sidbee
06-01 03:03 PM
what lawsuit :confused:
whom are we going to sue? USCIS for following what the congress has laid out....
i guess what you mean maybe is sue the congress.....:D
Buddy , people do win lawsuits , against the governments.
I am not saying sue them , and get greencards .
Lawsuit, may be possible againstcountry quota.
Lawsuit, may be possible to recapture the wasted immigrant visas. The Law states the limit , for a year. It doesnt say that it expires on the last day of the year.If USCIS couldnt use that in a year , it should use it the next year.
Paying medicare/ss taxes, and not getting them, is also wrong, These are not Income Taxes, we are paying for some services, which we would never get.(Just like unemployment insurance)
whom are we going to sue? USCIS for following what the congress has laid out....
i guess what you mean maybe is sue the congress.....:D
Buddy , people do win lawsuits , against the governments.
I am not saying sue them , and get greencards .
Lawsuit, may be possible againstcountry quota.
Lawsuit, may be possible to recapture the wasted immigrant visas. The Law states the limit , for a year. It doesnt say that it expires on the last day of the year.If USCIS couldnt use that in a year , it should use it the next year.
Paying medicare/ss taxes, and not getting them, is also wrong, These are not Income Taxes, we are paying for some services, which we would never get.(Just like unemployment insurance)
wallpaper and the Declaration of
saimrathi
07-03 06:58 PM
On 7/3/07, Senator_Clinton@clinton.senate.gov <Senator_Clinton@clinton.senate.gov> wrote:
Dear Friend:
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and concerns with me
via e-mail. I hope you will understand that, because of the volume of
e-mails I receive from residents of New York State, I cannot at this time
respond to messages received from residents of other states. I encourage
you to contact your U.S. senators if you have an issue or concern that
needs immediate attention. You can access your senators electronically by
visiting http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index_by_state.cfm for a listing
of their contact information. If you are still interested in learning
more about the work I am doing on behalf of New York State, I hope you
will continue to monitor my work through my website at
http://clinton.senate.gov.
Sincerely,
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
New York State
Dear Friend:
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and concerns with me
via e-mail. I hope you will understand that, because of the volume of
e-mails I receive from residents of New York State, I cannot at this time
respond to messages received from residents of other states. I encourage
you to contact your U.S. senators if you have an issue or concern that
needs immediate attention. You can access your senators electronically by
visiting http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index_by_state.cfm for a listing
of their contact information. If you are still interested in learning
more about the work I am doing on behalf of New York State, I hope you
will continue to monitor my work through my website at
http://clinton.senate.gov.
Sincerely,
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
New York State
sc09876
07-21 02:35 PM
Get the number, add to the contact list, name the contact as torture.com LOL
Can you explain me in more detail. How to do this? How can u save their number as torture.com?
Can you explain me in more detail. How to do this? How can u save their number as torture.com?
2011 COPY of the Declaration of
Lasantha
12-14 05:16 PM
Thanks bud. Yeah, I seem to have a "Ceiling" fetish. :D
Anyways I only did a quick scan of your rather utopian scenario. But wouldn't the following help the that situation?
1) Flow of un-used visas from ROW to OS countries
2) Increase the TOTAL EB quota
3) Exclude dependents
4) Re-capture ( If any. But I doubt there will be anything left to recapture because in your Shangri-La USCIS would have been efficient enough to use up all the visas in the previos fiscal years).
(I do detect some bitterness in your tone. I am only here to offer my view so please don't take it personally)
Lasantha,
You are fond of "Ceiling", Good. Provide me a solution with a goal not to hurt progress march of US economy in following imaginary Scenario:
Assumption 1:Whole EB Bus starts with year 2009 - no backlog for ANY
COUNRTY - USCIS does not have any kind of administrative
mess - Situation in USCIS is such that moment it find work, it
will send flower to you for keeping them busy. - US industry
exactly need 140000 skilled and highly skilled people from outside
world as within US they have shortage of exctly that number.
and it can not afford a single person less than that to keep
economy at balanced level.
Assumption 2: India can provide 35000, China can provide 50000, Britain can
provide 4000, Sweden can provide 2000, Saudi Arabia can
provide 1000, Sri Lanka can provide 4000, Thailand can provide
500, Pakistan can provide 5000, South africa can provide 5000
,Bangladesh can provide 1500 and rest 32000 from Europe
(other than Britain) and each of above country cannot provide
more labor that what is mentioned here. And other unlisted countries
do not have any skilled persons to provide (This is assumption.. DO not go after me...:))
So whole world together is ready to provide 140000 labor to US. With current laws tell me what will happen to US economy? Will US Industry be able to get all 140000?
Will you still be trumpeting "Ceiling" drum?
Anyways I only did a quick scan of your rather utopian scenario. But wouldn't the following help the that situation?
1) Flow of un-used visas from ROW to OS countries
2) Increase the TOTAL EB quota
3) Exclude dependents
4) Re-capture ( If any. But I doubt there will be anything left to recapture because in your Shangri-La USCIS would have been efficient enough to use up all the visas in the previos fiscal years).
(I do detect some bitterness in your tone. I am only here to offer my view so please don't take it personally)
Lasantha,
You are fond of "Ceiling", Good. Provide me a solution with a goal not to hurt progress march of US economy in following imaginary Scenario:
Assumption 1:Whole EB Bus starts with year 2009 - no backlog for ANY
COUNRTY - USCIS does not have any kind of administrative
mess - Situation in USCIS is such that moment it find work, it
will send flower to you for keeping them busy. - US industry
exactly need 140000 skilled and highly skilled people from outside
world as within US they have shortage of exctly that number.
and it can not afford a single person less than that to keep
economy at balanced level.
Assumption 2: India can provide 35000, China can provide 50000, Britain can
provide 4000, Sweden can provide 2000, Saudi Arabia can
provide 1000, Sri Lanka can provide 4000, Thailand can provide
500, Pakistan can provide 5000, South africa can provide 5000
,Bangladesh can provide 1500 and rest 32000 from Europe
(other than Britain) and each of above country cannot provide
more labor that what is mentioned here. And other unlisted countries
do not have any skilled persons to provide (This is assumption.. DO not go after me...:))
So whole world together is ready to provide 140000 labor to US. With current laws tell me what will happen to US economy? Will US Industry be able to get all 140000?
Will you still be trumpeting "Ceiling" drum?
more...
Macaca
01-18 08:48 AM
Is H-1B working at a gas station a bad apple? Yes.
Non-Indian staffing company keeps $150/hr, 25 years back. Is this a bad apple? How much can a staffing company keep? Why? Who decides it? Has Hilda L. Solis decided it for for US workers? Why should Janet Napolitano decide it for H-1B?
Contractor salary and benefits come from his/her billing only. Most US workers are not paid on bench/benefits. Why should H-1B be paid on bench/benefits? Contractor can be paid on bench/benefits only by spreading the billing over bench/benefits (thereby reducing paycheck). Why is this a good apple?
Non-Indian staffing company keeps $150/hr, 25 years back. Is this a bad apple? How much can a staffing company keep? Why? Who decides it? Has Hilda L. Solis decided it for for US workers? Why should Janet Napolitano decide it for H-1B?
Contractor salary and benefits come from his/her billing only. Most US workers are not paid on bench/benefits. Why should H-1B be paid on bench/benefits? Contractor can be paid on bench/benefits only by spreading the billing over bench/benefits (thereby reducing paycheck). Why is this a good apple?
ronhira
01-13 04:34 PM
IV already has easy, non controversial provisions that takes care of all.
1) Recapture all lost visas.
2) NO Country caps
3) Do not count dependants.
Just these 3 will make all categories current.
so what's the problem..... y don't iv get these provisions done? what r we waiting for?
1) Recapture all lost visas.
2) NO Country caps
3) Do not count dependants.
Just these 3 will make all categories current.
so what's the problem..... y don't iv get these provisions done? what r we waiting for?
more...
BharatPremi
12-13 04:43 PM
Yes, we should explore this more
1) Whether we can really challenge this into US SC within US Constitutional
framework?
2) Whether we can really challenge this into International Courts?
1) Whether we can really challenge this into US SC within US Constitutional
framework?
2) Whether we can really challenge this into International Courts?
2010 the Declaration of
snathan
09-04 03:13 PM
Nice point truefacts. If indeed we were able to somehow communicate this system to folks in India it would be great. Let us keep the hopes that this will happen some day. Might be due to desperation or some major calamity but somehow people will realize that this corrupt system is unustainable and needs dramatic repair.
By the way there is another thread with lists of people who died with a request for prayer!! This is another example of how manipulative personalities not only create a chaotic unsustainable regime while they live but also leave a chaotic system once they die.
I guess it was sarcastic post by the OP.
By the way there is another thread with lists of people who died with a request for prayer!! This is another example of how manipulative personalities not only create a chaotic unsustainable regime while they live but also leave a chaotic system once they die.
I guess it was sarcastic post by the OP.
more...
thakurrajiv
09-24 08:27 AM
Well, here�s some more stat : Base on GC allocation of FY 2008 (http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/FY08-AR-TableV(Part2).pdf ),
EB1 India got 5,327 visas , EB2 India got 14,818 and EB3 India got 3,576 even though the quota was 2,803 for each preference.
As an example, I-485 pending for EB2 and EB3 India before 2006 are 17,835 and 46,334 respectively. Everything else being equal, you can take a guess how long it would take based how old the report was. Even if the report is from yesterday to be pessimistic and there are nuances, it gives some approximation unless the interpretation is totally wrong.
Thanks for posting this. Lets see how visa allocation worked for 2009. Based on 2008, things do not look as rosy. Only 14.8K visas in EB2-I. If perm speed improves then the spill overs will also reduce.
Surprising South Korea is not in oversubscribed countries. It received 7.2K EB2 visas.
I thought South Korea should have been retrogressed. Well when do we expect fairness from USCIS ? They seem to follow class system : ROW, china, other over-subscribed, India in this order !!
EB1 India got 5,327 visas , EB2 India got 14,818 and EB3 India got 3,576 even though the quota was 2,803 for each preference.
As an example, I-485 pending for EB2 and EB3 India before 2006 are 17,835 and 46,334 respectively. Everything else being equal, you can take a guess how long it would take based how old the report was. Even if the report is from yesterday to be pessimistic and there are nuances, it gives some approximation unless the interpretation is totally wrong.
Thanks for posting this. Lets see how visa allocation worked for 2009. Based on 2008, things do not look as rosy. Only 14.8K visas in EB2-I. If perm speed improves then the spill overs will also reduce.
Surprising South Korea is not in oversubscribed countries. It received 7.2K EB2 visas.
I thought South Korea should have been retrogressed. Well when do we expect fairness from USCIS ? They seem to follow class system : ROW, china, other over-subscribed, India in this order !!
hair Today I found out most the
akottai
07-22 02:10 PM
When we moved from MN to NJ, we were so happy to find so many Indians around. In an Indian store I found a fellow native and I introduced myself. We were so happy that we found a good neighbor whom we can befriend. I gave them my number and got their number back. I never got any response from them whenever I called - ever. Later, I found the menace of Amway in these parts of world(among desis). I was so ashamed just by knowing that they mistook us for Amway people.
I have been approached by many in Walmart, Macy's and other stores with questions like "are your from Mumbai?", "I have seen your somewhere"... types...
At one point of time, it became very difficult to distinguish between a genuine smile and the e-commerce business smile! I can now understand why they never attended my calls! :)
Anyways, I moved to NC - and no more Amways in this part. Not until now!
I have been approached by many in Walmart, Macy's and other stores with questions like "are your from Mumbai?", "I have seen your somewhere"... types...
At one point of time, it became very difficult to distinguish between a genuine smile and the e-commerce business smile! I can now understand why they never attended my calls! :)
Anyways, I moved to NC - and no more Amways in this part. Not until now!
more...
at0474
12-14 05:06 PM
I find it abominable that there are still some humans(?) left in this century who want special benefits based on their race and country-of-origin in this 21st century !
It's time people were measured on merit instead of he is Indian, Chinese or some other nationality. Eliminating country quotas is part of IV strategy on the homepage. If someone has issues with it, well you are working against IV strategy !
Stop dividing people based on ethnicity - Indians, Chinese and others. Every one deserves equal opportunity, not based on their country, race or color (all abominable ideas to me) , but purely on merit.
--What you said sounds very interesting. But it got me thinking, what if the merit is equally distributed by the country of origin and there is a limit to the opportunities this country can provide?
Let us say there are 140,000 EB visas given every year. Based on pure merit and sans any regard to nationality. Don't you think it could potentially lead to more visas being consumed by one country?
What if this country wants to ensure diversity to its social fabric?? How do they go about doing that?
It's time people were measured on merit instead of he is Indian, Chinese or some other nationality. Eliminating country quotas is part of IV strategy on the homepage. If someone has issues with it, well you are working against IV strategy !
Stop dividing people based on ethnicity - Indians, Chinese and others. Every one deserves equal opportunity, not based on their country, race or color (all abominable ideas to me) , but purely on merit.
--What you said sounds very interesting. But it got me thinking, what if the merit is equally distributed by the country of origin and there is a limit to the opportunities this country can provide?
Let us say there are 140,000 EB visas given every year. Based on pure merit and sans any regard to nationality. Don't you think it could potentially lead to more visas being consumed by one country?
What if this country wants to ensure diversity to its social fabric?? How do they go about doing that?
hot Signing the Declaration of
richana
07-30 06:59 PM
Thanks Thampi, people let us post some more avoidance techniques to be used subtle or not, this is a scourge we need to get rid of.
more...
house Declaration of Independence
at0474
12-14 05:34 PM
The difference between your idea and mine is your thinking is still stuck in the 16th century. He is Indian, he is Chinese, he is Mexican etc, while I see everyone as human beings. There lies the difference.
--Oh homo sapien!! What was my idea again? Where did you get 'my idea vs your idea' from? I did not propose that country cap be enforced.
EB Immigration is just 12% of all immigrants. How can it affect diversity of the country? With all the country quotas in place,
--What if 10% a year from one country continues for few years...
US is becoming hispanisized with Hispanics slated to become 25% of the population ! So much for the much touted 'diversity' !
--There are several factors influencing high hispanic population in this country. I am not sure what the link is here?? If the system is failing to ensure diversity, let us do away with it completely...
--Oh homo sapien!! What was my idea again? Where did you get 'my idea vs your idea' from? I did not propose that country cap be enforced.
EB Immigration is just 12% of all immigrants. How can it affect diversity of the country? With all the country quotas in place,
--What if 10% a year from one country continues for few years...
US is becoming hispanisized with Hispanics slated to become 25% of the population ! So much for the much touted 'diversity' !
--There are several factors influencing high hispanic population in this country. I am not sure what the link is here?? If the system is failing to ensure diversity, let us do away with it completely...
tattoo The Declaration of
reddymjm
09-23 03:42 PM
Markus.Rose@mail.house.gov,
Committee@mail.house.gov,
Larry.Lavender@mail.house.gov,
Philip.Swartzfager@mail.house.gov,
Dave.Oxner@mail.house.gov,
Michael.Staley@mail.house.gov,
Scott_Hoeflich@Specter.senate.gov,
Thomas_Dower@Specter.senate.gov,
Lisa_Owings@Specter.senate.gov,
Matt_Kelly@Specter.senate.gov,
Sheryl_Cohen@Dodd.senate.gov,
Rebecca_Freedman@Dodd.senate.gov,
Jim_Fenton@Dodd.senate.gov,
Patrick_Grant@Dodd.senate.gov,
Lori_McGrogan@Dodd.senate.gov,
Alex_Sternhell@Dodd.senate.gov,
Laura_Friedel@Shelby.senate.gov,
Emily_Titlow@Shelby.senate.gov
Chad_Davis@Shelby.senate.gov,
Peter_Olson@Cornyn.senate.gov,
Beth_Jafari@Cornyn.senate.gov,
Reed_O'Connor@Cornyn.senate.gov,
Cynthia.Martin@mail.house.gov,
Matt.Thome@mail.house.gov,
Melody.Light@mail.house.gov,
Ed_Pagano@Leahy.senate.gov,
John_Dowd@Leahy.senate.gov,
Bruce_Cohen@Leahy.senate.gov,
Bill_Yeomans@Kennedy.senate.gov,
Carey_Parker@Kennedy.senate.gov,
Eric_Mogilnicki@Kennedy.senate.gov,
Stacey.Leavandosky@mail.house.gov,
Erik.Stallman@mail.house.gov
Committee@mail.house.gov,
Larry.Lavender@mail.house.gov,
Philip.Swartzfager@mail.house.gov,
Dave.Oxner@mail.house.gov,
Michael.Staley@mail.house.gov,
Scott_Hoeflich@Specter.senate.gov,
Thomas_Dower@Specter.senate.gov,
Lisa_Owings@Specter.senate.gov,
Matt_Kelly@Specter.senate.gov,
Sheryl_Cohen@Dodd.senate.gov,
Rebecca_Freedman@Dodd.senate.gov,
Jim_Fenton@Dodd.senate.gov,
Patrick_Grant@Dodd.senate.gov,
Lori_McGrogan@Dodd.senate.gov,
Alex_Sternhell@Dodd.senate.gov,
Laura_Friedel@Shelby.senate.gov,
Emily_Titlow@Shelby.senate.gov
Chad_Davis@Shelby.senate.gov,
Peter_Olson@Cornyn.senate.gov,
Beth_Jafari@Cornyn.senate.gov,
Reed_O'Connor@Cornyn.senate.gov,
Cynthia.Martin@mail.house.gov,
Matt.Thome@mail.house.gov,
Melody.Light@mail.house.gov,
Ed_Pagano@Leahy.senate.gov,
John_Dowd@Leahy.senate.gov,
Bruce_Cohen@Leahy.senate.gov,
Bill_Yeomans@Kennedy.senate.gov,
Carey_Parker@Kennedy.senate.gov,
Eric_Mogilnicki@Kennedy.senate.gov,
Stacey.Leavandosky@mail.house.gov,
Erik.Stallman@mail.house.gov
more...
pictures Signing the Declaration of
chintu25
02-12 09:47 PM
i see people making assumptions based on ROW..... Please explain how ROW dates affect India/China Dates ??
:confused:
:confused:
dresses A final copy of the
extra_mint
09-15 06:10 PM
There are no Spill over rules for splitting the visa's b/w I and C. Instead the Rule about spill over requires the PD (cutoff) for 2 countries to be same.
Infact if you look at any old VB (last quarter) where dates for China and India are same then that is the month for spill overs.
Cutoff for China will never advance India dates for spill overs.
There are 2.5 EB2-I application per EB2-C application. And EB2 China had cutoff dates of early 2005 in 2009 (they did not enjoy too much spillover in 2009). So my guess it that China will use its 3k annual limit + spillover numbers (depending on how much EB2-C dates move). The spillover would be split 25% china and 75% India.
Infact if you look at any old VB (last quarter) where dates for China and India are same then that is the month for spill overs.
Cutoff for China will never advance India dates for spill overs.
There are 2.5 EB2-I application per EB2-C application. And EB2 China had cutoff dates of early 2005 in 2009 (they did not enjoy too much spillover in 2009). So my guess it that China will use its 3k annual limit + spillover numbers (depending on how much EB2-C dates move). The spillover would be split 25% china and 75% India.
more...
makeup July 2, 1776
needhelp!
09-29 10:34 AM
Who sent the emails today?
girlfriend On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry
krish2005
01-14 02:19 PM
USCIS - Questions & Answers: USCIS Issues Guidance Memorandum on Establishing the "Employee-Employer Relationship" in H-1B Petitions (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=3d015869c9326210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCR D&vgnextchannel=6abe6d26d17df110VgnVCM1000004718190a RCRD)
hairstyles Declaration of Independence:
gsc999
07-03 09:50 PM
Macaca,
Thanks for your time in putting this together
Thanks for your time in putting this together
hopefulgc
05-29 03:38 PM
IV needs to bring up Charles to the podium and have him answer our questions.
Why?
Because his statements do not make numerical sense.
If he cannot answer our questions, we need someone else to take his job who can.
I am pissed.. are you?
I think as someone said this guy was randomly throwing numbers out there. How come his analysis does not account for remaining 36K EB1 and EB2 ROW applications. Is he suggesting that all EB1 and EB2 ROW are being used up also. Very hard to believe that for 2008 and 2009 with the way the economy is going. Lot of product companies where most of the ROW 485s would likely come from have stopped applying perm since last summer. There is a huge flaw in this analysis and its not as pessimistic as it seems.
BUT, then again we need legislation to wipe the slate clean and clear these 200K applications, so there is a new build up of visa demand and wait times are tolerable for current applicants and future applicants.
Why?
Because his statements do not make numerical sense.
If he cannot answer our questions, we need someone else to take his job who can.
I am pissed.. are you?
I think as someone said this guy was randomly throwing numbers out there. How come his analysis does not account for remaining 36K EB1 and EB2 ROW applications. Is he suggesting that all EB1 and EB2 ROW are being used up also. Very hard to believe that for 2008 and 2009 with the way the economy is going. Lot of product companies where most of the ROW 485s would likely come from have stopped applying perm since last summer. There is a huge flaw in this analysis and its not as pessimistic as it seems.
BUT, then again we need legislation to wipe the slate clean and clear these 200K applications, so there is a new build up of visa demand and wait times are tolerable for current applicants and future applicants.
go_guy123
08-16 01:24 AM
Don’t make a big deal of Shah Rukh’s detention:One For The Road:Anand Soondas's blog-The Times Of India (http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/onefortheroad/entry/don-t-make-a-big)
One For The RoadDon�t make a big deal of Shah Rukh�s detention
After a long time actor Salman Khan has come up with a real gem. On hearing about Shah Rukh Khan being questioned by US security at Newark, New Jersey, he said it�s good that the country has such a tight set-up. And that ``there has been no attack after 9/11 because of this.��
Salman has a point. SRK might be an icon to Indians and many in the subcontinent, even to the desi diaspora spread across the globe, but to America he�s just a visitor. We may be convinced he cannot be involved in anything that�s remotely violent, but the guard given the responsibility of stopping something like 9/11 from happening in his country again will want to take no chances. And what is the possibility that he�s a die hard fan of the Khan and Bollywood? Very slim.
Interestingly, the same day that SRK was detained in Newark, there came news that the great Bob Dylan, who was wandering around Long Branch, near New York City, sometime back, was asked for an ID by two cops too young to know who he really was. When he couldn�t furnish one, he was taken right back to the resort where he was putting up and staff there vouched for him. And America is Dylan�s own country.
Was there a furore? Not that I know of. Not even a little blowin' in the wind.
SRK says he�s ``upset and angry�� because it was his Muslim name that caused all this. Thousands of Muslims are made to go through extra security checks everyday in America and a host of Western countries. Is he equally upset at that? He's probably just pissed that it happened to him, India's mega star. We all know how a lot of Muslims have been subjected to prejudice around the world because many countries see terrorism as an Islamic phenomenon. Yes, it is uncalled for, unjust and maybe wrong. But America is a country that takes the killings of its people with the seriousness it deserves, unlike India whose record on this is shameful, to say the least.
Also, because most of the perpetrators of 9/11 were Muslims, America thinks it has to be doubly careful where they are concerned. Had the terrorists been Jews, perhaps it would have looked at Jews with similar suspicion. I was much more aggrieved at President Kalam being frisked. But that�s a dated debate.
There are two layers to the SRK incident and we must peel them off with care. One, it is quite ridiculous that Indians feel their icons and superstars are everybody�s icons and superstars. What the heck? If Jet Li came to India tomorrow, the man on the street here would probably call him �`Chinky�� and not give a second look. For that matter, what if G�rard Depardieu came travelling. How many would know him? Matt Damon was here recently and there wasn�t a traffic jam in Delhi. These guys are huge back home.
Moreover, America doesn�t have a culture of fawning the way India has. Mike Tyson was treated like a common rapist and spent most part of his youth in the slammer. Winona Ryder was sentenced to a three-year probation for shoplifting. Chinese born Hollywood actress Bai Ling was fined US 200 dollars for petty theft.
More importantly, we are actually aggrieved because we are ``not like them��. Well, guess what. It isn�t a virtue. We should be like them and take the security of our country and its people with solemn, no-nonsense professionalism. Frisk Brad Pitt when he lands in India next. Give Tom Cruise the same dose. Don�t spare Bill Clinton either. Isn�t he an ex-prez just like Kalam? Who�s stopping you and what�s stopping you? Colonial hangover? Or is it plain lethargy and callousness. Looks like both.
We are just whimpering over here like hurt puppies because we feel, ``Oh, but we don�t do it to them��. Oh no, we don�t. And it�s a scandal. We should. I�ve seen white men � and women � get away in India with murder. Indian women can�t get into some discos wearing a sari. And bouncers will frown at you if you are dressed in a kurta. Have you seen what some of these firangs have on them? No one bats a eyelid.
So instead of making SRK�s detention an issue, we should think of upgrading our own security set-up.
There�s a lesson in this. And it is a positive one. A day after our own 26/11, there was hardly any security at CST in Mumbai. It can�t get worse than that. The bottom line: Stop fawning, shed the colonial hangover and make no compromise where the country�s safety is concerned. Can we do that or is it too much to ask from a country that�s been free for 62 years but was ruled by white sahibs for 200?
Well said and perfect....in India there is a culture of babu where VIPs are not checked at all....otherwise the wrath of the high officer will strike on the junior officer.
One For The RoadDon�t make a big deal of Shah Rukh�s detention
After a long time actor Salman Khan has come up with a real gem. On hearing about Shah Rukh Khan being questioned by US security at Newark, New Jersey, he said it�s good that the country has such a tight set-up. And that ``there has been no attack after 9/11 because of this.��
Salman has a point. SRK might be an icon to Indians and many in the subcontinent, even to the desi diaspora spread across the globe, but to America he�s just a visitor. We may be convinced he cannot be involved in anything that�s remotely violent, but the guard given the responsibility of stopping something like 9/11 from happening in his country again will want to take no chances. And what is the possibility that he�s a die hard fan of the Khan and Bollywood? Very slim.
Interestingly, the same day that SRK was detained in Newark, there came news that the great Bob Dylan, who was wandering around Long Branch, near New York City, sometime back, was asked for an ID by two cops too young to know who he really was. When he couldn�t furnish one, he was taken right back to the resort where he was putting up and staff there vouched for him. And America is Dylan�s own country.
Was there a furore? Not that I know of. Not even a little blowin' in the wind.
SRK says he�s ``upset and angry�� because it was his Muslim name that caused all this. Thousands of Muslims are made to go through extra security checks everyday in America and a host of Western countries. Is he equally upset at that? He's probably just pissed that it happened to him, India's mega star. We all know how a lot of Muslims have been subjected to prejudice around the world because many countries see terrorism as an Islamic phenomenon. Yes, it is uncalled for, unjust and maybe wrong. But America is a country that takes the killings of its people with the seriousness it deserves, unlike India whose record on this is shameful, to say the least.
Also, because most of the perpetrators of 9/11 were Muslims, America thinks it has to be doubly careful where they are concerned. Had the terrorists been Jews, perhaps it would have looked at Jews with similar suspicion. I was much more aggrieved at President Kalam being frisked. But that�s a dated debate.
There are two layers to the SRK incident and we must peel them off with care. One, it is quite ridiculous that Indians feel their icons and superstars are everybody�s icons and superstars. What the heck? If Jet Li came to India tomorrow, the man on the street here would probably call him �`Chinky�� and not give a second look. For that matter, what if G�rard Depardieu came travelling. How many would know him? Matt Damon was here recently and there wasn�t a traffic jam in Delhi. These guys are huge back home.
Moreover, America doesn�t have a culture of fawning the way India has. Mike Tyson was treated like a common rapist and spent most part of his youth in the slammer. Winona Ryder was sentenced to a three-year probation for shoplifting. Chinese born Hollywood actress Bai Ling was fined US 200 dollars for petty theft.
More importantly, we are actually aggrieved because we are ``not like them��. Well, guess what. It isn�t a virtue. We should be like them and take the security of our country and its people with solemn, no-nonsense professionalism. Frisk Brad Pitt when he lands in India next. Give Tom Cruise the same dose. Don�t spare Bill Clinton either. Isn�t he an ex-prez just like Kalam? Who�s stopping you and what�s stopping you? Colonial hangover? Or is it plain lethargy and callousness. Looks like both.
We are just whimpering over here like hurt puppies because we feel, ``Oh, but we don�t do it to them��. Oh no, we don�t. And it�s a scandal. We should. I�ve seen white men � and women � get away in India with murder. Indian women can�t get into some discos wearing a sari. And bouncers will frown at you if you are dressed in a kurta. Have you seen what some of these firangs have on them? No one bats a eyelid.
So instead of making SRK�s detention an issue, we should think of upgrading our own security set-up.
There�s a lesson in this. And it is a positive one. A day after our own 26/11, there was hardly any security at CST in Mumbai. It can�t get worse than that. The bottom line: Stop fawning, shed the colonial hangover and make no compromise where the country�s safety is concerned. Can we do that or is it too much to ask from a country that�s been free for 62 years but was ruled by white sahibs for 200?
Well said and perfect....in India there is a culture of babu where VIPs are not checked at all....otherwise the wrath of the high officer will strike on the junior officer.
