.. seems to be an Indian thing – or so some people I run into seem to believe.
On the day trip to White Scar caves, we ran into some ‘proud’ Indians. So proud they were, that they felt it necessary to announce it, ‘Rules are meant to be broken, yaar’, and ‘We are Indians’ – as if that meant that we could just ignore rules, or flout them, as we please. There was a rule of not taking pictures in certain places, and this group made it a point to ignore it, while loudly proclaiming that they could do it – because they’re Indians! It makes my heart break to see my nationality used as an excuse to not follow rules.
Sadly, this happens almost everywhere. We seem to have built up a reputation to not follow rules. I remember at a restaurant in Switzerland, the waitress coming and telling us very sternly that outside food is not allowed – we were not carrying food with us – but clearly our compatriots have left such an impression that they felt the need to warn us. It felt really sad -but I could understand why she must have felt the need to say it to us. Clearly lots of people do things like this.
One time, we had a dance function, and they asked us mothers to stay out of the dressing area, while the dance teacher and other assistants would get the children ready. It was not big enough for all of us to fit in. Yes, we were not entirely happy, but understood it and respected it. One of us,however, found a reason to go up there, and refused to leave. She said, she is ready to break all rules when it came to her child. That attitude makes me very uncomfortable. If you do not set an example to your child, how would you expect her to have a respect for rules and regulations? When as responsible adults we cannot respect rules, what can we expect from children who grow up seeing this?
If you have to break rules, I am sure nothing any of us say will make a difference – but please, please do not justify it by bringing in your nationality.
