See the Red Cherries Beside this &;#063;

Writer's block. I guess that is what inspired these words that
follow. Surprised as I am, I don't know what to write about. I read a
book about journalism recently, which prophesized that a person, should
not aspire to be a newspaper columnist if he cannot write. Typing will
do too. Fancying myself to be the next Dilip Padgoankar, Jug Surayia or
Dave Barry, I opened this word document. But soon I found, as I stared
into the screen that I did not know what to write about. I wondered
whether this is what is called as writer's block. Well I am not really
a writer to qualify to have writer's block. But it cannot be called
incognizance or absence of ideas, but rather an absence of concrete
opinions about anything to comment upon volitionally.
As music was playing loudly in the background maybe my chimerical and
fertile imagination were not triggering. But I was in no mood to turn
the music off even though I felt that my chances of a portentous
arrival in the league of the Padgaonkars and Barrys would be
compromised. I settled to just turning the volume down. Now that the
music was really in the background these noumenal notions started to
take shape. For the uninitiated "noumenal" is an adjective for a word
which describes an idea or an object that can be intuited only by the
intellect and not by the senses. I went through many such topics as I
tried to grasp on to one that would inspire me to write.
It wasn't the words that failed me but my own opinions about these
subjects. To effectuate what I am describing let me give an example.
One of the topics that always haunts my intellect is the subject of
euthanasia. My egocentric theory, not inspired but vindicated by those
of Ayn Rand's, orients me to accept the individuals right to end his
life, with the aid of a doctor, when and where he chooses, especially
in cases of chronic illness and pain. But on the other hand my strong
contempt for suicide and its similarity with the euthanasia dogma,
makes me scoff at it. This capriciousness about the subject
incapacitates me to commenting about it.
Similar to the above subject is the subject of capital punishment. So
vacillating are my opinions about this that I find it difficult even to
satirically justify its authenticity. I find this particularly
appalling because satire is one of my strongholds, as I am often
accused of being very cynical and satirical in my opinions.
Obtuse humour is one of my favorite topics. Whether it is writing
about anatomical oddities or pseudo pretentious habits of people I
enjoy a free flow of thought and opinions. But about other more
challenging notions I fail to take a side or change my mind.
Whether or not it is writers block, it has definitely made me believe
that I have become obstinate. The encyclopedia gives an interesting
quote made by Lady Asquith, quoted in "Fine art of political wit". She
says,

" He has a brilliant mind, until it is made up."

This sort of aptly describes my condition. If only I could have
concrete opinions about all subjects, I could probably write long
articles about them. Until then at least writers block limits me to
write such articles as the one you are reading now. Nevertheless,
writers block does help to build my vocabulary. It makes me write
articles that have words, I have never even heard of before. Again this
makes me undecided whether writers block is good or bad.

Written with great conviction by,
Anand Rao.
19-05-2003.