Friday, September 09, 2005

Unseemly Gloating

Rediff commentator T.V.R. Shenoy credits Katrina with exposing the seamy side of the US. He writes:

The question intrigues me given the vastly different ways in which the people of Asia and those of the United States reacted in the face of immense calamity. The tsunami that struck nations on the Indian Ocean rim caused thousands of deaths but it also served in some strange way to draw people together.

The looting, arson, rape, and murder that television cameras caught in graphic detail in the devastated city of New Orleans was another story altogether. Look at Sri Lanka for instance, where the tsunami led to a (sadly brief) armistice between the Tamil Tigers and the Government of Sri Lanka so that aid could be rushed in.

Nor was there any of this criminal behavior visible when Mumbai endured the heaviest rains in over a century.

As we've noted before, there was indeed criminal activity in Tsunami ravaged areas. Further, as regards to how fellow Indians react to calamity, please refer to 1984.

It's one thing to say US authorities bungled Katrina's aftermath, it's quite another to gloat about it -- when our own emperor really has no clothes. Too much of the latter is going on, alas.

(Link courtesy: Seriously Sandeep)
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2 comments:

libertarian said...

PR,

Your title "Unseemly Gloating" captures the mindset of this writer. He's got a terribly smug attitude which doesn't fit the data in India well.

Hopefully, there is enough from the Indian press, people and government that registers the real concern that Indians do share with Americans. The following Pew Report was an eye-opener for me. India seems to be the only major country where the people view the US favorably. Hopefully TVR and his type are not the only ones being heard.

5:30 PM
Primary Red said...

Libertarian, well said.

Indianpatriot, for all our warmth for America, we too are puzzled by the Pew Report (not that even a misleading report is not good PR!).

In rural UP, that this blogegr visited in December last, there was a lot of anti-Americanism openly on display. If what was being said there is any indication, Pew likely sampled only urban India.

We agree about the motives of Jihadis -- but to compare those killers with the Bush administration is, regrettably, a real low blow.

As for Iran, its about negotiating the right deal -- which does exist out there. If Iran were to promise never to test a device and to quit sponsoring terrorism directed against Israel, in return, it will be accepted fully into the comity of nations.

Sooner or later, a deal much like this will hopefully be struck.

Best regards.

5:52 AM

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