Reply to Reuben Horne

Submitted by Arvind (United States), Nov 12, 2005 at 00:04

Reuben,

Thank you for your kind words and detailed explanation. I agree that the West and India have a lot in common. However, I have clarifications.

Regarding churches being targeted, let me clarify that Hindus are at peace with Jews, Parsis, Jains, Buddhists, and all others except Christians and Muslims. Christians are a bit aggressive and invite trouble (sadly, the Western rather than Eastern churches are the ones to blame). That is why you see them have problems not only in India, but also Sri Lanka, Mongolia, South Korea, Thailand, and many other countries. In their efforts to proselytize, they indulge in deceiving the illiterates with their faith-healing, insult local traditions in a provocative manner, and use force to convert people. That is when retaliations happen.

See for example, the following news items:
http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/dec/06trip.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/717775.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/899422.stm

India is unique in the sense that these violent Christian groups are allies of Islam and Communism in India!

Christians entered into a treaty with Jews not to convert them. That saved Judaism from being eradicated (otherwise, it might have survived only in India). Christians don't indulge in the violent tactics in the West. They should behave in the same way in India and other countries. I do not want to make this into a discussion on Christainity.

To come to the main issue, you are right - it is mostly the liberal media that is to blame, but the conservative media (like Washington Times) too uses different yardsticks for different people. If Americans are killed, it is terrorism, but if Indians are killed by jihadi terrorists, it is a "dispute." That attitude must change. By no means am I gloating by saying, "I told you so," but I will say that I empathized with Benjamin Netanyahu's comments over the 9/11 attacks. That comment was not an "I told you so" but an expression of fervent hope that the West will wake up and not pander to Muslims.

Indians are trying to build bridges with those opposed to Jihad and Marxism. One way to begin would be to force multiculturalism in Arabia. I do not see a reason for Muslims alone to have the privilege of possessing exclusive zones for themselves.

-Arvind

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