Bridging the Gaps

September 8, 2007

Along with family members, I had the pleasure of crossing the Detroit River from Windsor to Detroit over the Ambassador Bridge, on our way back from Toronto. It was a momentary decision to return over the bridge, as we went through the Windsor Tunnel under the Detroit River from Detroit to Windsor on our way to Niagara. Both ways we all felt the thrill of darting across from a country to another in a few minutes. We did marvel at the ease of travel, for all reasons, facilitated by the Countries to their respective Citizens, despite cultural differences. That visit was about a little less than three years ago.

The Ambassador Bridge was in the news, for a different reason. It was surprising to know that this bridge was NOT owned by either of the countries, or together, but by a Detroit-area businessman Manual “Matty” Moroun. Readers may read the entire story, an interesting one at http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0802/p20s01-lign.html.

Mr.Moroun wants to build another one by its side, and that is creating a problem. The need is there, as all agree due to its importance as that would increase trade enormously. But exact location is being disputed, as there are apprehensions that it would conflict with interests of certain sections of the community. It would anyway get sorted by the people in course of time.

Be that as it may, another bridge was also in the news – the one over Mississippi river in downtown Minneapolis, which collapsed, resulting in tragic loss of many human lives. It has become an eye opener to concerned establishments, and Americans to introspect the need to examine all the bridges and its age old highway infrastructure too, which they consider as an important arm of its economy. Many of its citizens are genuinely concerned about the crumbling of many of its physical foundations, as per the editorial of NYT online.

Now about Bridges: There are countless bridges spread across land and cities in every country. They are symbolic of traditions, of usage, of friendship, of love, of hatred, and on human sentiments they all last long. Sometimes they are even cursed! Stolen too!!

Yes, Stolen. The following report of Reuters on 31^st August 2007 is reproduced:

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian police have detained a 45-year-old municipal worker for stealing a bridge.

The 5-meter span metal bridge disappeared from a river crossing in the Ryazan region, east of Moscow. Police said they tracked it down to the man, who had used his work truck to remove it, and then chopped it up and sold it for scrap. In a statement, Ryazan region police called it "the bulkiest theft of the year."

The mention of the word – Bridge - flashes in the mind as a physical structure that connects two pieces of land that are distance apart. It is the spirit and ingenuity of humanity to think of physically reaching out to the other side, to explore the vastness beyond. It often takes years to construct a bridge, but a moment to collapse.

But the Bridge, we all require now is between War and Peace; between developed and developing countries; between equality and inequality; between ignorance and enlightenment, and bridging all gaps of misunderstanding.

If American politicians think that they want to be a super power, they need to take the initiative to bridge these gaps. Do they have the wherewithal? Sadly, their present posture does not reflect so. In the present day world, lasting peace can be in place ONLY through diplomacy, and continued discussions. All peace loving citizens HATE terrorists and abhor violence, for the simple reason that it brings in misery to the body and mind.

Sometimes the ground realities are bitter and harsh to eschew and fathom as well. But, they have to be faced with the sole aim of bringing in peace. Mahatma Gandhi had always held the view that the Indians were not against British people, but against their regime in India during India’s Independence struggle, which ushered in Democracy. Similarly, many of the educated Indians have experienced the Life in America, and have a great admiration for its people, but certainly have reservations about its Foreign policies.

Many of these gaps can be bridged through dialogues with an open mind of trust and transparency. Lot of things can be achieved globally if only self interests, personal advancement, and personal philosophies are set aside, and instead explore common interests, develop countries, and pursue the philosophy of co-existence.

A very interesting article appeared in The Christian Science Monitor from its August 8, 2007 edition, written by Ben Arnoldy, elaborating why Minneapolis is rated No: 1 in Volunteerism.

Woven throughout the reflections offered over the past week during church services, rallies, and by onlookers on the riverbanks, has been the metaphor of rebuilding "human bridges." "We need bridges between people," says Kathy Hintz, explaining why she came out for a prayer vigil held Sunday night. "We have to trust each other because other people made these cars and these bridges. It's pretty amazing that anything works as well as it does. And if you can't trust each other, you can't have a community."

What a wonderful Concept! Its time we pull up the politicians and force them to start constructing “Human Bridges”.