Nerve Endings Firing Away

The New Jersey state Department has lent a new meaning to words of state control and discrimination. It seems they have enforced this ban primarily on ladies night in pubs and bars on grounds of “discrimination against men”. I wonder which moron in the state department came up with that blooper. I do not see how increasing the chances of slimy single men for scoring with drunken women are discriminatory to them. Also for the holier-than-thou souls, if your girlfriend gets a drink at half rate, it does compensate for the ludicrously expensive shoes she just bought. Stags Not Allowed — was a sign I am very familiar with and did make me terribly envious of cool dudes with hot bimbettes on their arms. I am glad I have passed that phase in my life. Good ol’ Mumbai had already led the way by restricting under 21 year-old adults from bars. But I am sure that those very young adults surely must have been drunk when they voted Congress back to power.

Political frustration apart, discrimination has always been a thorn in the equality-for-all band wagon. No one would murmur a voice of protest when senior citizens are given a discount on Wednesdays at the local Publix. Adult parents surely heave a sigh of relief when kids eat free at Holiday Inn or get charged less at majority of movie theatres, amusement parks or transit rides. We do not see anyone screaming discrimination although technically it certainly is. How do we define discrimination?

Affirmative action surely finds enough political leverage among pundits. I guess rationality takes a back seat and political feasibility gains prominence as priorities are shuffled until the time of the idea has arrived. Nothing can stop an idea whose time has arrived. Like a friend wisely remarks philosophically, it is difficult even for God to be merciful and just at the same time. There is much truth in that and we have to delicately balance the problem of doling out justice while trying to be fair within acceptable parameters.