WORLD TO STAND AGAINST “AGGRESSIVE” NATIONALISM
Hidden India Also Includes American CEOs What Tell To Indian PM MODI?
Highlights By: Balbir Singh Sooch-Sikh Vichar Manch
Illustration: Sandeep Joshi
HIGHLIGHTS AS EXTRACTS: THANKS
A. Former US President Barack Obama urges world to stand against ‘aggressive’ nationalism. (To my mind, it is an important warning as the message from one of the most powerful countries against prevailing intolerance in the world leaving aside the moderate politics).
B. “There are going to be some big decisions to make about Indonesia and about the United States and about the world in the years to come,” Former US President Barack Obama said. “It’s been clear for a while that the world is at a crossroads, at an inflection point.”
C. Does it not indicate, ‘A NEW WORLD ORDER’ to prevail about the world in the years to come as former US President Barack Obama said?
D. “Many in civil society are inclined to believe that the Prime Minister’s (PM MODI) disapproving words against cow vigilantes were in response to the country-wide protest, under the banner ‘Not in My Name.’
E. My own inclination is to believe that the Prime Minister was constrained-forced, unnatural to say what he said at the Sabarmati Ashram probably because of what he heard during his American visit a few days earlier”.
F. Many in civil society are inclined to believe that the Prime Minister’s disapproving words against cow vigilantes were in response to the country-wide protest, under the banner ‘Not in My Name.’ (PM Says Can't Kill In The Name Of Cow: Will His Words Be Heard? Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally breaks his silence on mob violence, says no one can take the law into their hands. But will his words be heard? Will this translate into action?) NDTV AND THE TRIBUNE, CHANDIGARH
HIGHLIGHTS IN DETAIL:
1. “We start seeing a rise in sectarian- rigidly adhering to a set of doctrines and intolerant of other views- relating to, involved with, or devoted to a single religious group or denomination- relating to or involving relations between religious groups or denominations politics politics, we start seeing a rise in an aggressive kind of nationalism, we start seeing both in developed and developing countries an increased resentment about minority groups and the bad treatment of people who don’t look like us or practice the same faith as us.”
2. “We start seeing discrimination against people based on race or ethnicity or religion.” Those threats must be confronted, Obama said.
3. “The challenges of our times, whether it’s economic inequality, changing climate, terrorism, mass migration; these are really challenges and we’re going to have to confront them together,” he said.
4. Obama, who has been holidaying in Indonesia and on Friday met with President Joko Widodo, also warned in remarks Saturday against rising sectarian- rigidly adhering to a set of doctrines and intolerant of other views- relating to, involved with, or devoted to a single religious group or denomination- relating to or involving relations between religious groups or denominations politics around the world, as well as growing discrimination based on race and ethnicity.
5. “There are going to be some big decisions to make about Indonesia and about the United States and about the world in the years to come,” he said. “It’s been clear for a while that the world is at a crossroads, at an inflection point.”
Global Challenges:
6. But the former president said there are also challenges, and that globalization and technology had created problems and “shifts in the foundations of societies” and in politics both in developing and developed countries.
7. “The world is more prosperous than ever before, but this has also brought significant changes that are dangerous.”All said by Former US President Barack Obama. Paragraphs Nos. 1 to 7: Courtesy by NEWSMAX .COM
8. Mr Obama raised the issue that although the country has seen increased prosperity, there are also new global problems and many nations across the world have adopted a more aggressive and isolationist stance.
9. “If we don’t stand up for tolerance and moderation and respect for others, if we begin to doubt ourselves and all that we have accomplished, then much of the progress that we have made will not continue,” Mr Obama said.
Paragraphs Nos. 1 to 7: Courtesy by independent. co. uk
10. Former US president says countries must defend tolerance, moderation and respect for others or risk chaos and violence in speech in Indonesia.
11. But he said that increased prosperity had been accompanied by new global problems, adding that as the world confronts issues ranging from inequality to terrorism, some countries – both developed and less developed – had adopted a more aggressive and isolationist stance.
12. “If we don’t stand up for tolerance and moderation and respect for others, if we begin to doubt ourselves and all that we have accomplished, then much of the progress that we have made will not continue,” he said.
13. “What we will see is more and more people arguing against democracy, we will see more and more people who are looking to restrict freedom of the press, and we’ll see more intolerance, more tribal divisions, more ethnic divisions, and religious divisions and more violence.” Paragraphs Nos. 10 to 13: Courtesy by theguardian. com
14. I appreciate there not being a paywall: it is more democratic for the media to be available for all and not a commodity to be purchased by a few. I’m happy to make a contribution so others with less means still have access to information.
Thomasine F-R.
15. “What we will see is more and more people arguing against democracy, we will see more and more people who are looking to restrict freedom of the press, and we’ll see more intolerance, more tribal divisions, more ethnic divisions, and religious divisions and more violence.”
ANI
16. There is an enormous sense of relief and gratitude that the Prime Minister has, at last, spoken about the creeping lynching culture.
17. Many in civil society are inclined to believe that the Prime Minister’s disapproving words against cow vigilantes were in response to the country-wide protest, under the banner ‘Not in My Name.’ (PM Says Can't Kill In The Name Of Cow: Will His Words Be Heard? Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally breaks his silence on mob violence says no one can take the law into their hands. But will his words be heard? Will this translate into action?)
NDTV
18. My own inclination is to believe that the Prime Minister was constrained-forced, unnatural to say what he said at the Sabarmati Ashram probably because of what he heard during his American visit a few days earlier.
19. It would be natural and normal for the presumptuous American CEOs to tell an Indian Prime Minister: stop this lynching spree, if you want us to set up shop in your country.
20. The American businessman — perhaps like all other businessmen — would be extremely reluctant to invest in a land of civil strife. This is a normal expectation, as also a moral imperative.
21. Nonetheless, it was wonderful that so many Indians across the land — and, some abroad also — came out and joined the ‘not in my name’ protest.
22. It was heartening and reassuring that the large sections of the society have not yet submitted to the demands being made and violence being meted out in the name of the Hindu ‘sensitivity.’
23. Aberrations- a departure from what is normal or desirable and absurdities-something that is ridiculous because of being irrational, incongruous, or illogical are being explained away as ‘new normal.’ The itch to kill has become infectious-transmittable, catching.
24. Since when has it become ‘normal’ for the Hindus to carry knives on train journey? And, who has made it normal for a Hindu to knife to death a fellow Muslim passenger, even if it was a dispute about seating arrangements?
25. One can only hope that tut-tutting from the Prime Minister would be heeded. Political leaders never seem to understand that it is far easier to excite the base and much more difficult to control its anger. (To stress again: (PM Says Can't Kill In The Name Of Cow: Will His Words Be Heard? Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally breaks his silence on mob violence says no one can take the law into their hands. But will his words be heard? Will this translate into action?)
NDTV
Mughal Practice Of Dag-E-Shai AND Now A Modern Version Of The Mughal Practice Of Dag-E-Shai Differently In India:
26. We now have a modern version of this Mughal practice. In Rajasthan, the local authorities are forcing the BPL (below poverty line) families to ‘brand’ their houses with an inscription, announcing to the whole wide world, that they are poor and take food grains under the National Food Security Act.
27. This is insensitivity writ large. Similar demands have reportedly been made in some districts in Madhya Pradesh. This kind of humiliation after 70 years of Independence!
28. LET us call it the Dagshai syndrome: a cruel practice of branding a criminal. During my recent visit to Kasauli, I visited the Dagshai cantonment, one of the oldest of its kind, having being established as early as 1847. The name — Dagshai — we are informed by a board outside the Army Public School, was derived from the Mughal practice, called Dag-e-shai, “as the prisoners were branded on their forehead and brought here.”
30. The official argument is that such acts of humiliation are necessary to weed out bogus and fake claimants from the deserving ones. The only thing that needs to be noted is that the governments, at the Centre and in the states, never gather the courage to ‘name and shame’ when the offenders seem to be rich and powerful.
31. A veteran, Major Gurddep Samra (retd) wrote to lament the distorted priorities and prejudices of the media towards an authentic military hero, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. The retired Major points out that 27th June was the great soldier’s death anniversary, but “there was not even a whisper in any of the newspapers, on any of our shrill television channels who churn out so much of trash in high decibels.”
Major Samra also wrote a poem in honour of the Field Marshal, the Iron Man:
…….. No politician could dwarf him, as he spoke his mind,
……. Soldiers miss him with misty eyes and choked breath,
No General now can match him as he walked with a broad chest
Now we have pigmies, who behave like tarts,They command bodies, not rule the hearts Well said.I am happy to raise my cup of coffee in honour of the great soldier. Join me.
Learned Mr. Harish Khare wrote: Thanks
Paragraphs Nos. 16 to 30: Courtesy by as an extract from: Yes, I refuse to kill…by Learned Mr. Harish Khare, THE TRIBUNE, CHANDIGARH.
32. Former US President Barack Obama urges world to stand against ‘aggressive’ nationalism. (To my mind, it is an important warning as the message from one of the most powerful countries against intolerance in the world leaving aside the moderate politics).
“Reject vigilantism, but be vigilant: President Pranab Mukherjee to people of India: President Pranab Mukherjee speaking at a function in Delhi on Saturday, July 1, 2017 at the event that saw the launch of a commemorative publication by National Herald. —
PTI:
33. Raising the issue of lynchings in the country in the name of vigilantism, President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said when mob frenzy becomes so "irrational and uncontrollable", the people have to be "vigilant" to save the basic tenets of the society.
34. He also urged the intellectual class to rise and be vigilant as it could act as the biggest deterrent to forces of darkness and backwardness.
35. "When mob frenzy becomes so high, irrational and uncontrollable, we have to pause and reflect. Are you vigilant enough," he said at a function to celebrate 70 years of India's independence.
36. "I am not talking of vigilantism. I am talking about whether we are vigilant enough proactively to save the basic tenets of our time," he said.
37. Mukherjee also said one cannot obliterate one's duty towards the issue, saying, "Posterity will demand an explanation from us about what we have done. I raise this question within myself."
38. The president also appealed to the media to remain constantly vigilant saying it is because of it that democracy survives.
39. "You must rise to preserve and ensure human dignity is maintained, slavery is kept away. You will have to maintain your vigilance," Mukherjee said.
40. "I do believe that citizen's vigilance, intellectual vigilance and media vigilance can act as the biggest deterrent to the forces of darkness and backwardness," he said”.
Courtesy by: THE TRIBUNE, CHANDIGARH
I owe a deep debt of gratitude to the various authors, websites and newspapers from whom I have drawn freely and quoted also in the larger interest and co-existence of humanity in the whole world. Again Thanks
FOR MORE TO READ AND THE INTRODUCTION:
BALBIR SINGH SOOCH-SIKH VICHAR MANCH
First Posted On July 2, 2017
http://www.sikhvicharmanch.com
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Illustration: Sandeep Joshi