Indifference!!! What is indifference? Etymologically, the word means ?no difference?. A strange and unnatural state in which the lines blur between light and darkness, dusk and dawn, crime and punishment, cruelty and compassion, good and evil. What are its courses and inescapable consequences? Is it a philosophy? Is a philosophy of indifference conceivable? Can one possibly view indifference as a virtue? Is it necessary at times to practice it simply to keep one?s sanity? Of course indifference can be tempting ? more than that, seductive. It is so much easier to look the other way. It is so much easier to avoid such rude interruptions to our work, our dreams, our hopes. It is after all, awkward, troublesome, to be involved in another person?s pain and despair. Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbours are of no consequence. And, therefore, their lives are meaningless. Their hidden or even visible anguish is of no interest. Indifference reduces the other to an abstraction. Cycling as an institution and the framers of their regulations chiefly designed their guidelines to somehow call their affiliated members into account. It is designed as a method to bridle them from engaging in excesses. The framers confined in the National Associations ? the power if need be, to impose sanctions in order to strike a delicate balance between the Association and any rider/surrogate association swollen with power who has grown overbearing, while preserving fair and unbiased competition. With the increased activities of race organizers and the formulation of racing clubs that are organizing events, it is my belief that the formulation of regulations or perhaps a Memorandum of Understanding between the clubs and the National Federation ought to be drafted. These activities can either boost the development of the sport or, on the downside, can produce destruction. I am suggesting that the issue be addressed sooner rather than later. For correction purposes, no meaningful understanding between the Cycling Association and the Racing Clubs Boards has been met as was speculated on earlier. Referring back to ?indifference?. It is, after all, more dangerous than anger and hatred. Anger can at times be creative. One writes a great poem, a great symphony. One does something special for the sake of humanity because one is angry at the injustice that one witnesses. But indifference is never creative. Even hatred at times may elicit a response. You fight it. You denounce it. You disarm it. Indifference elicits no response. It is not a response. It is not a beginning. It is an end.
