men give women on the street or the sly pinches in a crowded bus, that is perfectly indian now is it?
Are these groups only out to attract publicity or do they actually believe in these warped sense of values they fight for? Do these groups really believe that India was and is a holy country where this archaic value system needs to be reinforced?
So who are these democratic offenders who call themselves the "moral brigade"
At the forefront is the Shiv Sena who are mostly known for their attack on V-Day, claiming it is western culture creeping into India. So what if people choose to follow a certain tradition that has its roots in western culture. What are the Indian traditional celebrations, Raksha-Bandhan (which promotes respect a sister should show for her brother), which i feel is nonsense. In this age of women's equality why should we still celebrate a festival where the sister is made to respect and sometimes worship her brothers. And by tying a stupid thread on his hand pledges her undying devotion to him as a sister. I agree V-Day has been commercialised and taken advantage of by greeting card and flower retailers but that shouldnt call for a violent attack on the couples that want to celebrate the occasion.
And then tagging along in the saffron brigade is the BJP and their youth groups. And its always about indians aping our western counterparts. Why dont we stop using fridges and stoves and mixers and microwaves and cellphones? Why dont we go back to cooking over coal fires and making masalas with stone grinders? Isn't this how our ancestors used to live, and aren't all these gadgets also aping the west. What are we trying to potray to the world? That indians are chaste, pure and holy beings? PUHLEASE. Why dont we leave these things to rest and use our valuable and energetic youth to be part of groups that are more positive, like help for the poor, sick and illiterate.
The more you try to control and suppress people and ways they can express emotions, the more it will start turning up behind closed doors and that could get messy. I think most people have a certain sense of public ettiquette and you wont find anything more than a peck on the cheek or holding of hands in public. As one of the largest democracys in the world today let us uphold this freedom that we enjoy by, not misusing it and not suppressing those who are using it.
LIVE AND LET LIVE!!!!