Kerry for President

Very good to hear. 2 of my favorite and most respected American newspapers have decided to support Kerry, and came out with very strong editorials. Washington Post Editoral. New York Times Editorial. And it just increases my respect more.

Durga Pujo

Had a great day at Durga pujo today at Durga Bari, Houston. It was my fifth time here this year. And people had started asking - you still here? :-) anyway, tipu had come too from Dallas to attend the pujo with me. We went around noon, gave anjali, ate Khichuri lunch, chatted with lots of people, went to see the late afternoon show of "Chokher Bali" neary at Bollywood 6, ate dinner with pulao and came back home. Chokher Bali was awesome. Knew the story by thakur before, and the movie was really well made. Still amazed by the progressive rabindranath. Imagine a story like that 100 years from now.

Fidel

I am an unabashed fan of Fidel Castro. He and his right hand man of the great revolution - Che Guevara - have not only been an icon since my childhood, but a symbol of benevolent socialism. The vast gulf of difference between all the countries of south/central america and Cuba portray the success of Fidel in implementing his policies for good governance. In medicine, sports, education, it is comparable to the developed nations. And I guess, I particularly like him because he brought US to it's knees. Imagine, a country as small as Cuba doing that to the might of the US for more than 40 years. In Europe, Cuba is one of the most popular tourist destinations, and fidel is respected and admired. Western Europe, though being capitalist, is erudite enough to accept that there can be diverse way of state policies for common benefit of the people. "Joto mot, toto poth" - Vivekananda said this about religion. I believe the same about governance.

Just to put on record for people who are washed away by the dose of American media potraying cuba and fidel as the bad guy. Fidel and Che and other comrades freed Cuba from Batista, the cuban dicatator till 1959 and a stooge of America. US controlled Cuba de facto through him. Castro came and nationalised all the industries, thereby stopping the profit of the big American corporations. And as we know, the corporations control America. So, USA put sanctions against Cuba. They tried innumerable times to assasinate Cuba, tried to invade it through Bay of Pigs misadventure. But, Fidel in the last 40 years built a lasting society of peace and prosperity. Yes, there are areas in which things can improve in terms of freedom of expression. But, overall what he has achieved has left a lasting impression. A symbol tht communism can indeed succeed in pulling a poverty ridden country to comparative affuence. I salute you.

Yesterday

was my jonmodin. And getting so old, even stopped incrementing my age every year :-)
Not really. Still feel the same enthu about things when I was 21. But, am gradually being surrounded by people who don't reverse their age. :-|
Anyways, went to a friend's place for dinner yesterday, then dessert with some friends, got a bouquet of roses from some secret admirer, received blessings and wishes from many friends and family - all in a day.

North-East Problem

Recently, with the spate of bombings in India's North-East, the troubles of that region again came to the forefront of the news. The diversity of India, and that region in particular seems so difficult for assimilation to happen. Anyways, came across a very nice article written by a brother of mine - Nabendu Pal, a professor of Statistics and Mathematics, and a very learned person. The article.

Democracy at gunpoint

Isn't that what is happening exactly - democracy at gunpoint? And to think this sort of forceful imposition of ones beliefs would be successful is the height of naivete. It is the same principle which many people think was the reason for the fall of the Soviet empire - America forced it. That can't be further than the truth. It collasped under the sometimes stifling effects of communism, and the rise of a visionary - Michael Gorvachov. And the same would inevitably happen in the middle east, unless US stops pursuing this policy of hatred. If you are not with us, and hate us, we will kill you - that is Bushism. Than what happens is, people who did not hate US, starts hating it. And it goes on. War has never solved any problem. And to go for this mass massacare in the 21st century brings tears to my eyes.

Thats why I was heartened to read a New York Times article about Kerry. He disagrees with the democracy-at-gunpoint doctrine. I have started liking him more, and even forgiven him for voting to give a mad man authority for war.

American Election

Yesterday, saw the second Bush-Kerry presidential debate. Went on for 90+ minutes and was a pretty intense affair. And it would be surprising to me, if someone still votes for Bush. He is so biased and steadfast. He said statements like, "these people hate us, and we need to get rid of them". The policy he is pursueing, very soon there will be very few people who will not hate America. And then I guess, they will kill off everybody.

Heard a very coherent debate from a few friends recently, about the need to limit Iran/Korea/Iraq from having a nuclear weapon. They said, that in a non-democracy those might fall in the hands of bad people, and hence should be limited. By that argument, India can have nuclear weapons, right. But, still India had to face sanctions. I think it is just a way to maintain a world order that is favourable to the rich western countries. How can one explain the UN permanent member concept. And how US abuses it to block every resolution asking Israel to have some respect for human life and property. Anyway, I think very soon the world will turn different. China/India/Brazil coming up in a big way, economics is definitely going to force a change in the current biased world order.

Gay Rights

Today had an interesting discussion with a few friends about gay rights. To put on record, I was an anti-gay, to the extent I considered them perverts and not fit to live in a human society. And I considered myself rigid. So, in the arguments about they are human and free society, I had a hard time coming to terms with giving any person his rights which are unnatural. I offered a cogent argument about why gays want marriage right. because of tax benefits. everybody agreed. And governement gives tax benefits to couples, for having a child, because having a child is important for the country. It might be hard to believe in India, but all european countries are facing huge problems with low child birth, and hence the government gives various sops to get marries, to have a child etcetra. Gays just want a piece of the pie. I was adamant that a child needs to parents to have a healthy childhood. One moment, an argument from Raj struck me - he mentioned that only spouses get visitation rights in hospital. And a gay partner of a person dying in hospital bed was denied the right to see him/her. This appealed to my sense of rightiousness. We agreed on this. I still oppose calling 2 gays living together as marriage. It just sullies the noble institution of marriage. But, I am for giving them all other rights which a spouse might enjoy.

hmmm...never thought I would change on this issue. but, yes. I have changed. Marginally but distinctly. I do not have any problems with people not following my beliefs, as long as it does not affect society at large. But, I just want to carry this argument further. Equate people with countries. And now, if China can have nuclear weapons, by the same law of equality, why not Iran?

Back from Philli

Tonight, after spending the weekend after the conference with dada-boudi I came back. My dada is doing his MBA at Wharton and learning excel, powerpoint and outlook - thats what it seemed like. :-) Hema had also come to meet them up for the first time. And we all had a good time. The weather was a bit of a spoil sport though, raining quite a bit.