Is this really patriotism?

Sometimes I wonder are we a nation of true patriots or just a bunch of hypocrite hooligans who have to make a huge hue and cry over every small mole. We mince no words or waste no time in making yesterday’s heroes (or heroines) into today’s villains-all in the name of nationalism. So when Narayana Murthy plays an instrumental rendition of the national anthem instead of an actual choir in the presence of the Prez, he is immediately taken from the highest pedestal and thrown into the deepest abyss. While I admit his reason-that he didn’t want to “embarrass” his foreign interns was unbecoming and completely foreign to his character, the strong reactions from different quarters left me…. well…. amused.How soon we forget the past…no longer he is the golden boy who put India in the world map with Infosys, or the man who made quite a name for himself in India and abroad and who despite all the corporate success still went home to his wife and family for a humble dinner of sambhar and ice. But because of this mistake he is soon regarded as just another arrogant businessman!! People definitely have a short memory as another golden boy-Sachin Tendulkar found out. The poor fellow would never have thought that cutting a tri color cake on his 35th birthday would add on to the pile of wrath he is already facing for the sorry performance in the WC. The episode truly created some noise, the same people who once gave him demi-god status wanted to punish him severely.And then there is the sorry (or more likely Sari) episode of Mandira Bedi. The lady surely has a knack for creating news with her clothes. Last time it was her noodle straps which did the talking, this time her very “controversial” sari has put her in trouble. How could she have the nerve or the audacity to wear a sari with the tri color placed on the feet? What a sacrilege! C’ mon people it was perhaps a mere fashion faux pass, not a criminal offence for which she has to be hanged.I might’ve provoked some ire for this blog but unlike some people I don’t care patriotism in my sleeve but in m heart. And one question for all the (passionate?) patriots shouldn’t we all concentrate on various “real” issues cropping up, rather than making mountains out of molehills. Otherwise we’ll surely become a country where people just make noise without any vision or mission.