TERRORIST ATTACKS

Mumbai’s resilience has been taken for granted. India’s too for that matter. It makes sense to get over with natural calamity and get going with life but not man-made disasters like what happened in Mumbai, a dastardly act carried out by terrorists. Post 9/11 how many terrorist attacks have been reported in the US? None. And we keep hearing of bomb blasts in India every other month. If it’s Mumbai today, tomorrow it’s Delhi, Ahmedabad and Jaipur. Wonder how come so much arm and ammunition used in the Mumbai attack got unnoticed. It certainly proves the lapse on part of our security system. More than anything else it shows the incapability of the UPA government, which couldn’t stop them from striking back repeatedly. Now there’s no doubt that the UPA will suffer in the forthcoming assembly and general elections. It’s high time we called ourselves a Hindu nation, reclaimed our Kashmir back and eliminated these fundamentalists from the face of the earth if this is what it is all about.
-Jigar Desai, California

WHERE ARE THE THAKERAYS NOW?
Where are the Raj and Bal Thackrays sleeping? For no rhyme or reason there are riots in Mumbai at the Shiv Sena Primo’s call so where is this lion sleeping after the world disturbing terror attacks by Islamists and that too possibly from the next door neighboring friend. Why he has not grabbed this opportunity to take care of Islamists now and chooses himself to be listed in spectators instead of a Hindu loyalist?
-Sam Chandra, New York

AUTO BAILOUT
President-elect Barack Obama has a huge task ahead as far as the US economy goes. 530000 job cuts in a single month suggest the shocking state of affairs. Given the recession and job losses the public confidence is at its lowest. This is the highest per centage of job cut after 1974. If the auto industry isn’t bailed out then additional 2.5 million jobs will be at stake. I think they are valid in their demand. If the banks could get a $750 billion bail from the government, this industry which employs huge number of Americans and is considered a vital sector to have fueled the US economy, should get its due. It was after the road revolution in the US that the auto industry took off in 50s and went on to dominate the sector all over the world. It’s not fair that the white collar jobs get preference over blue colored ones.
-Jaya Kumar Pandit, Detroit

DIPLOMATIC CHALLENGES
FOR OBAMA IN SOUTH ASIA
The escalating situation between India and Pakistan in wake of the Mumbai terror attacks has endangered the South Asian region given the nuke power of both the countries. For US it’s all the more important to be a part of it given its own agenda in Afghanistan. If India goes on war with Pakistan, Pakistan will withdraw its troops from its border with Afghanistan where US is already engaged since 9/11 trying to hunt down Bin Laden and group. Besides with Russia and China too being other forces to reckon with in this part of the world, it’s extremely important for US to tread with caution. However it goes unsaid that Obama’s assertion that India has all the right to go after the perpetrators of Mumbai attack, in this case the alleged LeT and Al-Qaida, it does show a lot of political maturity in his part. We as Indian Americans hope to see US stand united with India in its war on terror.
-Dipankar Banerji, New Jersey

CHRISTMAS VS DIWALI
It’s hard not to notice the difference in the way the main festival of Christians – Christmas is celebrated visà- vis say Diwali by Hindus in India. I moved to this country four years back and the first thing I was totally in awe of was Christmas celebration. From the heavy discounts at all leading stores to the variety and stock of products available, it’s simply mind-boggling how consumers are spoilt for their choices. On the contrary, despite Diwali being a huge festival for Indians, more so Hindus, we hardly found such options or the celebrations. Nowadays I see more people heading off to vacation than celebrate it with their family and friends back home.
-Radhika Apte, Florida