Paper Priorities

6:00 PM, Newspaper Bureau.
Editor: "Get me the front page! we cant be late today, it has to go to print by 7"
Sub-ed 1: (Shouts from his cubicle) " I got all the stories sir, call a meeting we will start off the design"
Editor: (Screams) Advertisement Dept! send the template!
Random guy from the Ad Dept: "Sir 20 by 30 ad in the bottom, and one on the name of our paper"
Editor: " Arrey!!! Send the template! I dont care if there is no news on the front page also.. send the template!"

6:45 PM, Newspaper Bureau. (After a short break of tea, biscuits,  cigarettes and interesting conversation)
Editor: "Send the Template! "
Sub-ed 2: " Sir! I got the template! call a meeting we will start off the design"
Editor: (Shouts): "MEETING"!

6:50 PM, Newspaper Bureau.
Editor: "yes, what stories do we have for the front page?"
Reporter 1: "Sir, a peaceful protest in the capital turned violent after police used tear gas and lathi charge. We live in a democracy sir, the rights have been curtailed"
Reporter 2: "Sir an update on the gang-rape victim. She gave a statement!"
Reporter 3: (Crime beat) "couple of suicides and some kidnapping, No front page stuff sir"
Reporter 4: " Facebook has new application sir"
Reporter 5: " Report on Nuclear power plant, and the Russian Presidents Visit"
Reporter 6: " Cricketer retired sir"
Editor: "Oh! its already 7, We have some good stories today, nothing much to be discussed, we will put the most important three on the front page"
Sub-eds/ Reporters" "yes sir"

7:05 PM , Newspaper Bureau
Paper is sent for printing.

7:05 AM,  Some random house in the neighborhood, Coffee accompanied by Newspaper
FRONT PAGE- Top Story: "Cricketer Bids adieu" (in bold red letters, along with photos and stats)
                         Second Story: "Protest turn violent" (a small 3 column story)
                         Bottom Story: "Facebook gets a new app" (in Colour, with graphics)

Dilemma..

With the recent incidents of rape in New Delhi and other places, the internet and the media has seen an outrage of protests, debates and rallies to urge the government to do something, something drastic about this problem.

It is a good thing to see that people are engaging themselves, and are using all the media possible to curtail this evil. it is high time the government takes action to make our streets safer.
I support these protests with all my heart. I always think of a state where citizens (men, women or others) have the liberty to walk on the streets at any time of the day/night, without any fear. That is the responsibility of the Government to make sure that the citizens are safe. If I want to enjoy a casual walk in the pristine starry night, I would want to do it. The police (the government) needs to make sure I am safe, not questioned and harassed. I would not hold the police responsible if a snake bites me, or if a dog chases me. Robbers, rapists, drunken drivers, and eve teasers are what I want to be protected from.

The Government might argue, that if one needs protection from all those things, they better stay indoors. This is  a curtailment of a fundamental right to move. Do keep in mind they might suggest the same if someone is mugged in broad day light.

The protests which followed these incidents (and which follow every other incident also) , address the punishment for the crimes committed. The people feel  as the punishment is not severe enough, these incidents continue to happen. I do agree that the punishment delivered, is so late that it hardly creates an impact. The government needs to buck up on this.
But what about the kind of punishment? Capital punishment seems to be in the minds of many people. Is this really right?

I being a man, will never know the agony, pain, embarrassment or any emotion that a woman feels when she is teased, groped or raped. From the instances i have read, from the millions of instances that my friends have narrated, getting back to normal after such incidents is very tough and most of the times impossible. It permanently scars the life of a woman.

The intention behind punishing someone, is to make him realize his/her mistake. When one is sentenced to death, it might show the society what lies in store if they commit a crime. But for the culprit it might be a relief. Killing of a human is the most heinous of acts. When the law awards death penalty, aren't we stooping to the same level as the criminals? One cant differentiate "killing". If an individual does it its Murder, if a country does it its War and if "killing" is done legally its Capital Punishment.

This is an extremely delicate issue. The culprit cannot go unpunished. Personally I feel, capital punishment is not the answer. I might not even know the alternatives, as torture seems equally inhuman. Guilt, is something the law can play on. Guilt has the ability to punish a human physically and mentally. Wish it was that easy. What if the culprits have grown over guilt? which is true in many cases. As I finish this blog, my mind is still unclear. I cannot support capital punishment, but I know criminals cannot be let free..
May be, as I have been thinking about this for a long time, one day I shall write again... hopefully without a dilemma.