Hijacking of India
New York Times published a less than enthusiastic article today about Bush's trip to India. I'm sure this article is well balanced and well researched (unless Jason Blair is the ghost writer), but the only lasting impression that remained with me is the threat of suicide bombing by a Mumbai Muslim youth. I'm not sure how credible this statement is, or if it was even made, but it left me feeling angry and frustrated.
A nation of 1.1 billion people, 66% of whom admire USA (according to Pew Research), and the one thing that people take away from this article is that Indians want to suicide bomb America, and yes, they will even get visas to do that. I am disappointed by the biased reporting of NYT, but I am even more disappointed by what's happening in India.
Everyone I know supports and loves America, yet a minority opinion is being presented as the opinion of India. The people demonstrating in Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad have shown a reckless disregard for the majority by their demagoguery.
Why is it that these people hate Bush so much...because he invaded Iraq? I'm sure a lot of Indians share that opinion, but they still welcome Bush's visit and US-India ties as they believe that it will benefit India. Are these demonstrators suggesting that they are more concerned about some distant middle-eastern country than their own country?
The majority has allowed madrassa-educated fanatics to control the message that goes out of India. In US and worldwide media, the message is that Indians are burning US flags and cursing Bush. The same Indians who are taking away US jobs are wishing ill of them.
The majority has allowed the very perception of India to be hijacked. We worked so hard to change the perception from snake charmers to IT wizards. Now, these guys are trying to paint us as reactionary jehadists.
As a democracy, it is important that all viewpoints be allowed. The key here is 'ALL'. In this case, a narrow fanatical viewpoint that is antithetical to India is being presented. If Indians don't wake up and respond to it, we'll soon wake up under the crescent moon.
A nation of 1.1 billion people, 66% of whom admire USA (according to Pew Research), and the one thing that people take away from this article is that Indians want to suicide bomb America, and yes, they will even get visas to do that. I am disappointed by the biased reporting of NYT, but I am even more disappointed by what's happening in India.
Everyone I know supports and loves America, yet a minority opinion is being presented as the opinion of India. The people demonstrating in Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad have shown a reckless disregard for the majority by their demagoguery.
Why is it that these people hate Bush so much...because he invaded Iraq? I'm sure a lot of Indians share that opinion, but they still welcome Bush's visit and US-India ties as they believe that it will benefit India. Are these demonstrators suggesting that they are more concerned about some distant middle-eastern country than their own country?
The majority has allowed madrassa-educated fanatics to control the message that goes out of India. In US and worldwide media, the message is that Indians are burning US flags and cursing Bush. The same Indians who are taking away US jobs are wishing ill of them.
The majority has allowed the very perception of India to be hijacked. We worked so hard to change the perception from snake charmers to IT wizards. Now, these guys are trying to paint us as reactionary jehadists.
As a democracy, it is important that all viewpoints be allowed. The key here is 'ALL'. In this case, a narrow fanatical viewpoint that is antithetical to India is being presented. If Indians don't wake up and respond to it, we'll soon wake up under the crescent moon.
posted by Nachiketa at
8:01 AM
4 Comments:
American main stream media is biased as well. Last night NBC said that Bush is in India to go ahead with his plan to eliminate India's nuclear weapon capability but putting India's nuclear facilities under surveillance. Another media report said that Bush is going for the nuclear deal to "Cap, Control and Contain" India's nuclear capability.
I wonder how many Indians will support Bush visit if it is outlined like this.
By
greensatya, at 9:57 AM
but = by in the fourth line above.
By
greensatya, at 9:58 AM
Two points -
The NYTimes and most 'mainstream' American media is anti-Bush (whether they are correct is a whole different discussion ) and will instinctively potray any of Bush's foreign policy initiatives in a negative light.
The 'greens' may get the bad publicity but 99% of the reflexive, unthinking anti-American frothing in India originates and is organized by the Communist and their Socialist pals (like Deve Gowda and Mulayum Singh)
By
AndyS, at 10:33 AM
I just hope that people in India wake up and see the larger picture. Forcing the closure of shops and fighting with police (like in Lucknow) to protest against Bush just sounds half-assed.
By
Nachiketa, at 2:28 PM
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