Voting with the Middle Finger!!!

Really, that’s what everyone was showing after they voted. Well they were not flipping the bird but were actually showing that they voted. The EC in India has now decided to blot the ink on the middle finger. The last time I voted and that too the one and only time it was the index finger that was marked. Guess the election commission also has some sense of humor. Newspapers next day flashed photos of celebrities proudly showing their middle finger anointed with the royal blue ink. Some of the snaps were hilarious.

Voting or the ability to vote is one of the cherished aspects of any country's constitution, or should I say any country that exercises democracy. It is a proof of support you show towards a certain commotion, candidate, political party, etc. I personally love to vote but being in the US does not allow me to do that. I feel that the EC should start some sort of web voting for NRIs or people away at the time of the general elections. I was saddened to see that overall voting in Mumbai was counted at only 47%. That means more than half of the people of the most populated city in India do not care of the results that the elections may churn out. That’s really sad.

Someone asked me was it the fear of the swine flu I mean H1N1 flu (sorry not allowed to say swine flu anymore)? Really? I don't think so. People have summoned up courage to go to crowded places when more dangerous acts have been witnessed by the city. I am not sure what it will take other than bollywood actors asking people to vote on television, for the people to actually go out and exercise their fundamental right.

P.S. Talking of the H1N1 flu, that huge 40oz bottle of GermX lying on my office desk does not look so crazy now :) does it?