പ്രേമം

പ്രേമിക്കാന്‍ തോന്നുന്നു. ഒന്ന് കൂടെ.

Anti-Americanism

This is about an article by Pervez Hoodbhoy in Dawn titled "Faisal Shahzad, anti-Americanism, and terror", reproduced in The Hindu here.

"Instead of pronouncing moral judgments on everything and anything, we Pakistanis need to reaffirm what is truly important for our people: peace, economic justice, good governance, rule of law, accountability of rulers, women's rights, and rationality in human affairs. Washington must be firmly resisted, but only when it seeks to drag Pakistan away from these goals. More frenzied anti-Americanism will only produce more Faisal Shahzads."

Is it not about letting the United States get away with whatever they want? Like more of Chile, Iran, Nicaragua, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Cuba (long list).

Yet, it would be wrong to scorn the humanitarian impulse behind U.S. assistance in times of desperation. Shall we simply write off massive U.S. assistance to Pakistan at the time of the dreadful earthquake of 2005? Or to tsunami affected countries in 2004 and to Haiti in 2010? In truth, the U.S. is no more selfish or altruistic than any other country of the world. And it treats its Muslim citizens infinitely better than we treat non-Muslims in Pakistan.

I wonder how much percentage of the US military budget for Iraq/Afghanistan would be the total "massive" aid they gave to Pakistan, Haiti etc. It may be true that other countries are no less selfish, but US's position as the most powerful country in the world puts it at a different position. George W. Bush should be tried for killing millions in unnecessary war, which Obama doesn't agree even though he has been saying that Bush has been wrong from the beginning. Yet, reg: Haiti, there was an "AID coalition" between Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, and , and thus GWB was brought back to public sphere, his untouchability forgotten, thus giving him some kind of legitimacy.

So what should we do? Mind our own business till the US meddles in ours? I do not think so. Should I link to "First they came.." by Martin Niemöller? Now "self interest" is not the only reason I want to protest against the US... Just leaving a sample video.



Some clarification:

I am talking about secular, political resistance, not about killing innocent people on the basis of silly religions and holy wars.

Pleasure

There is pleasure in Nature. There is pleasure in walking. Especially in the mornings. Especially its cold outside and you want to sweat yourself against it by walking fast. As fast as possible. Especially when its springtime, when the walkaways are either bordered by flowers of yellow, white, red and violet, in full bloom. When all the green things are having a beautiful green color, helped by the rain that has been falling for the last two days. When the grass is wet. And, if the walkways are not the tarred, long, nice ones, you are provided by a light green yet sunlight proof canopy by the trees, and paved walkways. There is pleasure, and life is good. And you reach class earlier than you would have had you taken the bus or tram, walking 3 KM.