Dear Alochok Cyrus
I do agree with you about the right to talk and the importance of talk. After all it's what I do all the time!
But I have to say that there are different types of `talk' and the writer should have described better the type of talk he objects to.
I wouldn't argue that we have some of the best talk in the world.
But we also have some – well a lot of – the worst talk in the world too.
We have a lot of talk that is simply circular argument constructed to support a pack of lies which allows jerks and thieves –
1. to make themselves feel important
2. provides protection from logic and law
3. allows them to steal in private while smiling in public
4. ensures that a huge swathe of educated people are excluded from politics
5. to play the devil's favourite trick of timewasting
6. and help the devil's greatest revenge by misguiding the unlearned
I'm trying to be civilized here but I'm doing it just for show.
Say all you want about discourse in other countries – in those countries talkers are accountable, challenged, articulate.
And above all, irrespective of how wrong they may be, they are sincere.
In Bangladesh our talkers are unaccountable, unchallenged, inarticulate and above all insincere. Beyond some editors, activists and neutrals – the quality of discourse is the purest form of crap I have ever seen. And yes - I am talking about politicians. And no - there is no comfort in seeking our similar crap in Pakistan of India.
When an MP says he would like to explain himself by telling a story and his opponent listens with a smile
… then replies with a story of his own – which the first dog listens to also with a smile…
And their allies and uneducated audiences measure the quality of their stories instead of the quality of their policies…
`Ami chotto ekta golpo diye udhoron dhithe chai....'
`Amader desh ekta kotha ache na...'
`Ami kewer nam bolthe chai na…'
Political discourse in Bangladesh between politicians is FILTHY VOMIT.
Watch again. Out of every 100 hours – 99 hours is garbage and maybe an hour is on actual policy.
Or why not visit the local city unit or AL of BNP in Toronto, London, New York, Paris, Frankfurt, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Kuwait, Jeddah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Tokyo……
And see what these fools spend their time talking about and how they talk…
It's so disgusting that it cannot be described… Which is why no one ever talks about it… No one!
And politicians encourage this, sponsor this and need this… Disgusting…
Ezajur Rahman
Kuwait
--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, Cyrus <thoughtocrat@...> wrote:
>
> It's sad that Mr. Shamsher Chowdhury finds our communication skills "unproductive", while sociologically speaking, our ability to talk, to express ourselves, have turned the Bengali civilization as one of the most intellectually advanced and creative civilizations in world history. He should do a little more research to see how these "talks" are fundamental to a vibrant democracy, and look up the word "discourse" in the dictionary. We talk because we have opinions, ability to think and analyze, to debate, engage others, and explain our points through personal anecdotes. Mindless slaves don't talk. They listen, obey and do the chores. If Mr. Chowdhury finds our "talking" problematic, he should watch the U.S. Congressional session, British Parliament, the Indian Parliament, or politicians from the other countries talk....talk...talk...talk....pause...talk....
>
> Talking is not the problem, it's what we do after the discourse is!
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Ezajur Rahman <ezajur.rahman@...>
> To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Tuesday, June 2, 2009 9:00:31 AM
> Subject: [ALOCHONA] Let us stop being 'talkative'
>
>
>
>
>
> Let us stop being ‘talkative’
> I have often wondered as to why we talk more than others. In my assessment it is due to the fact that most Bengalis are not capable of coming straight to the point. It is cultural and is embedded in our nature, writes Shamsher Chowdhury
> Â
> http://www.newagebd .com/2009/ jun/02/oped. html
> Â
>
> IT SEEMS like the entire nation is talking. People belonging to all sections of society are talking day and night. They are talking over their heads, at cross purposes, inside the house, on the streets, at funerals, in sombre religious gatherings so on and so forth. Indeed without talking there could be no growth of a healthy society. It is one of the major tools for proactive communication at all levels of society.
> Â Â Â But it is my impression that most Bengalis talk too much. To this day I fail to understand as to what is the purpose of all these talk-shows? I do not think it has so far served any meaningful purpose for the people and the country except for help building up the profiles of some men and women of civil society and variety of professionals.
>    I know a number of former senior civil servants of the government and heads of some government corporate bodies that have not been able to shed off this old habit of talking. They are now talking all the time at talk shows, seminars, workshops, etc. since they no longer have this opportunity of talking for hours in numerous meetings that often lasted anywhere between two to four hours at a stretch when they were in active service. It would be interesting to see as to how many hours in a day are lost in government offices in meetings and conferences. More man hours are lost in talking than engaging oneself in ‘real work’. I say why not make a survey of the whole matter to ascertain how much of productive and valuable time is lost due to ‘talking’.
> Â Â Â You could begin with the Bangladesh secretariat. However, this is not to say that you do not need to talk a lot in some professions like teaching. In fact it is the other way round. The politicians too sometimes need to talk more than others while addressing a public meeting every now and then. However, there too you will find that there has been a downward swing in quality and content like in every other sphere of our work and profession.
> Â Â Â The other objection I have against too much talking is that more often than not it is either packed with misinformation or straight lies. Our politicians lead the way in this respect. Their talks are often full of lies and deception. Just consider how spokesman after spokesman of the government continually talk to the media about their high commitment to democracy and democratic practices yet most of its actions to date are stage managed and dictatorial in nature. A classic example is its summersault in connection with the investigations into the February 25-26 rebellion at the Bangladesh Rifles headquarters.
> Â Â Â I am sorry to say that this business of mobile telephones has also further complicated the scenario. This is not to say that it has no real purpose as such. As a matter of fact it has and rightly so become one of the most important tools of people to people communication for better and faster business communication including emergency communication between families and individuals. But I must admit that it irritates me most when I see people crossing roads on busy streets and while driving cars talking over mobile phones posing a great danger to their own lives and others. The other day, a young man while talking over phone missed getting hit by my car by inches. Yet scarier is the sight when a motor cycle rider is holding the steering by one hand and talking over his phone with the other while driving. One of the most common sights is young men and women talking to each other over mobile telephones throughout day and night particularly during the
> night when the applicable rates of charges and the duration per call are either free or greatly reduced.
> Â Â Â I have often wondered as to why we talk more than others. In my assessment it is due to the fact that most Bengalis are not capable of coming straight to the point. It is cultural and is embedded in our nature.
>    It is most pronounced in official meetings. It is mostly due to the fact that most of the participants love to punch in innumerable personal anecdotes that result in the ‘extra talking’ and loss of valuable time. Besides often discussions go beyond declared and confirmed agenda.
> Â Â Â I have stopped attending cultural functions or seminars or even workshops whether sponsored privately or by the government where the participants and speakers are gleefully giving long speeches and making deliberations way beyond the timeslot allotted for him/her. This is clearly telling upon the spirit, enthusiasm and patience of the audience present. At times I find this annoying.
> Â Â Â I believe one of the impediments to our progress amongst others is this business of talking too much and that too more of nonsense than sense. On the other hand, we are vulnerable of saying the wrong thing at wrong places and at inappropriate time.
> Â Â Â Things are so bad that I am petrified of talking to anyone. It is high time that this culture of our talking became more rational and productive.
> Â
>
> ________________________________
>
------------------------------------
[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@egroups.comYahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alochona/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alochona/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:alochona-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:alochona-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
alochona-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/