Global vs. Local

I always wanted to be local. I am comfortable that way. The concept of being global enticed me a little bit in my early days of USA just like I got enticed to touch the star on the sky when I was a little boy. Very soon I realized I can't touch a star! And I realized I can't be global either. Honestly, I do no want to be global!

The general definition of being global is demonstrating ability to tolerate and follow foreign cultures/lifestyles in addition to one's own. However, more often I found myself in a situation where I am expected to embrace foreign lifestyle at the expense of my own. When I publicly mourned about the Virginia Tech tragedy which cost the lives of 32 innocent people, I am categorized as 'Global'. At the same time, when I wrote articles and had intense debates about the freedom of Tamils in Sri Lanka or about the massacre of my innocent people, I am criticized 'local'. When I discussed American politics, I was considered Global. Talking about lack of electricity and water problems in hundreds of villages in India is considered local. Hanging out in a group full of people who speak a language that only I don't understand put me as 'global'. Wanting to marry a Tamil Lady made me 'local'.

Another thing that pisses me off these days is this. Why is the word 'Global' synonymous with the word 'western'? I despise this anomaly from my very inner core. By default westerners are categorized as people who are broad minded and global. Everyone who wanted to be global displays characteristics that a 'westerner' does. But, a native westerner is surprisingly "ill-informed" about things that are not local in which case these guys are behaving like "ultra locals". Why would I care about being global (read 'westerner') when the so called 'global' person doesn't even have a modicum of understanding about events happening in a foreign soil?

I was constantly bombarded by my friends and relatives in India about questions related to America - for ex, Is Obama going to win the Presidential election? Is NASA going to send another space shuttle? Can America recover from financial debts? Is Avatar a big hit in America like in India? I shut their mouth once and for all when I said I do not even read the headlines of American dailies. Honestly, my source for American news is primarily Indian dailies.

There are a few things that I can never compromise. My country stands out first in the list. Only by being local I get to love my country this much. I could be living in a foreign soil, but I can never compromise my country for anything. My country gave me so much and expects me to reciprocate not to herself but to the needy. If money is not a possibility, at least a couple of tear drops will suffice.

I was born as a Tamilian, I will die as a Tamilian. I was born as an Indian, I will die as an Indian.

Operation Green Hunt

(The following letter is sent to the Editor of the famous Indian daily - "The Hindu")

Sir,

The recent killing of 75 CRPF men by Maoists delineated two important things:(1)Our strategy towards Maoists is certainly "weak". The CRPF is unable to capitalize their positions in enemy zones. (2) In one way or the other, the Maoists are given "enough" updates about the moves of the Government. It seems they also knew when to attack and when to be silent. It is about time the government stop playing the 'negotiation game' with the Maoists and come forward to retaliate strong and swift. Doing this will at least increase the credibility of the UPA government a little bit which is currently struggling to reduce the skyrocketing prices of mundane items, to pass the women's bill, to gain access to deadly "Headley", to solve the "ever-unsolvable" water problem of Tamilnadu with its bordering states.

Sincerely,
Boobalan.