I Owe, Ayodhya, so off of work I am...

Let me introduce you to a little city of 60,000 in India, called Ayodhya.

It is to Hindus what Mecca is to Muslims, or Jerusalem is to Jews.

And now it is a cause of nationwide panic in India.

See, about 60 years ago a lawsuit was filed, where a Hindu sought permission to make poojas (prayers) at a site that already contained a mosque. Apparently India courts move slightly faster than glaciers, because now - SIX DECADES LATER - the court is ready to announce it's verdict. (Just so you know, this is NOT the Supreme Court, so any judgment will be appealed, no matter who wins.)

India is in a panic. In 1992, the mosque that stood there was demolished by 150,000 men with crowbars, which led to nationwide rioting and more than 2,000 people dead. There is widespread fear that the same thing will re-occur, although most likely in Goa, Delhi, Mumbai, and Hydurabad.

So, my work has decided that everyone should tele-commute tomorrow and Friday, unless the government lifts the decrees against assembly, and gives the all clear.

Now, I agree that safety comes first, but I wonder if the government isn't guilty of expecting too little from its people. When a government acts like it's citizens are toddlers, waiting to throw a tantrum, doesn't that make it easy for the people to sink to the level of expectation?

Right now, I have no fear.

Tomorrow, though, I may be glad I am here alone.