Bastion of Free Speech
Letters
| Day of Infamy |
Sir,
America seems to be an altogether different place today. In 1968 when I went to the US, one of the books on the best-seller lists was Gideon's Trumpet, by Anthony Lewis of the NYT. It was an account of how a multiple recidivist, had used his knowledge of jailhouse law to file a letter petition to the US Supreme Court. The case was admitted by the Court and is known as Gideon Vs. Wainright, and established an indigent's right to counsel. The office of the Public Defender, which is found in all courts owes its existence to Gideon vs. W.
Now I understand that the AG's office is preparing the groundwork for eliminating Miranda warnings, intercepting lawyer client communications, and even to consider military courts whose proceedings would be secret and beyond review by any judicial authority. this is not the same country where Gideon's Trumpeet blew a clarion call for freedom and protection from the despotism of the state. As for the global war against terrorism,if these things are true, then the first battle has been lost already, and the score is something like terrorism 19 - rest of the world 3.
Merry Christmas,
Siddharth
Bangalore, India.
Dec 12, 2001.
| Here is the Outrage |
Sir,
Someone had to say this, and Chandy has said it beautifully. Islam has to evolve. Don't blame America for Islam's problems. Thank you for saying what I have been dying to speak out.
Joseph Kuriappan
Boulder, CO.
Editor,
This refers to Mr. Chandy's article. I liked some portions of it, but thought as a whole, he was vastly exaggerating. Since he gives some excellent analogies, let me try and answer him in the same vein.
Suppose my host was a local hoodlum who himself had committed several crimes. Should he not expect that others might retailiate. Mr. Chandy's advice then becomes only a matter of good form, namely, don't point it out now. This is a lesson in good manners, but nothing profound.
Second point. The fact that the author's friends behave nicely to him has nothing to do with US foreign policy. Even hoodlums can be nice to their wives, girfriends and friends. That doesn't mean they don't harm others. As to decent people electing decent folks, we should remember that US elections turnouts are barely 50%. The level of knowledge of US Congressmen and Senators is abysmal - most of them could not even locate Bosnia on a map. And then, nice behavior, or how they conduct themselves in the domestic front can be quite different from how they conduct their foreign policy.
Third point. Of course, everyone is shocked that the US was attacked. But the US attacking other countries has become so routine that we are no longer shocked by attacks by the US. Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Grenada, Libya, Serbia, Panama, Nicaragua, Cuba. The list is almost endless. Mr. Chandy has not even referred to these acts of aggression. This goes back to my first analogy.
I feel, therefore, that his article is not balanced, though his emotions are well-meaning and sincere.
Janardhan K. Tripathi
Bristol, UK.
Sir,
The happenings of September 11 were a great tragedy. To minimize it by saying that this was because of American policies, Israel's intransigence, etc. is utter nonsense. Terror is terror. Similar apologies were offered on behalf of Hitler at the time of World War II. Only Winston Churchill (later to become Prime Minister) was steadfast in his opposition to Hitler's politics of intolerance. Similarly, a hundred wrongs on the part of America are not reason enough for terrorists who believe in nothing but their own intolerance to blow up one building or kill one innocent person.
Ranjit Gupta
Syracuse, NY.
| Civilians and Combatants |
Sir,
Congratulations for a thought-provoking article. But I disagree with the writer. Anyone who kills a civilian is a murderer.
Vidya Charan
Lucknow, India
Niranjan Ramakrishnan replies:
But this misses the point. Are you suggesting that anyone who kills a military man is not a murderer? I am merely saying that sorting out civlians and combatants is not entirely straightforward. Anyone who kills anyone else is a murderer. Period.
| VJ Day in Madras |
Sir,
Your article on Tamilnadu politics (May 31, 2001) is on the money. But ultimately justice has triumphed. The Supreme Court has intervened to say Jayalalitha has no right to continue.
Abraham Vincent
Chennai, India
Sir,
After a heavy lunch, to ward off my sleep I needed something to jolt me, option was to drink coffee or read Swarajya. It was good jolt for me, from my sweet dreams, to read the Tragedy of Tamilnadu - the reality. The "PTO" was a nice way of putting it!! Yes it is time throw the paper. In US Somebody mockingly told Vivekananda that Indian politics is as bad a rotten apple. His immediate answer was "Yes, I know, but remember that inside that rotten apple is a seed which can germinate to a 1000 good strong tree!!". This goes hand in hand with the Bhagavathgeethae "Oh! Arjuna you can count the fruits in the tree, but can you count the trees in a fruit?".
Unfortunately all the 1000 trees Vivekananda promised have in turn turned out to be rotten themselves!!(-:. Watch the movie Nayak in Hindi. I wish that really happens in India!! I thought Jayalalitha was jailed long time back and was surprised indeed to learn that she is the CM!! Tragedy of Tamilnadu indeed!! My condolences!!
Ananda Vardhana
Portland, OR
