Diwali at White House

President Barack Obama celebrated Diwali on Oct. 14 at the White House, using the occasion to sign an executive order establishing a White House advisory panel on Asian Americans and Pacific Islander community. It was a historic occasion for he was the first US President to take part in it. Though President George Bush introduced the festival to the White House he was never personally present during its celebration. Obama’s presence has confirmed his stance on the huge immigrant community of which he too is a part. The White House advisory panel was another step in right direction as it will help bridge the distance between the communities and the White House by giving a voice to the concerns as well as making it reach the right people. Given the increasing contribution of the Asian Americans to the mainstream, be it business, economy or culture, it was high time their voice got represented. The way the state of New Jersey has approved of Diwali holiday, now the rest of the states should follow suit and respect the sentiments of vast majority of Hindus in the country. Being a nation of immigrants, America has respected individual freedom and observing one’s religion is a part of it.
Virendra Kumar, New York

RESPECT OUR TRADITIONS

It was saddening and surprising to know of the incident at Bountiful Junior High School in Utah where a student was reportedly kicked out of the school for nose piercing, alleging violation of school dress code and later reinstated after she after she exchanged it for an almost invisible transparent stud. This student was apparently honoring the tradition of her father, who was from India, by putting a stud in her pierced nose. Nose piercing and nose ornaments had been a tradition of women of India for centuries and the Hindu goddesses had been depicted wearing nose ornaments. It appeared to be discrimination. It was denying the right to this teenager to express her religious and cultural identity freely, who appeared to sincerely believe that wearing a nose stud was part of her religion and culture. The school dress code policy is respected as long as it did not violate the traditions and beliefs of the pupils. Noses of girls in India are usually pierced around puberty and finds mention in ancient Ayurvedic text. Old architecture and paintings of India depicted the presence of tradition of nose ornaments and Indian poets had been singing their praise. She was just practicing her belief
Rajan Zed, Nevada  

INDIA SPONSORING TALIBAN IS RUBBISH

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s allegation that India was fomenting unrest within Pakistan through steps such as funding Taliban fighters based along the border with Afghanistan is utter crap. He even went on to say that he was ready to confront the Indian government with the evidence. He reiterated India was also instigating Pakistan’s troubles in Balochistan. All this is completely groundless and baseless said a foreign ministry official and I completely agree with it. India cannot support Taliban, which is the greatest threat to world peace. It just shows how desperate Pakistan has got to get the terrorist-supporting-state blame off its head. In last 60 years, since its formation, all it has done is spent its precious resources on sponsoring terrorism in India. Had it diverted its efforts to development of its country, this region’s history wouldn’t have been marred in blood shed and wars. S.Vidyarthi,Washington

INDIAN AMERICANS IN LOCAL POLITICS

It’s heartening to see so many Indian Americans taking a plunge in local level politics. Indian Americans have as much stake in the nation as anyone and we should not abdicate our responsibility. They should be made to realize that local government render more assistance than the federal government and this message should reach them. In fact when we enter the mainstream politics we also bring along our culture and traditions, which certainly contributes to the way the system is run. Indian values of compassion and respect for all go hand in hand with American traditions of respecting individual freedom and wellbeing of entire community irrespective of their race, creed, economic status. Having lived for a couple of generations here, we are as much a part of the system as any American.

Michael Joseph, Boston