[Reader-list] Wikileaks and the End of America!

[TaraPrakash]

Well, actually it is not only Iraqis there are many Afghanis who don't want US to leave. The leaders of the colonial power are looking for an excuse to leave but some people want to remain "colonized". 

Let me think why should I have a soft corner for the US. I should say though that I was part of demonstrations in Delhi that happened soon after US invasion of Iraq. I wonder what you say about the regime that the invasion brought down. Wonder where does Saddam and Iraqis stand in your "victim tyrant" "colonizer colonized" binary. 

So what is in US that we should like about that country? US is one of the best democracies. I just heard a report from France where Jews still are not comfortable identifying as jews, no such problem in US. Muslims are building a mosque just next to World Trade Center, the twin towers which were "destroyed by Muslims" if you ask the majority of Americans. Jwes organizations came in support of the Mosque and Jews and Muslims pray ed together very regularly, not something you see in India or such less democratic country. A guy was about to burn Quran on the 9-11 anniversary. But there was so much public pressure from the "those who hate Islam" that the guy changed his plan. 

People can speak freely in that country. No one dies of hunger. Or for his faith. IT does involve in arm twisting and can get very lethal some times. But some time it is very magnanimous. There are bullies like you in the US and they are allowed to speak freely. The right wing blogosphere stinks of bull shit, like your emails do. The right wing does not care for political correctness, as you don't. If I am replying to your worthless mail, I probably have soft corner for you. Why not then for the US? Sara Palin is the big celebrity these days in the US, but I hate her more than I hate you. However, I care nothing about you when it comes to US president. 

  I can write volumes praising the democratic values in the US. I do read Chomski often and New York Times is my favorite news paper. Huffington Post is my favorite website for US related news. John Stewart's The Daily Show is my favorite TV show available on Comedy Central. I can write about what's wrong with the US, but your question had nothing to do with the bad part. Long live US and long live the freedom it offers to millions of victims who are victimized in their own countries.

  I don't think I am going to read any more of your messages sent on this list, much less respond to. My inbox stinks of bull shit as you can't keep your droppings away from the email. You like to offend and not engage. I have no desire to irrigate your ego by getting offended. Try someone else.


  Best


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Pheeta Ram 
  To: TaraPrakash 
  Cc: sarai list 
  Sent: Sunday, October 24, 2010 7:46 PM
  Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Wikileaks and the End of America!


  Dear Taraprakash


  Your soft corner for the US of A is revealing.
  Now don't give me this bullshit that since some people don't want the US to leave Iraq the people should start having second thoughts about their dream of throwing the US out of Iraq. A colonizer however benevolent is still a colonizer.

  During India's struggle for freedom, there were many people who didn't want independence and were happy under the British. 
  Many of them were those who had prospered under the British rule. Though the transfer of political power to the Indians (elites) have made no difference yet i take being free from a colonial ruler as a positive thing.


  " Many of us do that, reduce issues to black and white, and take one side." Now, i firmly believe that this is not the case with many of us. Many of us are fence-sitters. They remain non-committal to the end. They want to eat their cake and have it too. Many of us have lost their capacity to reduce things to black and white. Many of us don't believe in taking one side for most of us are not sure on which side we are. So its no virtue in deluding yourself by thinking that many of us reduce the issues to black and white. The goal must be towards making issues clear (black and white). And if your goal should be otherwise you can revel in the greyness of the things, in the aesthetics of deferral. But you can't defer things ad infinitum. A day comes when you have to take sides, make an ethical choice. Either you are for HITLER or AGAINST. Either you are for US or against.


  Thank you for quoting Kabir. I am sure Kabir has something profound to say here but if i commit the heresy to take it very literally i would say its a good thing if no grain remains sabut between two wheels for then we shall have flour to feed ourselves. Its metaphoric understanding again brings us to many people's favorite hobby-horse: violence-nonviolence dyad. So i rather not tread those paths again.


  However, i am still at loss as to why you have such love lost for America! America!


  Best 


  Pheeta Ram