27th February

It Won’t Be Easy

The article talks about the US President Barack Obama’s first address to the joint session of the US Congress. The article also seconds the US President’s apprehension not to get into conservative mode which was the main reason for 1930s depression.

The President touched upon every issue ranging from climate control to healthcare and economy to foreign policy. The world is looking upon the US as to provide direction for the future especially with respect to the economic scenario and foreign policy. US has already mentioned Pakistan-Afghanistan region as a “crucial” front and the new administration has already made proactive steps in that context. According to Senator John Kerry, there is a need for intense help to the crippling civilian govt in Pakistan and the non-military aid has to triple in the coming time with a cut in military aid. The outsourcing of war on terror to Pakistan is not an option anymore after the signing of the controversial Swat Deal between Pakistan and Taliban. Obama realizes this very well. On the job front, although restrictions on outsourcing might be politically correct but such a policy would be self-destructive in the globalized world. Obama’s measures to cut the agricultural subsidies and reform America’s defense budget does bring in much needed fiscal discipline. 

However, one thing the President has to take care is to avoid the protectionist ideology which was the major reason for the Great Depression of 1930s.

Spare The Messenger

The article expresses its apprehension over the increasing threat for the media freedom in the subcontinent. The incidents over the past few years in the subcontinent mainly India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka should raise concerns among the advocators of democracy.

The article starts with the recent threat received by a TOI reporter from a lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court over the article written by the reporter on the illegal mining being carried out in the Aravallis. The incident marks the increasing intolerance over media scrutiny on the public life in the subcontinent. The problem is that more then often media has been the only pillar that has stood steady for the democratic values in the subcontinent. Extremist forces have always used violent measures against media on the name of perceived insults while the public institutions have succumbed to the wishes of such groups instead of protecting media. The situation is even acute in our neighborhood Pakistan where a reporter was killed and a Press Club was blew up by Taliban as a warning to media. In Srilanka, around 10 reporters have been killed since 2006. Government has often been using War against LTTE as a reason to put restrictions on media and forcing international media like BBC to suspend its local programs.

Media has always stood up to uphold the democratic values in the subcontinent and resist the authoritarian tendencies in politics and society. For the people concerned about the quality of democracy there is a reason to worry now.