Indian official: Diplomat's arrest in NYC barbaric

[smitra]

184. With a measure of sadness, I am trashing this thread.

Over the past two days, in this thread and another related one on LBN, I have learned something about my fellow DU members. What I have learned has been a revelation to me, and a disappointment.

1. I have noted the tendency to accept what the American side says as the gospel truth, and either ignore or demean what the other (Indian) side says. Even when facts are presented, the posters' minds are not changed -- it is as if they deliberately do not want to see what is being pointed out. This is especially galling when the instances of American hypocrisy - the fact that the US protects its own erring diplomats by hook or crook, and gives them a slap on the wrist at best - is pointed out, it elicits no response.

2. More importantly... out and out racism. The point of no return on this was a poster who said that they are allowed to absolutely hate one thing, and in their case, they hate India, and would like to see it populated by 2 million tigers and nothing else.

I have now realized that while my outlook and attitude is similar to my fellow DU members when discussing US political issues, we are far apart in our attitudes towards other countries/cultures. A belief in American exceptionalism seems to be ingrained in some posters - the liberality of the board does not extend to people beyond the US' shores.

I shall therefore be trashing any India-related thread henceforth.

To those few DU members who responded with some evidence of an open mind, thank you.