Echoes, This sort of discussion -- heated, pluralistic free-flowing and all over the place in this UNMODERATED forum -- is always necessary as one very important aspect of PUBLIC REASONING, which is a very important part of ANY democracy. So, let's keep up with this sort of kura-kani alive and well. The point here is NOT to be fundamentally right and fundamentally wrong. Often, lots of things/issues become clearer when we start to discuss, debate and exchange ideas. I mean, how else are we going to learn anything if we start taking public discussions personally and become ego-driven to the point of shutting out viewpoints that disagree with ours? Don't we have enough of that in Nepal and among many Nepali communities? None of us, after all, with the possible exception of Trikal, can hold up a crystal ball, and correctly predict Nepal's future, though we can and we should always have divergent opinions about how to get to a better future for the country we all feel passionate about. It's OK to disagree; and disagreements need not be traken personally. I certainly don't take them personally. If I did, then, I would not be on the Net, posting ideas and thoughts and holding debates since 1993. Meantime, as for me, TIME-PERMITTING, I will keep on, in my oohi ashu' name, do my small bit to post my thoughts and ideas -- a) to stir up kura-kani, b) to push along the flow of discussions c) to bring up even unpopular views in the public domain so that they do not get neglected and are met with with honesty. d) to defend people who I see are getting unfairly attacked e) to keep thoughts/ideas about Nepal not too far from our collective mind. In doing so, if some people choose to attack me personally for whatever reason, well, that show their true colors, and that's that. [As for my personal critics, I have noticed that none of them can ever use their real names to attack me personally, and none of them can stay around for a long time attacking me personally. This should tell any reasonable person that these 'personal' critics appear to be motivated by things other than the verifiable truth, and that's that.] Meantime, let the kura-kani flourish all the more. A very Happy New Year to all of you. I'll be away for some time. Kaam ta garnai paryo, yaar. oohi ashu