Dear Sachin, It would have helped if you asked specifically which part you did not understand. I must say that the my grammar in my post is not the finest. But other than I believe the ideas do come across. In all probability no one else may respond, so here is what I meant. The thread as you know began with Jerry Fernandes' query reproduced below. When that question was asked by JF, "Dear Netters So what has brought about this sudden rise in the interest of India amongst the Americans? Is there any truth in this news?" [WASHINGTON (Agencies)], I responded; answering your vide, "The report indicates the results of a survey, and unless one says that it is manipulated, one should take it at face value" I do not need to say it is manipulated, but since you ask questions in tandem -- SP: "And if one says it is manipulated, one should give the reasons why one is coming to such a conclusion," I shall point the general rational behind my response, and not specific details. I do sense that you feel I am being irresponsible towards India.
We give our opinions (as if they matter) on a plethora of issues in this forum. I gave my opinion based on how I viewed JFs question. I could have made little of it, but too it seriously, and cared to explain, but also giving examples that force one to think for oneself -- whether one wishes to do so or not. This is where it begins. I began by looking briefly at the word "popular" (CAPPED by me in the excerpt from Jerry Fernandes below), by making an analogy between the qualities (largely superficial) between a human and extrapolating those notions (but seeing them deeply and relating them to the country as an being) onto country -- in this case India. What I am doing is attempting to nail down why India is considered as being popular in the imagination/analysis/or survey of the WASHINGTON Agencies. I also said, "There are good sides to India, but the USA is comfortable with an India which is assiduously following its lead on many issues...(economically motivated) This as well as my examples should be a response to your point, "There are indeed many faults in the Indian society, and amongst the Indians. However, one has to see the broader picture, and this is what those who responded to the survey have done." I am not allowing myself to be held in thrall by the pronouncement of the "popular" for two reasons. First of all, although an Indian I am not impressed with notions of popularity, and secondly having lived a life of observation (as have others too) -- the media is the media, and being the media, seen it(the media) puts out news, including facts, largely based on the interests of power brokers. So my response must be seen within this duality. > India, sixth 'Wonder' of Americans > WASHINGTON (Agencies): India is the sixth most POPULAR country in the US, > with 69 per cent of the Americans having a positive image about it, while > Pakistan finds itself among the 10 most unpopular nations, according to a new > poll. Of 22 countries rated in Gallup's 2008 World Affairs survey, Canada, > Great Britain, Germany and Japan win favour with at least 80 per cent of > Americans. The top four is followed by Israel at 71 per cent. India ties with > France at the sixth spot for the positive image. [GT] So my picture, is a broad picture, and will always be a broad picture. My expressive temper may come across as harsh, but it aims for precision and the splintering of obfuscation or pithy statements, which we inadvertently absorb into our social identities. India is complex, and I do understand that, but India like any other country has its interests and protects or protests based on how our Mandarins (very important term here) see themselves, themselves as India, and India as in themselves. So what I am saying is, the label of "popular" has a plurality of connotations; we should look beyond the denotations of "popular." I see Indians as reasonably proud people, but I do not see Indian politicians from the same mould. This is what I am saying. I am not banging on the proud swadeshi Indian. People like me will always make connections and analogies that I can only hope others may see. These are not done casually, are not tormented by any stretch of imagination, but may just be a bit more visually forceful than the comfort level in this forum. Now JF may respond by at least saying he got the gist of what I am saying, or that it is pure gibberish. venantius j pinto > From: Sachin Phadte <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: [Goanet] India, sixth 'Wonder' of Americans > I do not understand what Venantius Pinto is trying to say in context of the > subject line. The report indicates the results of a survey, and unless one > says that it is manipulated, one should take it at face value. And if one > says it is manipulated, one should give the reasons why one is coming to such > a conclusion. > > There are indeed many faults in the Indian society, and amongst the Indians. > However, one has to see the broader picture, and this is what those who > responded to the survey have done. > > Sachin Phadte ________________________________ Dear Jerry, There are many sides to this popularity consensus, which is a consensus to begin with. But should Indians even care, and who are those that do concern themselves with such pronouncements in the media. To be popular means you have something -- in the case of humans; one is vivacious, elegant, a great pair of legs, and so on and so forth. They all allude and promise things. With countries, as we are embraced within late late capitalism -- being popular may have to do with economic aspects of an economy that enthralls the largest self-souped up super power. I happen to live in it so see the humor as well as the depth of the thought process, which is quite deep really, disarming and illusory. Pure maya really! There are good sides to India, but the USA is comfortable with an India which is assiduously following its lead on many issues, unlike other countries less than a fifth of our size. We do not berate the US (and certainly not publicly) on anything. We are opening economy in ways that gives meaning to the existences of the stewards of capital, to the constantly presumed engorging middle-class, to mirroring their concepts and constructing images of Protestant asceticism where making money using a shared model while playing pretense at trickle-down, to not really making ourselves clear in no uncertain terms about the relevance of the oil pipeline from Iran, and more than occasionally doing the shastang to appease which we do not even proverbially do anymore to our elders. See the track records of parties who have been in power to see this clearly. We also have the numbers to keep the surviving financial model continue thriving. Hey, Indians are even beginning to get enamoured with 18 carat gold. What can you not like about that. That's free money -- practically. Fibreglass cows will be next. If an F-16 "strayed" over India, it would certainly not be sent back in crates as the Chinese did. But despite such acts of belligerence and a fascinating insult to itself,they still love the Chinese. Why -- undoubtedly for what China is willing to do to satiate the bellies of capitalism, their own and that of the USA. Other than my two bits, it would always be good to get a personal take from an economist, a stockbroker, one playing the market, or perhaps even a Goa assimilated bhanya. But these are vain hopes as usual. venantius _______________________________________________________ > From: "Jerry Fernandes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [Goanet] India, sixth 'Wonder' of Americans > Dear Netters > So what has brought about this sudden rise in the interest of India amongst > the Americans? Is there any truth in this news? > > Cheers > > Jerry > > India, sixth 'Wonder' of Americans > WASHINGTON (Agencies): India is the sixth most popular country in the US, > with 69 per cent of the Americans having a positive image about it, while > Pakistan finds itself among the 10 most unpopular nations, according to a new > poll. Of 22 countries rated in Gallup's 2008 World Affairs survey, Canada, > Great Britain, Germany and Japan win favour with at least 80 per cent of > Americans. The top four is followed by Israel at 71 per cent. India ties with > France at the sixth spot for the positive image. [GT] >
