Sunday, December 09, 2007
Elections and Emotions
An excellent piece of editorial in NY Times, on the Mitt Romney's recent speech on his Mormonist faith. When I first read about the US election issues (may be in May 2007), in Times, the caption read "Is America ready for a Mormon President?" or something similar. That caption did more to debunk my myths about the US society, than more than a couple of You Tube videos by Richard Dawkins and his "The God Delusion".
Though, Europe was the place Secularism in its current form that we know of originated, US had been a clear adherent, with the ideal enshrined in its constitution, as the First Amendment. While, there is no denying that the undercurrent of religion is there in all Societies, it is really unfortunate that a presidential candidate would find it necessary to give a speech like this to an audience of mostly Conservative Christians.
Where this gets even more interesting is, his Republican party has a known conservative bias- what with the current incumbent's ability to speak with and hear God's voice, there is no denying that the influence is ever present. But to make a speech that doesn't clearly distance oneself from the Church and goes one step further to say,
As such, there are enough issues that need urgent attention- like the Subprime mortgage woes, the Iraq War, the Iran issue, Climate Change and Global Warming- these are those things that would affect every day life of most people in the world- not just US. It is indeed disappointing to see that there are hardly much of intellectual debate or fresh thinking in any of these issues- the most debate and haggling happens on issues, which are of secondary- but highly emotional issues.
I hazard a guess, that this is the way a Democracy work- I can see similar strains in India too- in Gujarat elections- look at the issues that are being discussed- not economy, not irrigation or power or infrastructure- but "Mauth ka saudagar", "Mercy of God", "Mercy of Sonia", "Hindu Terrorists"- where does that leave us?
I am left with a feeling that elections are more an emotional issue than the cold rational thought process that are associated with choice and freedom!!
Though, Europe was the place Secularism in its current form that we know of originated, US had been a clear adherent, with the ideal enshrined in its constitution, as the First Amendment. While, there is no denying that the undercurrent of religion is there in all Societies, it is really unfortunate that a presidential candidate would find it necessary to give a speech like this to an audience of mostly Conservative Christians.
Where this gets even more interesting is, his Republican party has a known conservative bias- what with the current incumbent's ability to speak with and hear God's voice, there is no denying that the influence is ever present. But to make a speech that doesn't clearly distance oneself from the Church and goes one step further to say,
......religion does have a place in the public domain, and that those establishing the religion of secularism are "wrong."is definitely not something that I would expect from a Presidential hopeful from US. When the world is much less a safe place to live, nations divided on religious lines are the last thing that we would want. What we need are not assertions of religious identities- but more of Humanitarianism.
As such, there are enough issues that need urgent attention- like the Subprime mortgage woes, the Iraq War, the Iran issue, Climate Change and Global Warming- these are those things that would affect every day life of most people in the world- not just US. It is indeed disappointing to see that there are hardly much of intellectual debate or fresh thinking in any of these issues- the most debate and haggling happens on issues, which are of secondary- but highly emotional issues.
I hazard a guess, that this is the way a Democracy work- I can see similar strains in India too- in Gujarat elections- look at the issues that are being discussed- not economy, not irrigation or power or infrastructure- but "Mauth ka saudagar", "Mercy of God", "Mercy of Sonia", "Hindu Terrorists"- where does that leave us?
I am left with a feeling that elections are more an emotional issue than the cold rational thought process that are associated with choice and freedom!!
Labels: Disappoinment, Nationalism, Observation, Thoughts
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Hampi
Been to Hampi- one of my "must go" destination for a long time. I didn't want to go there without my own camera- preferably a SLR. Now that I have that with me, planned for a quick trip- one of the must visit spot there was the "Stepped Well"- Well, will come to that later.
Started off from Mangalore on Friday- a KSRTC bus was all could get- When we enquired for direct buses to Hampi, I was surprised when people asked me "where is Hampi?"-While I didn't expect people to readily give me an answer if there are buses to Hampi, I atleast expected that, they would know the place. Sad that people in Karnataka themselves don't know much about Hampi.
All set for the trip, we reached the bus-stand and was really thrilled to find a decent bus. Our thrill didn't last long- the road is awesome. You virtually visit the heaven's every now and then, when the bus tries tackling the numerous speed breakers- there are a series of speed breakers, wherever a gully or a small road meets the Highway- the speed breakers are in the highway. Some speed breakers should be definitely called back breakers. I don't understand the logic of having speed breakers in the highway, when a smaller road meets it!- So much for Logic!
The trip was so much eventful, that when we reached Hubli at around 4:30 AM, we were simply amazed to find an entrepreneurial guy, trying to sell the Duck-like-sound making doll at such an hour- you would have seen those toys that make sound when hit or shaken. He was selling that in such a devilish hour- Couldn't understand the logic!
But, once we reached Hampi. all these pains were replaced by pure bliss! Let the pictures speak the rest of the story!
Started off from Mangalore on Friday- a KSRTC bus was all could get- When we enquired for direct buses to Hampi, I was surprised when people asked me "where is Hampi?"-While I didn't expect people to readily give me an answer if there are buses to Hampi, I atleast expected that, they would know the place. Sad that people in Karnataka themselves don't know much about Hampi.
All set for the trip, we reached the bus-stand and was really thrilled to find a decent bus. Our thrill didn't last long- the road is awesome. You virtually visit the heaven's every now and then, when the bus tries tackling the numerous speed breakers- there are a series of speed breakers, wherever a gully or a small road meets the Highway- the speed breakers are in the highway. Some speed breakers should be definitely called back breakers. I don't understand the logic of having speed breakers in the highway, when a smaller road meets it!- So much for Logic!
The trip was so much eventful, that when we reached Hubli at around 4:30 AM, we were simply amazed to find an entrepreneurial guy, trying to sell the Duck-like-sound making doll at such an hour- you would have seen those toys that make sound when hit or shaken. He was selling that in such a devilish hour- Couldn't understand the logic!
But, once we reached Hampi. all these pains were replaced by pure bliss! Let the pictures speak the rest of the story!
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| From Hampi Visit |
Labels: Fun, Funny, Interesting, Observation, Travel
Friday, March 16, 2007
Hardened Thoughts
It's been two years that I wrote this piece.
There is so much of imitation of American way of life in Indian Global companies- it hardly matters if you are in US or in Indian offices of these companies. The companies, though Global, are basically, very much American. It is a fallacy that we call them Global companies. The American hegemony (if I can call it that ways) is all too visible in the way business is conducted across Indian companies. Is there any distinct Indian-ness in any of the companies? Or for that matter is there any distinctiveness in any of the companies that dot the Globe now, except Americanism?
While writing this, I have a parallel thought- is there any distinct Americanism anywhere?- Or is it simply the most efficient way of doing things as we know now? Is it simply because of the American efficiency- which I thoroughly appreciate and marvel at, that we tend to have clones everywhere trying to do things that Uncle Sam had done and done it successfully?
Questions to Ponder- I don't think I would be pondering them while on flight back home!
[...Geopolitics of Globalisation by Baldev Raj Nayar. A nice collection of facts, interpretations, history and Politics of Globalisation. The author seem to have a bent towards anti-americanism...american hegemony....Hegemon of Hegemons as he calls it....though the hegemonism be true, still it doesn't prevent the author from taking stance.....would we - meaning the Indians be any different, given the chance and the ability to lord over the world...Simple facts like the amount US spent on its defence in the year 2001 (US$351 Bn) is way..infact miles ahead of the next five countires put together...the US's power isn't manifest only in Military...it is there in Hollywood, McDonald's , Walt Disney, Microsoft, Google...everything....one probable reason why US is able to lord over the world is this hidden influence on the way people everywhere think....by creating clones everywhere, US is able to sustain interest in it....there are many grey areas in the development stories of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan...the author provides a nice account of what transpired between the powers that be....how many conditions of America was accommodated..It's surprising that in the two years, my thoughts had changed little. But I wrote those words, without seeing/verifying things on my own. But now, having seen a bit of US, I know I hadn't been wrong. Yesterday, as we had gone to Costco for some shopping to carry back to India, I noticed something and made a note to my room mates and they too seem to agree.
There is so much of imitation of American way of life in Indian Global companies- it hardly matters if you are in US or in Indian offices of these companies. The companies, though Global, are basically, very much American. It is a fallacy that we call them Global companies. The American hegemony (if I can call it that ways) is all too visible in the way business is conducted across Indian companies. Is there any distinct Indian-ness in any of the companies? Or for that matter is there any distinctiveness in any of the companies that dot the Globe now, except Americanism?
While writing this, I have a parallel thought- is there any distinct Americanism anywhere?- Or is it simply the most efficient way of doing things as we know now? Is it simply because of the American efficiency- which I thoroughly appreciate and marvel at, that we tend to have clones everywhere trying to do things that Uncle Sam had done and done it successfully?
Questions to Ponder- I don't think I would be pondering them while on flight back home!
Labels: America, Interesting, Observation, Thoughts
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