| |
|
|
QUAINT PROTESTS
By : M.R.Sethi
Right from the time
when the defiant Adam and Eve had to leave heaven as they had
protested against the authority of God by eating the forbidden
fruit, protest has come to man more easily than compromise.
Over the ages, however, man has evolved newer and newer methods of
protesting against something he does not like. Many
environmentalists have been protesting against the piling of nuclear
arms by the super powers. But a few years ago some women of Germany
took out a procession to raise their voice against the nuclear rat
race – the procession was normal except for the fact that they were
stark naked. And some women broke into the Holloway Prison in North
London and danced on the roof in protest against the jailing of some
a few women who had been jailed for protesting against nuclear
missiles.
We protest to bring our grievances to the notice of those in power.
But Hans Mollikin chose a rather unusual method of seeking the
attention of Jimmy Carter, the then President of the U.S.A. The
39-year-old Baptist preacher crawled all the way from Texas to the
White House. He made the 2,575 kilometer trip on his hands and knees
to dramatize a call for a religious revival in the U.S.A. But his
marathon crawl proved worthless as the minister found the President
too busy to see him.
Young writers have their grouses against editors and young artists
nurse grudges against art critics. Henry Benvemuti, a young artist
of America, went to see the art critic of the Soho Weekly News, in
order to apprise the critic of his works. But the art critic was at
that time too busy to pay attention to the young artist. Infuriated
at the critic's refusal to see him immediately, Benvemuti protested
by chopping off two of his fingers with an axe. The doctors were,
however, able to re-attach the middle and ring fingers from the
artist's right hand.
Whenever the workers and office workers want to protest they go on
strike or indulge in such tactics as pen-down strike, work to rule,
go slow, etc. But in India, a few years ago, the technical staff of
the Post and Telegraph Department at Panipat chose a different sort
of protest to press their demand for revision of the promotion
policy: they Started working two hours extra.
A sizable number of crimes are attributed to adultery. The husband
or wife may take revenge either on the unfaithful spouse or on the
paramour. But a driver of Texas took what can literally be called
"concrete" revenge on his wife's lover. One night, bringing concrete
mixture for a construction firm, the driver happened to pass by his
own house and saw his best friend's car parked outside his house.
Feeling suspicious, he peeped through the curtains only to find his
worst doubts confirmed. The driver filled his friend's car with the
wet concrete mixture. However, the poor husband was sued by his
friend and fined by the court for damaging private property.
Spouse may also protest against lack of attention received from the
partner. Demands for attention may sometimes become abnormal and
so too the protest. Clay Farnall wanted his wife to wash his feet
evening after he returned from work. Rita Farnall, his young wife,
had enjoyed doing it during her courting days but after marriage she
no longer found the task agreeable. One day things came to a head
when she refused to wash his feet and he retorted: "These feet will
not be washed until you wash them." Rita refused to yield and Clay
continued to live with unwashed feet.
When months passed by and the offensive odor of the unwashed feet
became intolerable Rita sought divorce. Clay was required by the
court to appear personally in order to defend his case. The moment
Clay entered the court the judge covered his nose with a
handkerchief and ordered all the courtroom windows to be opened.
Rita's petition was at once granted.
|
|
