Comments

"My main emphasis on Obama is his efforts to thwart terrorism in the correct methods appropriate. Where as Bush used illegal force and means to invade a country on forged documents, I believe Obama will attack the heart of terror. As so many people know, there have been camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan for the longest time periods. Pak's intelligence service, INS I believe, supports extremists, and India had forewarned the U.S. of such activities, yet everyone remained silent because it never hit our front doors. 9/11 opened a gateway in the terror industry, and finally people answered the call to eliminate it. I give some compliments to Bush in his activities to eliminate their bases around the world, and closing bank accounts allocated towards terrorism. If it wasn't for Iraq, his approval rating would have been much higher, and McCain might of had a better chance at the election.

The question now remains, "If we leave Iraq as Afghanistan was left, will it lead to an invasion by extremists, and turn that country into another safe haven for terrorists?" Sadam and Osama did not get along, they have no connections what so ever to date. They hated each other! Are the people of Iraq going to be left in the dark, after what we have done to their country. I hope not. I voted for Obama, but we still have to question the moves the country will make with him. We cannot let the powers be abused as they were with Bush, and any office D.C.

Yet, there are two main points in the article above, which I read with a little glee of enthusiasm and disappointment. As a 1.5 generation in the United States, there is a great lack of organizing between my peers and fellow Hindu Americans. Even age barriers and egos make it difficult for us to communicate with our elders; to be honest, I feel that our elders look down on us very harshly. It is hard for the younger community to communicate when feeling pinned to the ground. I suggest that our elders make the youth feel more proud and joyful when they see one of their youth attending a service at their local Mandir or Temple. Because most of the times, I don't.

As far as my age group, Sacramento has Hindus from many parts of the world where Hindus consist of a significant minority and majority. We have them from all over the different states of India, and different parts of the globe as well including Fiji, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Bali, and other places as well. Also, many of my peers are intellects in their own right. I mean, the mind capacity of us put together would cover so many academic fields, it amazes my mind.

Yet, we are also fragile and loose in our organization. I believe many of us our victims of prejudice and stereotyping from and early age, it has left us a little mentally ill. I'm sure as we are older in our mid twenties we can stand on out own two feet, but I'm sure the youngster of this day and age still go through the phase of being singled out, and ironically we are too proud to let our parents know this truth. There are so many concepts within Hinduism, it is difficult to choose which one to use. Peace, or standing up for your rights. Defending yourself from harm, or the peace will overcome our enemies. Either, there are different situations for both.

Through past experiences, many of us stereotype each other within the Indo-sphere. Where is he from, how much money does he/she have, what is the skin tone of their skin? What language do the speak, do they speak it properly, what Caste do they hail from? Kind of things that make me feel sick inside, yet I can't help but feel that I am being judged by these issues. Not only this, but the outside pressures to convert and luxury that it may bring. We have to go through a lot of Drama to create a good quality of life for ourselves. If a person is feeling like they are being judged, there are so many categories of what we would fall into. Fairness, equality, justice. They are meant to be blind so that everyone has it.

I can go on for hours on end, but I think I may have sidetracked too much off topic. I am satisfied with our newly elected president, and may he settle the scores with the enemies of freedom. Our community is a strong one, strong minds need the bodies to support the cause. Walking is as easy as a thought. So let's walk down the path to salvation, a Hindu one that is."

"Wow.. just a long reply... definitely off topic but presents a point. First I would like to touch base with Obama and how can he affectively deal with Pakistan/terrorism/etc. Obama will be a good leader but some of actions will have question some doubt when dealing with the Pakistanis. For example, if he does make Clinton be a special envoy to India with regards to kashmir. It will pose a huge problem as Pakistanis feel Clinton favor Indians over the Pakistanis. President Clinton in 1997, during the Kargil conflict, invited Nawaz shariff to the White house and had deliberations with him about the crisis going on. he brokered a cease fire between the Indians and pakistanis. even though India tested a nuke in 1997 which angered clinton, since it violated the CTBT, he understood why India did it. the point I would like to make is that we must have a balanced approach to dealing with the situation. We cannot and should not be impartial. US has its own interests too. However, in dealing with India and Pakistan to me now under Condi Rice, its seems to be a farely balanced approach to the situation. Madame Secretary Clinton, LOL !, will have the same bias as President Clinton to the Pakistanis. How will the Pakistanis deal with her then ?

Now then approach your off topic discussion of the Hindu diaspora. the disconnected ness found within the the Hindu second generation vs. elders. Well, I feel it is due to our own lack of interest. We are afraid of how the elders will react and that is why we give up and don't ask. Furthermore, we get overwhelmed with all the rituals associated within the faith that loose the true meaning of such a beautiful faith. Now, I have faced the similar problems in the past, but I have come to overcome it. At least in my temple, the priest communicates with the younger generation about the rituals he is about the conduct and the significance behind them in english which is great! I enhance the relationship further by speaking to him in bengali. I am always curious and ask questions and he doesn't seem to mind one bit. I don't know how it is with temples in other communities. Also in college, my hindu students association would have annual pujas celebrating navaratri, shivaratri, and lakshmi puja. Our priest for the org, was a North Indian fellow who did the similar thing as my temple priest did in my home town. It is up to us to find out the meaning not our parents job to teach it to us. Sometimes our parents do it mechanically and don't even know the meaning themselves !! So it is better to get it from a direct source then from our parents.

One last point, have you ever noticed at least when celebrations do occur within our community it usually is a North Indian one. the point I am trying to make, is the community doesn't care. I am Bengali, and bengalis celebrate Durga Puja quite differently then the way North Indians celebrate it. I have been to a plethora of garbas, etc. We need to teach diversity within our own community by showing how people of other communities celebrate a particular religious festival (case in point, Navratri). Does anyone care how the outside communities celebrate it, NO !

conclusion: it is up to us the second generation Hindu American community to find out more about our faith and rituals and traditions associated with it. To be a unified Hindu community, we must conduct outreach with the outside hindu communities not mainstream ones and form an unified identity to tackle the problems up ahead.

Finally, Obama does have hope. It probably is a Hindu in the closet. He cares an imagine of Hanuman on his key chain. thats a start, one could say !"

"Let me clarify when celebrations do occur in the community.... I mean in college not in the community at large."