Sunday, September 23, 2012

Are you a Mercedes?



Human beings love labels. People never think twice before labeling other people—good, bad, beautiful, ugly, fair, dark, strong or weak. Anywhere you go, there will always be someone ready to tell you – “Actually, you’re weak.” But honestly, just because one’s body hasn’t been trained to lift 100 kg weights like Karnam Malleshwari or face punches in a boxing ring like MC Mary Kom , can the person be immediately branded ‘weak’?
Let me illustrate: an ordinary ‘desi’ truck that you see on Indian roads is a sturdy, dependable vehicle in every sense of the word. You can drive it over potholes, rugged tracks, muddy roads or mountain paths and it will not be affected in the least. Everyone will agree that it is strong.
A Mercedes sedan, on the other hand, is not designed to be ‘rough and tough’. Take it flying over potholed roads and you’ll live to regret it. A truck driver can just ram his vehicle into a number of smaller cars and get away unhurt, reducing the other cars to pulp. A Merc driver, on the other hand, is always extra careful to protect the car from even the slightest dent or scratch.  So, if it were a comparison of sheer physical strength, yes, you could say that the Mercedes sedan is a pretty ‘weak’ vehicle. But the fact is that the Merc is and always will be infinitely superior and more valuable than a desi truck. Just comparing the two sounds ridiculous.
Therefore, dear label-lovers, before branding someone as weak, ask yourself — are you handling a Mercedes and expecting it to function like a truck? Well then, please go and get a truck.  The Merc is way beyond your league anyway.
(Yes, yes, I know you will point out that Mercedes trucks are also available — but just think about it: would a corporate hotshot want to travel in a Mercedes truck?
I think you got it now.)