MyVoice

The U.S. elections 2020, as surmised by everybody, exposes a deep division in the American society. In fact, the U.S. is a conglomeration of many ethnic groups living together, by collectively building the nation ‘great’. They would all take pride for being Americans. That country was once called ‘a melting pot’’. Now, it does not seem to be the case. The first entrants into America’s eastern states from the Great Britain, famously called as ‘The Pilgrim Fathers,’ had settled there and drove away the native Americans. The natives (Red-Indians named as such by Christopher Columbus, who wanted to sail to India and wrongly been to America) were subjected to untold suffering and torment, is an open-secret (of course, America had a late realisation and guilt). The British later, conveniently made that part of America their colony.

The French and Spanish people who inhabited in certain states, were also made the British subjects, by defeating France and Spain (in battles that followed: by the British Crown). The British without investing anything on Americans, expected them to pay taxes to the British government. The only reason they cited was that they were providing military support to America in protecting their country from external enemies i.e. the likes of France and the Spain.

Then Americans asked a vital question: without having a voting right to elect the British government, without having a representation in the British parliament, why should they pay taxes? The British government mulled over and thought it to be correct. Later they had differences over other issues also. In due course, Americans revolted against their British rulers violently under leadership of George Washington. However, the British restrained from fighting and killing their own people, who went to settle elsewhere. They granted them independence on 4 July 1776.

That being the history, the question is, the lakhs of Indians (and also migrants of other countries) that went for greener pastures in that country, holding H1-B visas are not given either green card or citizenship for decades, yet America has got guts to question Indian Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) that hastens citizenship to minorities from the neighbouring country.  America’s year-wise quota of citizenship is tardy and as outdated as its voting system. Though the world is going at a fast pace, their electoral process and results are so slow and centuries old. Indians who work in the U.S. pay heavy taxes, yet they do not have voting rights! That (to have voting rights, when you pay taxes) was the very premise on which they argued and fought with the British colonial rulers to get their Independence. Now, they deprive immigrants that pay taxes to have a say. So, America is not a just country to tell morals to other countries on how they should behave in their immigration policy.     

Initially, America was limited to 13 states in the East Coast. Then they made wars with Mexico and annexed Texas and other smaller states, later in West coast: California and expanded to 50-states i.e. United States of America (USA). So, the United States is an expansionist state. After welcoming people from other nations with open arms, as their nation is big and uninhabited, took the hard labour and contributions of immigrants to develop, now, saying this is the nation of only the ethnic White people who have arrived from Britain, is illogical and immoral. The Trump era promoted this identity- propaganda. The Grand Old Republican Party from the beginning stands for ethnicity and religion (Judeo-Christianity). Nothing wrong as they were the first comers/occupants to a new continent and developed it. However, the Republican Party for ages never demeaned immigrants, as Trump and his followers did. For, a country that says it stands for Human Rights should not be doing this.

India was or is, not an expansionist nation. Never, an aggressor. In fact, our nation contracted, by ceding place to Pakistan and Bangladesh. Many people in India have been apprehensive of Biden-Kamala duo and their earlier unnecessary statements on Kashmir and Human Rights, without knowing the history or geography of India. With no clue on how India was divided, they should not be making statements on Kashmir or CAA. India should cite, to those that question (on India’s policies), what Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji (ex-PM of India), once said. When someone from Pakistan had said: ‘Pakistan is incomplete without Kashmir’, Vajpayee ji replied: ‘India is incomplete without Pakistan’. India being the loser in the game, none should point a finger.

Democrats, as expected, have not had a blue wave throughout the country. The surge, they thought would happen, has not happened. Had it been the case, the Democrats would have become captive in the hands of the Left-liberals. Still there is a majority Republican Senate to check-mate the Democrat-cahoots, the Left-liberals. The popular vote of Democrats and Republicans is more or less equal. So, the Democrats have to live with the passionate opposition, the Republicans in the Senate. These are the checks and balances of a democracy.

Since, Joe Biden has had twice his innings as the vice-president of the U.S.; hope he would ensure to bring in some semblance to the world order, which his predecessor has disrupted with his impulsive tweets and erratic remarks. The world needs a peaceful, polite and civil order of life. Right now, Joe Biden is poised to become the president of the U.S. Donald Trumps legal recourse may not hold water, as per the U.S. legal luminaries’ opinion. As far as India is concerned, the U.S. foreign policy is bipartisan. India on its part has to be Atmanirbhar to face any foreign power including China. India should take her own soul-strength and the demographic advantage to its stride and progress.