It is patriotism season, but I am shamed by my nationality. It has happened far too often in the recent past for my comfort.

There was anger at first, then there was disgust. And now there is shame. Fueled by the sheer ignominy of watching our khadi-clad men resigning, then falling over each other to get to the chair and finally sulking over not getting the chair.

Then there are the wise men sitting further north, who have been out with their diplomatic begging bowls, looking for Big Brother America to tell us what to do next. Or what not to. They have also been issuing threats emptier than their collective craniums - stuff that, I am certain, is a source of many laughs for the bastards sitting safe across the fence.

And now there are the greenie-weenie humanitarians. Who want a lawyer to represent Kasab.

They are out in the mainstream media with their senseless suggestions and foolish ideas. The Chief Justice of India, no less, wants a lawyer to represent Kasab. HT Mint wants a debate on the topic. Both go on to suggest that 'a constitutional democracy such as ours ensures that every person standing trial in court even for the most heinous crime should be represented by a lawyer.'

I say WTF.

Why do we need a trial? And why do we need a lawyer? Why can't we just make full use of whatever Kasab has to give us, and then order a public execution. With the world's media in full attendance. Will that make us any less civil? Or any less democratic?

What constitutional right to a trial are these chaps talking about? Kasab is not an Indian. Why should he be given these 'constitutional rights'?

We are just using the cloak of a 'civilized, democratic society' to postpone doing what we should have done many, many years ago. We are handing out threats that have ceased to have any meaning at all, we are not doing anything to impose any punitive action against terrorists and camps not in our custody. Worse, we are letting someone who is in our custody have the right to a trial and a lawyer.

What are we, if not the biggest collective impotency ever?

Sure, we are a democracy, and every single person has a right to their opinion. But the way so many of us are exercising that right, the choices we are making compels me to believe that most of us don't deserve that right.

It convinces me that democracy's time is up.