The other day while watching news bulletin on a reputed TV news channel, I happened to see a virtual non-entity in the American politics or for that matter in the world political scenario making a statement in the course of an interview denouncing India- World’s largest democracy- a worst place in the world. On watching the scene I was neither aghast appalled nor puzzled. I felt it quite funny as it was from the mouth of a court jester just to make others laugh to their heart’s content otherwise one most loyal than the king. I wonder this lady except known across the world as one who is good in a tennis court with a racket in her hand playing the game of tennis winning a few grandslams making her feeling supreme with a halo around her head- a sort of godly feeling - would not have dared to make such a deplorable, irresponsible statement before the entire world. This black beauty’s statement would have forced Abraham Lincoln widely remembered and adored by a whole generation as the greatest leader who devoted and dedicated his entire life to abolish slavery in USA thus enabling the blacks who were despised and tortured for a long time by the whites hung his head in shame and sorrow and sympathy towards this black beauty.
I doubt even India’s traditional rival and neighbouring nation Pakistan widely decried across the world as the ‘epicentre of terrorism’ appreciate or acknowledge such a foolish statement made by a foolish lady. Yes I do admit India is not free from violence. Militant threats hang over the country like the proverbial ‘sword of Democles’. Intermittent terror or communal attacks take place once in a while mostly from across the border. Attempts to infiltrate from across the border by terror elements under the cover of darkness and protection provided by the Pak Army men along the Line of Actual Control continue unabated.
If the 26/11 carnage by terror elements from across the border instigated by the leaders of Lashkar-e-Taiba like Hafiz Zayeed to terrorize and also aiming the economic nerve centre of India ie. Mumbai, had taken place in Israel, USA’s prodigy, imagine what would have been the consequences. Even for the attack of a lesser magnitude by Hamas, the militant Palestinian organization, the whole of Palestine would have come under a fierce bombardment causing massive destruction to property and deaths of thousands.
But India is not Israel and ManMohan Singh is not Benjamin Netanyahu. The former is a ‘dove’ and the latter a ‘hawk’ widely known across the world. India’s patience, maximum tolerance and love of peace, recognized from time immemorial and Indian rulers from Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi to name a few always stood for peace and the present one at the helm stands for peace despite his penchant for looking toward the West for guidance especially in the economic and civilian-nuclear co-operation ignoring the long term adverse consequences to the nation. It is a mystery why our Prime Minister prefers to be subservient to the ‘most developed nation’ or the self-proclaimed super power. In this context, however, that is beside the point.
Our Minister of State for External Affairs, the ebullient, charming Shashi Tharoor like our PM- they are said to be on good terms- who were in US for a long period, Mr.Tharoor holding the post of UN Under Secretary General, though had contested against the incumbent UN Secretary General Ban-ki-Moon for the prestigious post was reported to have said the other day, the essence of his statement being, though US didn’t suffer a major terror threat after the 9/11 attack which led to the wiping out of the twin towers of World Trade Centre internally various incidents of violence and killings are a daily phenomenon. The ‘gun culture’ of USA is notorious one the characteristics of a typical permissive society of a capitalist country. (The present one at the helm in the Oval office knows better about this ‘gun culture’.) Even all of us watched with shock news of cold-blooded gunning down of an Indian Professor and two researchers by a colleague, her name is Amy Bishop at the University of Alabama. This is not an isolated incident in US such incidents of ‘gun culture’ continue to happen there for reasons ranging from depression vendetta, drug abuse, drunkenness and series of other matters. Can our black beauty deny by touching her heart with her hands these stark truths.
The lady is advised to have a look beyond her myopic outlook and abjure her prejudices by flipping through the pages of the history of her predecessors -her great great grandfathers and her great great grandmothers- who were under the yoke of slavery for centuries.
Terror threats are a Global phenomenon, the only difference being the magnitude of terror varies from country to country while a few countries suffer most others suffer such threats of lesser intensity. While going through the tragic happenings going on in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and a few African nations a shudder runs down our spine. It reminds one of a dialogue by a character in a Shakesperean tragedy- “As flies are to wanton boys they kill us for fun”. Here the refrain is about terrorists.
No religion preaches violence and every religion stand for the good of mankind. Terrorists have no religion, no love, they don’t want peace in this world while innocent civilians around the world pray for peace and peace only. A world devoid of war crimes, calamities- they always pray for Universal Harmony.
As long as the blame games continue our hopes for such a peaceful tranquil ambience will remain a mirage.
If our tennis lady is firm in her convictions her leader Barack Obama must provide her with all chances of contesting on a democratic platform to contest for the prestigious position by making way for her if not now at least in 2012. The GOP (Republican Party) has already come up with a ‘powerful, erudite political commentator’ contestant in the form of Sarah Palin.
Barack Obama can write fairly well and in the World of Letters he will prove to be a great success- both in fiction and non-fiction.
I take this opportunity to offer best wishes and also congratulations to the most powerful grandslam champion of ladies the indomitable Serena Williams and if God permits she can sit pretty well in the White House. Whether God will listen to her prayers, if she is actually desirous of holding the prestigious position why not she be an American President if not in the short run at least in the long run.
Serena, don’t let your grandslam victories get to your head at least in the future.
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