Being more numerous, Kashmiris of the Valley would love to dominate over their richer neighbors in P.O.K. But will those people- who speak a more Punjabi type of language- permit it? And what will happen to land occupied by Pakistan Army? How will the local elites face up to democracy in that region?
As things stand, Kashmiri Muslims can dominate over Jammu and Ladhakh as well as gain extra resources as Muslim majority state.
The Kashmiri Muslim has good reason to fear Pakistan- not their Army so much as the tribal irregulars who messed up the 1948 invasion.
The real problem of Pakistan is that it is an Army with a country to defend it rather than a country with an Army to defend it. Democracy in Pakistan is set up to fail so as to give the Army an excuse to take over. When things get too hot for the Army, Democracy has to come forward to serve as a human shield behind which the Army can cower.
India, of course, is a country cursed with politicians and bureaucrats. But the meaning of India is to liberate ourselves from both those types of criminals. There is an idea behind India- it is that of seeking out one’s own salvation by working with other people who are each following their own path. In practical terms, this means ’subsidiarity’- the notion that decisions should be taken as close to the people actually affected as possible- not far away in New Delhi. If we had wanted to be an Empire we should have kept the British and just insisted they put on a turban and learn to chew paan.
Talk of India being a rival to China is ludicrous nonsense. The Chinese introduced conscription and got rid of fuedalism twenty two hundred years ago. More Chinese killed each other in their periodic Civil Wars and other convulsions than anywhere else at any time. India on the other hand never had conscription, never had meritocratic selection of bureaucrats, in so far as there is an idea of India it is solely that of an area where people can work out their own salvation independent of the state.
Given this historical background, to dream of India becoming a flatulent Fascist State like China is not merely to be doomed to disappointment but also to have actively worked to harm India’s prospects. From the point of view of Freedom (and Spirituality in India is based on the notion of Freedom- of Liberation- ) India is on a better road. It’s not a road that can compensate you if you feel your penis is too small or have an inferiority complex or a hidden sadistic side. But it’s a viable road and a road the best people will find worthwhile taking. However, it is a road upon which our bureaucrats and politicians will soon lacerate their feet and fall by the wayside leaving the masses to pass on into a realm where people will not kill each other because of a meaningless name or some line drawn on a map by a British barrister who was suffering from loose motion.
Frankly, Indians and Pakistanis who really believe there is any point to the game of one upmanship should be forced to listen to the witless ravings of our Test Cricket prima-donnas until their own testicles fall off.
What is manliness in young boys is actually eunuch behaviour in grown men.
Accha, let’s agree it’s all the Britishers fault. Bloody goras! Using T.P only to clean themselves. Chee chee!It is too disgusting.

the principle of what you sow is what you reap / law of Karma / Yin and Yang / cause effect relationship is universally accepted.

In light of this princple ask this question – why did the Jews suffer the holocaust?

i think the question is whether America can make the changes i.e. if it has the ability to make the change instead of whether the change will be made

then the point is that if it has the ability now, in a much weaker situation than before, it must have had the ability before, and if the latter is true, why was the change not made? was it due to lack of will or deliberately not made?

the second thought – that the change (assuming it has the ability) was deliberately not made – is more appealing.

if there is peace in the ME, how does US gain? It does not gain. US gains with unrest in the ME because that allows US leverage to control the key economies in the ME of Saudi and Kuwait. With unrest in ME, these countries remain dependent upon the US to maintain their position.

Its important to remember that most economies in ME are run by Royal families, who would do anything to retain control of their countries – now this is also the root of terrorism – any surprise then that Osama comes from the Royal household of Saudi?

Then ofcourse, US is much weaker now, its defecit situation means it will need to choose its battles carefully. Also it has a new, weaker government, with the economic crisis looming large. Israel too has a new government that needs to act tough to maintain its popularity. the previous govt lost because of its embarrasing defeat by Hamas when it ended up negotiating for the soldiers kidnapped by Hamas. Also the Jewish lobby in the US is very strong – to give an idea of its strength it should be noted that Peter Warburg founder of Swiss bank UBS Warburg, funded by Rothschilds bankrolled the American Civil War over a 100 years – wants to undeniably assert its position with a Democrat Govt now in office. In other words, as the Jewish lobby says so America will do for the next few years. Obama is too small a figure to make a change, his popularity cannot compare to the Oil lobby that supported Bush.

To look into the future one can take some lessons from the past. Why does the violence in ME exist? How did it start? Who benefits most?

The answers to the above are rather obvious. And point to a very sad reality that there will no end to the violence here.

Finally, an important philosophical point. Why do Arabs and Jews not seek a peaceful solution? Are they waiting for a Mandela or a Gandhi or a Sicilian Godfather to explain that violence only breeds more violence, no one ever wins!

The root of violence lies in the nature of the individuals we are referring to. Both culutures are aggressive and have a lower consciousness. This is witnessed from their religions (the root of differences) they subscribe to what is called the Dhamsaka mode of instruction in Sanskrit. THis means they are instructed in a forceful, authoritative manner – what to do what not to do is explicitly stated, this is followed by stating what is the punishment and what is the reward. This mode of instruction is used for a lower species of living entity e.g. Circus animals. These people have a lower level of consciousness – this is evident from their actions. They have a base, animal like nature. Yes this is a generalization but it defines the majority. To prove it their actions are the evidence.

Can one honestly be expected to believe that they could not achieve peace for all these years, if they really wanted to? No, they could easily achieve peace if they wanted to but because of their base nature, they cannot. Just like an animal will always act out of its nature and is unable to change.

In a nutshell, no peace in ME due to the nature of individuals involved both Jews and Muslims, the vested interests of the Royals, the weakness of the US and
in its current situation, and the misplaced belief that Jeurselem is the seat of Intelligence – this is the reason why its so sensitive, because people think that by having Jeurselem one gains intelligent advantage – take George Soros is an example – a Jew who believes and advocates in Jewish intelligensia rooted in coming from the land of Jeureselem.

There is another angle here. Its borrowed from the Indian Scripture. THis is the Age of Kali. Here people are naturally selfish, quarrelsome and greedy. This is the cause for constant, inevitable conflict. This is the iron age and degradation is par for the course.

The topic was Terrorism and how to make this world stop and start making sense. I have been watching the news about Gaza and wondering what impact Obama will have on this. He’ll be inaugurated before this crisis ends. What do people think he will do? Do you think can affect change in the Middle East? Especially with Clinton as his Secretary of State or whatever? Biden is certainly up on the history due to his experience chairing the foreign Affair committee in the Senate for years…

Any forecasts? Will America be able to make the institutional and policy changes to really make peace? What are your opinions?

– Jeanne

Many Hindus and professionals believe Taj Mahal to be Shiva Temple that was Sold to the moguls yet for centuries it has been said to be mosouleum

Have a look for yourself

here is the link http://www.stephen-knapp.com/was_the_taj_mahal_a_vedic_temple.html

also for many centuries moguls, who introduced muslims to India, broke down temples, including some in my family, and there are many other examples despite such things, people co-exist

And BBD I think you may have misunderstood my posting. The fact remains that across all cultures, we will find shortcomings in various forms. Recognizing that,in my personal opinion, is not a display of intolerance. It is the first step towards solving the problem.

As a teacher and a mother, I have to understand what challenges exist in the youth before trying to be a guide and a mentor. I am raising my own kids and teaching other people’s children. I possibly cannot fulfill such obligations without understanding what I am dealing with.

For long enough, American youth have been raised with a naive and limited global perspective, which the American society is paying for now. Most jobs these days, require an understanding of diversity and an ability to adapt to multiculturalism, which many of my 12th graders self-admittedly are unprepared for. They are also unprepared for the social and mental discipline that thier Asian counterparts have.

I teach in an urban, inner-city. For those of you who do not understand what it means, refer to the film Dangerous Minds.

I want my children and my students, to overcome challenges and succeed. And it begins with calling a spade…simply a spade.

– Jeanne

Jeanne, you said :
“actually i really like the american culture of being frank, blunt and curious…”

I actually never said that. In fact, I find most Americans’ priorities are in the wrong place. That’s why I live in India. :-)

– Jeanne

Please take note of a correction.

I, and not Jeanne, had said “actually i really like the american culture of being frank, blunt and curious…”

I was speaking from personal experience, however it seems you are better placed based on your academic laurels.

However, with all due respect, I would like to mention that your note above seems to somewhat lack tolerance – the very message you want to share.

Best!

In my 15 years, I have come to appreciate the professionalism in USA but as far as the general populace being curious, I must differ. I am high school teacher and am totally blown away by the general lack of curiosity among the youth that is beyond thier immediate environmnet!!! The international academic comparisons provide ample evidence to that. I do not blame the youth but us adults who have allowed them to be comfortable living within such narrowly defined parameters. Even those in our generation seem to be obvlivious of anything beyond the US borders…so blunt yes, curious no so at times they are bluntly backward!!!

The american youth is relatively less prepared to be global citizens than the rest-of-the world. In developmental studies, it is shown that in one very credible measure of the 8 steps of development, american youth go up to max 4. (Please do not debate this for the sake of arguing; I am docotral student in education and just finished doing some active research on the subject!!!)

The point is that to reduce fanaticism, we have to teach tolerance to the youth across the world.

Take care,
BT.

take the full plunge into India, and you will really be richer for it.

i have many european friends living in all parts of india but they never take the plunge, instead living on the periphery – often spend most of their time complaining – instead i encourage them to really live in India, let go of the expat spots and live like a average middle class indian, and get out to rural india – the real india

you might find this amusing – i am a svp in an american company and my boss a pakistani, is the MD, yet we both never have an issue changing the toner, printer, etc and i am so called higher caste and he is, lo and behold, a pakistani – we dont have any differences and discuss all topics including religion (generally a taboo between indians and pakistanis) and i am always encouraged by the commonalities – the problem is always lack of Education and Tolerance – and actually i really like the american culture of being frank, blunt and curious…

sorry about the apparent scarsm in the ‘whitest of white’ it was amusing because in Indian culture, and in other eastern cultures, white is generally associated with purity……..you will find India will embrace you wholeheartdly, only if you forget your whitness! India embraces everything easily, and it absorbs everything, look at the things common between indians across all religions, regions etc, actually their are many practices done by Pak muslims that are not standard in Islam,(and for that reason they are often ostracized by the Arabs), and this comes across because of the culture,…….so take the plunge, you will be the winner by learning, becoming human………

I agree with BBD. The diversity in India is unparalled and wihout significant levels of tolerance, India would not have been able to balance such extreme differences and continued to exist as an increasingly progressive nation. If you truly feel that the tolerance within the context of such diversity is just a facade, why would your be living here? I am sure you have other options!!!

I live in the US since the last fifteen years and am constantly amused by general occidental perceptions of anything that is beyond narrowly defined templates:)

Well, let us assume for the sake of argument that Indians are intolerant, period. But we keep our suppossed mindless violence and bigotry within our borders. We do not import terrorism.

This discussion is not about cultural dynamics within each nation’s borders. That is a historical issues that every culture, political and social, has to deal with. Its a matter of social dialectics and human nature. The question here is about global terrorism and a despicable group of people who are using Islam to spread mindless violence.

Let’s not stray from the point. Each one of us have a role to play in creating a positive flow of energy working against fanaticism.

Peace!!!

Well to be honest all Asians have an affinity towards white skin, You go to malaysia and china and you would find women running behind any guy who is a foreigner , but i bet you wont find that in India, but yes we respect any foreigner and we call that “ athidevo bhava” which means “guest is like god”. On the contrary how do they treat blacks in Europe? i have stayed and worked there and have seen them being treated like third rated citizens .How long did it take America to elect a black president, and how long did it take India to have a minority or backward caste president?. the comparison will give you an answer to all your question. I come from a state in india where there is a temple which is right in the middle of a jungle and people make 41 days of mental and physical sacrifices to get there on foot. This is the the most visited temple in the whole of south India and before reaching that temple you have to go and pay tribute in a Muslim mosque. can you tell me any other place where you can see this? . I can give you more such examples if you want.
We don’t ask you to convert to any religion to enjoy benefits in our country, read bible or Koran in our schools, ask you religion in our passports or ask our president or prime minister to vouch for his religion before electing him

Well I agree with you one point. It is long time that India should abolish this extra pay for foreigners in tourist spots, but if you have work permit in India , then they should not be ideally charging it. You may like to check that out with the tourism ministry.

And by the way, India is tolerant and its not that we just show it. We believe it. We don’t believe in violence, our culture just doesn’t teach it, even if he is a hindu , muslim or Christian . But yes our patience is definitely running out.

And for god’s sake don’t compare Pakistan and India. India has contributed more than any other developing or even developed countries the filed of science, engineering, literature , philosophy etc. Western world have done that enough till 5 years ago because they were scared of India’s growth and wanted to support Pakistan( that’s not a generalized statement). Now look at what they have done to Pakistan. To be honest Pakistan is in this state because of the American and others western countries so you guys better stop preaching morality. Your greed for wealth, energy and dominance have been the main reasons we fought two world wars and innumerable other sufferings that is still being inflicted on the poorer nations.

We respect you and your views mam, but donot make genarlised statements because of your experiences with 5- 10 people in a country of 1.2 billion. Your statements will be used as an excuse by some to propagate an agenda of hatred against civlised and tolerant nations like ours.

The media in the U.S. is so self-centric, so propagandized, that we hardly hear about the rest of the world. Headlines are for celebrity rehabs and missing presumed dead wives or children, that nothing else matters. (And I will also say typically those are white wives and children – don’t start a flame war with me, think about it reflect over the last few amber alerts that got national coverage.) It feeds the fear Americans have with the unknown.

When I say “whitest of the whites” I meant I definitely do not blend in. I am very pale with blue eyes and red hair. I am friends with a Burmese woman, and had an Italian woman with her Jewish husband visit me. They all can get into the tourist places as Indians. Example: Taj Mahal. All of them are not citizens of India, but were able to just pay 20 rupees each. I, on the other hand, paid 750 rupees, even though I work here and pay my taxes here! :-) That’s all I meant by it.