Letters
Letters
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It is obvious Mr Raj Paul (“Letters” October 2006) is an Indian and hopefully by now an ex-subscriber. It is also obvious that he hates India (rat worshiping, third world hell hole) and that he is Republican. But has he heard of free speech? Tch, tch, so much venom. Has he heard of a yoga or anger management class? Your magazine is better off without subscribers like him.
As for Raj Paul’s comments on your June 2006 Editorial “Worst President in History?”, I think the Southern fundamentalist Christian influence, right or wrong we stand by our “Christian Commander-in-Chief,” has conquered his thinking “matter.” What Paul does is like an Ostrich sticking his head in the sand and the exposure of his rear stinks the surroundings. I am glad he will not be using Little India as toilet paper. He needs stronger sandpaper to cleanse his behind. I cannot imagine what will clear Paul’s thinking. He needs to return to his Hindu roots and find the passionate utterances of the ancient King Ashoka in the aftermath of his final bloody battle, “Ahimsa paramo Dharma,” meaning, “Mercy is the greatest of all virtues.” It is said that King Ashoka never fought a war again, but tried to make peace with his enemies. Paul following a born-again, fundamentalist Christian, self-professed white-armored knight is not going to help him. As for President Bush, he is leaving a legacy for Americans that killings of terrorists, non-terrorists and the deaths of his own fellow Americans begets more killing and hate with no end in sight. Change comes when the self-professed reborn Christians start to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. He and his administration are in tit-for-tat with terrorists and lowering themselves to the terrorists’ level. For every terrorist he eliminates hundreds and thousands more are created. It appears to me that Raj Paul cannot take any criticism. His medicine for those who disagree with President Bush is for them to pack up and leave the country. If so, more than half the people will have to leave. I wonder why he did not take his own medicine during President Clinton’s term, whom he seems to have disliked so intensely. Only people who do not have substance use such strong language as Paul. I am writing in response to the rabid rants of Raj Paul in your last issue. They are the typical racial comments one gets when disagreeing with a red neck American: “Go back to your country,” etc. While Paul has exercised his right to free speech, which I am sure he feels and is entitled to, why does he feel so strongly about someone else who does the same. I have been a journalist close to 40 years and wish to tell you that other than the lively and thought-provoking articles, especially by Lavina Melwani, your editorials are something I look forward to, as you tell it like it is. Most of the other ethnic media hide under the table when anything controversial comes along, though they claim to be courageous in journalism. Keep up the good work and please do forgive Paul’s rant. The ranting and obscene outbursts of Raj Paul left me wondering whether he might possibly need psychiatric help. If he is vehemently pro-Bush, that is his right. But to let loose the volley of filth and abuse against your magazine for voicing the opposite viewpoint is fascist, anti-democratic and in some states not free speech, but criminal harassment. Moreover, he uses terms like “rat-worshipping” or “third world hell-hole” the way some ignorant redneck or KKK member might. Yet his name betrays that he, too, is of Indian background. Normally, I have no great love for my Indian heritage. I’m analogous to someone from a Jewish family who marries a non-Jew and really has no concern for Israel or synagogues. But what Paul did was like a Jew yelling “Heil Hitler!”, or a black man calling other blacks epithets like “nigger” or “stinking black monkey.” You might consider asking your lawyers to research laws and check whether his verbal vomiting might have crossed the line between free speech and harassment and abuse. If so, you might consider filing charges against him. Why do you even print such sewage? Your magazine embodies class and intellectual discourse and should not provide a forum for persons whose language and mindset hint that evolutionary missing links might not be totally extinct. Editor’s Note: Several readers commented that Little India should not have published Raj Paul’s tendentious comments. We are frequently subjected to derogatory attacks, mostly from the reactionary right wing, upset at the very idea that immigrants have any right to criticize the administration, usually invoking some variation of, “If you don’t like it here, go back to your country.” We almost always ignore such rants. But the editors felt that since these comments came from someone within the community, they ought to be publicly shared, after securing the author’s approval. Paul represents a mindset within the community that also should be recognized. Little India encourages critical comments as much it does praise, because in the famous words of Oscar Wilde, “to disagree is to understand.”
The movie-makers had a chance to show the Hindu way as well, instead they showed only the Western “convert by any means” way. Mahatma Gandhi gave us independence, but there exists a mental slavery amongst some Indians. It’s been almost four years war in Iraq was over but the peace in Iraq is elusive. Everyday more and more innocent civilians and coalition forces are dying and it seems there is no end of this massive killings anytime in near future. To bring peace in the Iraq, perhaps Saddam Hussain should be restored as president of Iraq, as he seems to have the ability to unite the country. I am great fan of your magazine. I generally do not get time to read, but I make certain is to read Little India for its interesting and moving articles. Please keep it up. You touch upon unusual subjects and enlighten me in many ways. The article on Kipling’s New England Home (October 2006) says that Kipling named it Naulakha, or “precious jewel.” However Naulakha means 9 lakhs, not precious jewel. In that period, 9 lakhs was indeed a lot of value, rare and precious. We have a theater in Ludhiana constructed in 1939 called Naulakha Theater. In 1939, 9 lakhs meant something. |
I thought your June 2006 editorial about President Bush and the present administration was very brave and a well-needed questioning of authority by a minority community publication in this country. Perhaps the “Southern Fundamentalist Christians for Bush” will try to explore with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) whether they can deport you or your staff back to your countries of origin. 
Your review of “Kank” reminded me of the movie and also your earlier article on interfaith marriages. In this movie, Rani Mukherjee plays a Hindu, who falls in love with a Christian, played by Shah Rukh Khan. She is shown visiting a church and bowing to God. As a Hindu, that did not bother me, but I waited in vain for some reciprocity, showing Khan visiting one of our beautiful temples. At the end of the movie, the Hindu hero is shown marrying a Christian at a Christian wedding. Why not show both sides? As your article on interfaith marriages showed, couples can have a happy marriage while not losing their chosen faiths. Instead a message is being sent that Hindus should give up their faith when intermarrying.