Is America Sliding?

July 20, 2007.

Whenever I ponder on this question, I get into a predicament, unable to believe that this country could commit errors in judgment on major issues, and take those decisions that are damaging its own image in the eyes of the world. This is the scenario that is enfolding of late.

The leaders in governance, Republicans or Democrats, are responsible for projecting the image of America. Being representatives of its people, who elected them with a hope for protecting and improving their lives, are belying their hopes with poor leadership. Sadly, this is a feature that is emerging in every country, whether in the Americas, Europe, or in Asia.

Countries are being lead by dogmatic ideologies that are far from realities and aspirations of people. I would say that the foreign policies, framed and pursued are the cause of all these troubles that fall on the domestic issues too. Priorities of a nation are skewed.
Admiration

America always fascinated me as a country and continues to do so. I have been an admirer of the British and American people, and followed their history and development. Their erstwhile leaders were great visionaries, who believed in co-existence.

Let me digress a bit. While pursuing my studies in Cost accounting, I was using the library of the Indian Institute of Public Administration in New Delhi. This institute was started at the recommendation of a consultant of Ford Foundation when the Government of India sought their assistance. - (http://www.iipa.ernet.in/mainprofile.asp ). The books in that library were mostly of American authors, who had an influence on me as they were easy to understand and systematically written on subjects of Economics, Office Administration, Cost Accounting and Management topics. I imagined then that its people were innovative in thinking, industrious at work, compassionate at heart, and friendly by nature. I visited USA thrice, and personally experienced their way of life, their systems, and their methodical thought process, their work ethics, all of which reiterated my beliefs. My dream to visit Europe and UK remains a dream. So, I feel sad at their present state.

I am an Indian citizen without any political leanings. All my views are formed based on the reading of the news by any means of media and exchange of views with people whom I come across. If there is a censorship of any kind in this medium, my assumptions and views are distorted. If the news about a country is not reported often, I do not know much about it. I need to do a lot of homework to know about it if my interest is strong.

The psyche of a leader is almost similar. His team of advisers on major issues briefs him. The integrity and the forcefulness of views of advisers could be questionable. The ground realities are many a time away from their reports, as we are coming to know through subsequent investigations. The leaders themselves are arrogant, adamant and refuse to correct their mistakes or change their ideologies. Citizens like us believe, repose trust in these leaders about what they say, and wake up only when things go wrong.

I do say that many Americans and Indians do not know much about each other’s countries till they personally experience and know each other’s way of life, the culture the customs and traditions that are followed. The thought process is different on certain issues, though the human nature is similar.

The Issues

The economic reforms that emerged with the former Soviet Union’s “Glasnost and Perestroika” policy and fall of communism disturbed the power balance, with the developing countries gaining steadily in terms of economic prosperity. It is my firm opinion the IT sector, again innovatively introduced by USA, contributed to transparency and global outreach in trade and commerce.

America’s initiative in Iraq war, along with Britain caused dismay around the world, and its continued involvement is causing considerable resentment at home, and its image getting tarnished day by day. Britain has slowly receded into the background, but nevertheless remain a target to the terrorists. The ultimate goal of each of the involved parties remains unclear to a layman like me.

The internal issues like Immigration, Health Care, Prosecutor firings in the justice department, Lewis “Scooter” Libby case, are but a few which are evading solutions. Issues are a plenty in every country, and the competence to solve them indicates the effectiveness of governance, which is not forthcoming.

Though America is considered as a super power on certain parameters, on competitiveness, but in terms of global peace Index 2007, sadly it is ranked 96. Readers may visit an interesting website - (http://www.photius.com/rankings/global_peace_index_2007.html ). Some may argue that the statistical figures that are compiled to show them as such may not reflect the realities. But, that is beside the point. I as an individual living in India am at peace within myself. When I open my eyes, read the newspapers, my mind is in turmoil and is reflective of peace loving citizens – to whichever country they belong. Oh! Why these things are happening? What is the root cause?

It has been observed that some of the countries in Central/Southern Europe have split, and regrouping slowly into a powerful European union. A trend is taking shape among the people of developing countries to gain economic prosperity. At the same time, a socio-economic inequality is also widening causing resentment and despair. Ordinary citizens are becoming aware of what they have been deprived by the people in governance. India is no different. India is a nation of contradictions, its people exhibit their skills better outside their country. Environment certainly draws the inner potentials of the citizens in any country.
Outcome

Where does all this lead to? A simple awareness that people prefer freedom of speech, freedom to rule themselves, freedom to demonstrate their intelligent abilities, freedom to live in peace, and a just reward for their hard work to lead a quality life. This is the same in all seven continents.

America as a country, has demonstrated its abilities to be a leader during post world war II. It can certainly correct its image that is being shown in poor light in its domestic issues, and in its foreign policy too.

The US 2008 presidential campaign is in full swing that might have started a little early. It may be good. A lot of debate is going on many issues, and the world over is watching with great interest. Whoever emerges as a leader, has a well directed path, clearly laid to bring back the country to its lost glory, stabilize it and run majestically.

A familiar scene we see in the good old western movies: a horse drawn stagecoach with passengers, running amuck, and out from nowhere comes a swashbuckling cowboy on his horse, watches the scene, causes the horse to gallop and in a flash jumps on to the carriage reining the horses. And just as swift, makes the ride smooth again.

That is the picture the world is waiting to see a visionary leader to lead America to stability in its outlook and improve its image. After all in any game, a team looks up to the leader for guidance and motivation. Likewise, in the game of global governance, every country aspires to be a leader, but it is the overall competitiveness of one country which gets to that position.

Which would be that in this Century?

Shoulder Bag – A Needy Companion.

July 18th 2007.

The other day sitting in a cane chair, contemplating on the life I lead so far, my gaze fell on the shoulder bag, a motionless object without a voice, yet so useful to me, and all my thoughts hovered on it. Thanks to the person who has designed it.

I consider and find a shoulder bag, a good companion to me whenever I go out, whether on travel, whether shopping, or whether to any event. Carrying it across the shoulders, with its strap right to left or left to right at a comfortable height, it has become a part of my personality.

In fact, carrying something in hand, be it a briefcase to office along with the lunch box (!), or only a medium sized bag-containing lunch in a stainless steel carrier and other contents, had been a way of life for me in my career. People known to me; picture me with something in the hand!

Long ago, at a Lions Club Meeting, when I was a member, and about to address other members on a topic, a senior most and respected member asked me - what do I carry in the shoulder bag?

Slowly and silently, to their chuckles, I emptied its contents:

In the front smallest of the pouches:

Three Ball pens- Blue, Black, and a Red one.

A pencil, Eraser, few rubber bands, Gem clips, a few pins pinned to a paper, a glue stick, my daily medicines, a palm-sized notebook, a calculator and my cell phone.

In the middle pouch:

My Spectacles, My Sunglasses, wallet containing money, debit/credit cards, my ID, A small towel, sometimes a pocket sized dictionary and a chequebook, bank passbook, and the house keys.

In the rear pouch:

A medium sized notebook, few A4 size papers, a carbon sheet, few empty envelopes, and a list containing important telephone numbers, and finally a stick-on 3M pad.

It looked I was carrying a mobile office stationary with me. In fact, these have become a necessity, and their usage could be handy anytime anywhere.

Of course, I change its contents whenever I fly.

My other family members found my carrying it useful, for they too gave some of their valuables to be kept in it, so that they could move around freely!

Yes, I was fastidious when trying to buy one. Just the right size, the right colour and number of pouches it should have. The zip and the material were always important.

Did I find the bag totally secured with some of its valuable contents, while carrying it?

Emphatically YES. I have been carrying it close to three decades, and nothing has been stolen. I always took precautions and was conscious of it on my body, and as I said, it is a part of my personality- a needy companion.

News, Periodicals, Books and Personalities.

July10^th, 2007.

The news in the daily newspapers, when not read on the same day, becomes stale news, as many want us to believe. They say you are not up to the latest news, and you are lagging behind. This is not true. Periodicals that come weekly, fortnightly and monthly cover this news with the writer's comments, which is a nice way of keeping up with those issues.

It is my habit to preserve interesting articles that come in print, save those that are online, and keep hard copies of some old magazines- The Economist, Time, Newsweek, Outlook, Reader's Digest, The National Geography, etc for reference and reading at a later date.

Books are an inseparable part of our lives. Some of them we buy, at times as a habit, and at times borrow from the library. Again, we go at great lengths to procure few of them wherever they are- to derive that pleasure of reading them couple of times, and to see them on the bookshelves as part of your personal library.

In course of our lives, we come across personalities whom we meet, some we hear, some we see on TV, and about some we read.

And yes, there are some amongst your relatives, your friends and peers, whose physical presence and association have a bearing on your own personality.

All the above influence us to develop an attitude and outlook to life that shape our character. This is, besides our own upbringing.

As is my habit, I keep rummaging the old issues more often than not to pick up the jewels out of them, not only to reminisce, but also to place them in the present context to find out their relevance and accuracy.

Well, during such exercise, here is one gem:

A tribute written by Clyde Haberman on David Halberstam, Journalist and author who died on Monday April 23^rd 2007 in a car accident south of San Francisco, appeared in the obituary column of The NY times on April 24^th 2007 that was reproduced in the HINDU the following day. Another article – Halberstam On Journalism- by Eleanor Randolph published on April 25^th, 2007 in The NY times brings out the inner qualities of this journalist.

This is the first time I am hearing about this Pulitzer prize-winning journalist, who seem to have written “Books on topics as varied as America’s military failings in Vietnam, the death of Fire-fighters at the world Trade Center, and the high-pressure world of professional basketball” as per the write up. For many young reporters, he had been a role model, and always had some piece of advice for them. According to him, Journalism was a noble mission. Reading those reports, the best quotes of his I liked, were “Never let them intimidate you. Never. If someone tries, do me a favor and just work a little harder on your story.” And while addressing journalists at Columbia University, he said, “Journalism is not about the fame, the more famous you are, the less of a journalist you are”.

Now, that piece is a great motivator, which makes you a little more determined in your endeavours.

Coming to books, each one of us is inspired by the books we read that are to our liking. During my graduation, when I was in my early twenty’s, we had John Ruskin’s “Sesame and Lilies”, which consisted of two essays he wrote and delivered as Public lectures at Manchester in 1864. The two lectures were “ Of Kings’ Treasuries” and “Of Queens’ Gardens”. Readers may access these lectures at the website link http://www.worldwideschool.org/library/books/lit/literarystudies/SesameandLilies/Chap0.html . The central theme of the first lecture- Of Kings’ treasuries- is BOOKS-How and What to read, and for the second lecture, he chose the theme- the education of Women. Both were classic subjects, and I often refer them.

However, those essays were of a high quality written and presumably spoken in the style of 19^th Century English, which was not easily understandable to us-youngsters-and put us into somnolence in the class then (!!). In my later years, these essays when read were a guide to me in choosing and reading books.

My Father, who is no more, was a voracious reader, not confining himself to one subject. Books brought from libraries, and some bought were always available for us for initial browsing and reading. The autobiographies, books on World wars, Fiction, literature, and History were there within easy reach. It gives me satisfaction to maintain his tradition.

Of them, Paul Einzig’s Autobiography-In The Centre Of Things-; The Fall and Rise of Alfried von Bohlen Und Halbach Krupp; Lord Chesterfield’s Letters to his Son; Death be not Proud By John Gunther, and his Inside books on South America, and Europe; are all very vivid in my memory and adorn my bookshelves.

These and books on spiritualism shaped my outlook and my own philosophy of life. I do wonder whether they were responsible for my occasional disillusionment with events that are happening these days the world over, for a thinking of Idealism has crept in.

Parents, Siblings, Family members, School Teachers, Friends, Relatives, Colleagues with whom we are associated inspire us in fine-tuning our mannerisms in our day-to-day lives. A few among them shape your personality with their constant advice, and with whom you share your views, happiness and sorrows.

My father has been my inspiration in shaping my outlook to life. My mother in influencing to maintain family traditions, and all others giving me that support which one needs. All help us to develop value systems.

Yes, the others whom we do not meet, but know about them through books, TV, Cinema do inspire us by their actions, writings and speeches. They raise your curiosity.

We are all a part of the society and the surroundings, in which we live.

And that brings us to the type of governance we are all subjected to by the polity. We invariably hear from our elders that the period they grew up was better, as we all say “In those good olden days…”

Yes, they are right to the point. The present day world has certainly developed in terms of technology, but at the cost of degradation in simple value systems.

We are in the swirling waters of Power, Intolerance and Greed. We can swim out by thinking and obeying God’s basic principles.