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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
amruth1
Published Letters: 71 Editor's Choice: 2
I thought I share my experiences in America, having studied, lived and worked there for 10 years. I am originally from India and lived in Milwaukee.Even before 9/11 most of my peers at work used to think Indians were all Arabs and did not know the difference between Moslems or Hindus(which I am). Most Americans and especially Evangeslists(from my personal exp terience as someone who "looks" like an Arab) could not care less about the fact that more than a Billion people in South Asia, SE Asia and China are not Muslim.
I had to leave a nice internship after 3 years because of the harrasment from a coworker who started picking on me after he saw a movie called the Thirteenth Warrior with Antonio Banderas.The movie is about a medieval Arab warrior who goes to Finland to fight with some Vikings.My coworker used the lines in the movie to say how Arab horses were smaller than their Nordic counterparts!
All this in 1998 way before 9/11.
After 9/11 even my closest friends used to say how difficult it might be for my parents in India because Iraq was bombed!!!
They have absolutely no clue and frankly do not care or want to know that there is a huge difference between a Arab and a Hindu.
I think this mostly conservative Christian strain was ingrained over the centuries going back to when Europe was ruled by the Turks.
I strongly feel this has been passed down through the generations.Prosletyzation does not help I am sure.
I think 9/11 bought to the surface feelings that were hidden inside. Believing in the link with Saddam gives vents to those feelings.After all some Arab(s) have to pay for the terrorist act.If they cannot catch Bin Ladin,Saddam is good enough.
I think this will never change because of Religious fundamentalists on both sides.I do not know why the authors , the editors of Salon are surprised at this data.Just open your eyes and ears your own friends I am sure have similar beliefs.
or the one with Arnold and a plane hijacked by Arab terrorists? Both made way before 9/11/
Maybe Hollywood(and liberals) knows something we don't! History is full of Wars started for the reasons not laid out originally to the public.
The article should really focus on why the Press went along....why do we keep discussing the war when we should be worrying about getting out?
I think the rush to War was a symptom of breakdown in Democracy.The failure in the system is what needs to be discussed. That in my opinion is more costly.
There is a saying that if America sneezes the rest of the world gets a cold.Bush was reelected to office after we went to war with Iraq.
Bush is a representative sample of the 31%.Remember the press conference(before 9/11) where he mistook I think Afghanistan with Kryzkisthan. All"Stans" sound the same to him.
Kipling talked about the White Man Burden in his racist diatribe but I think developed or powerful Nations have a certain burden in the World Court. Innocent people die if a country is falsely accused. This holds ground with China as amuch as the US.Taiwan could be bombed with no reason.
Mr.Peppin this is what I was trying to say. Each of us have a responsibility to know ,expecially if we are going to elect trigger happy Presidents.
Regards
It seems quiet easy for some people to apologize.We all alologize when we step on someone's toes on the subway or bump into someone and that is how Sullivan's apology sounds. How can any journalist worth his salt think anything nice of Cheney or Rumsfeld?Everyone knows of their track record during Nixon's term and upto the current administration. But as the previous reader to this letter said very aptly how do we prevent this from happening again?How do we prevent the voice of reason to sound over the louder voices of incompetence and hate?America will have many War's like Iraq in the future, I am sure. But can we prevent it by having better dialogues in the future?
Gullible my A..!
pointing blame when the going gets tough;
"You could not have tortured me enough to vote for Mr. Kerry or Mr. Gore, but I'm not at all thrilled with who I did vote for."
But they did vote for the war indirectly and endorsing it directly as half the country did. So how are they any different than the Bush and his cronies?
I am hard core liberal but I support Bush in this case because he at least sticks to a tune. I have no sympathy for people who suddenly actlike it was not their fault when the milk is spilled.
And why is Salon so desperate to print crap like this. Is a Democratic victory any good?It is like coming second in a two man race. Getting elected when the damage is done and when the electorate has no other choice is not merit or democratic.
The Democratic leadership needs to grow some balls.
Say what you believe in and the votes will follow and disasters like Iraq could be minimized.
Salon needs to go back to its beginnings and stop being desperate.
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Once seen as a lunatic fringe, reactionary anti-women groups are courting respectability
Salon headlines in your mailbox
