RUBY DHALLA SHOULD BE BARRED FROM PUBLIC OFFICE

People immigrate to countries like the United States and Canada seeking opportunities for a better life. And to hire these immigrants and take away their passports is a terrible, terrible thing to do. Your June 09 issue article, "Rise of Modern Day Slavery" highlights the difficulties faced by those looking to better their lives in a strange far away land.

I live in Brampton and on many occasions have come across her and have found her to act like she is royalty of some sort and, like royalty, I wonder how much in touch she is with the common person that she works for or employs. But that aside, if these allegations are true, Ms Dhalla should be forced to resign and barred from running for public office for the rest of her life. She should also be prohibited from ever hiring a nanny again and also she should be made to pay extra money to the nannies for the extra work that they did.
- Ravneet Kaur Brampton, Ontario

MADRASSAS POLLUTING YOUNG MINDS

After reading the article "A Monstrous Experiment" in your June 09 issue, I’m convinced that Madrassas are the devil’s workshops spreading menace all over the world by polluting young impressionable minds. With young children being used as human bombs by Palestinians and elsewhere, it is very clear that all jihadi terrorists are product of madrassas that indoctrinate a child with a distorted version of Islam that tells them that perpetual jihad against non-Muslims is the religious duty of every Muslim. And that those who give their life to jihad are rewarded with 72 virgins, 28 prepubescent boys and rivers of wine in heaven by Allah.

The situation is saddening and horrifying all at once. But this is not just happening in Pakistan, India too is suffering from the proliferation of madrassas that are spewing venom against Hindus in the name of secularism and with money collected from us the infidels (kafirs). It’s sad that we are all funding them through our taxes and also paying salaries of these fanatic Imams in mosques. It’s time that the world opens its eyes and acknowledges this dangerous situation. Otherwise, we all are doomed. However, this is a very good article and I’m glad that you brought to it the view of all your devoted readers.
- Mohini Kataria Raritan, NJ

AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES SHOULD TAKE CARE OF STUDENTS
The recent racial attacks on Indian students in Australia as highlighted by your article Growing Number of Attacks on Indian Students in Melbourne in your June 2009 issue sheds light on the fact that whites still live in the dark ages by assuming that they are superior by the virtue of their white skin. But the whites should know that skin color does not give them much more – intelligence, character, etc. - than we have. The horrific nature of these assaults has drawn condemnation of people from around the globe as it should.

The Australian Government should take necessary steps to develop a safe environment for the students studying there. Students take loans to go abroad to get qualification from a better university but if they have to live in fear or get targeted by racists then it is pointless for them to travel abroad for education. Recent reports from Australia attribute such attacks to the loud and uncouth behavior of the Indian students. If this is the case, then the Universities there should give proper counseling and guidance to them. Australian universities should not just look into filling up the seats for the sake of money, but should ensure that they are doing the needful to protect their students. And we, on our part, should register our protest against such countries and guarantee that the elements provoking and indulging in such acts are punished severely.
- Gayatri Sinha Westport, CT

EVERYONE SHOULD FIGHT THE HMOS
We all need someone like Dr. Nanavati (Indian Cardiologist Takes on Big Insurance Giant, June 09 issue) to counter the mega-greed of HMOs that deprive patients of specialty care and treatment by preventing physicians from practicing the best medicine they can. Healthcare groups in their pursuit to post higher and higher profits have reduced patient services by tying doctors’ hands behind their backs. A new era in healthcare dynamics should be ushered in so that everyone gets the best treatment possible. If such a thing were to happen, not only will private physicians benefit but also will the nation’s salaried doctors, many of whom work in public hospitals or for HMOs. Kudos to Dr. Nanavati. Keep up the good work.
- Mitali Sengupta Miami, FL

HAPPY 15TH ANNIVERSARY NRI TODAY
Congratulations to NRI Today completing 15 years! Your 15th Anniversary issue was a delight to read from the beginning to the end. That a magazine has survived and surpassed its peer publications in 15 years is a testament to the fine service that NRI Today has been providing to the Indian American community. The special edition was a labor of love and it shone thru clearly. Everything from the articles to the cartoons and others in between made for a good read. So all you at NRI Today, please keep it up and good luck for many more years to come.
- Shantanu Roy, Atlanta, GA

NRI TODAY 15TH BIRTHDAY
Congratulations to all at NRI Today for 15 years of cutting edge independent progressive news and analysis. You are a terrific publication and get better and better as the years go by. I try to read almost all the articles in every issue and I am always impressed at how consistently good the writing is and how good the magazine looks. I was a fan of NRI Today from the issue number one and I look forward for the next 15 years of fine reading. Keep the flame burning.
- Namrata Patel Guttenberg, NJ