Friday, March 03, 2006

Cowboy and Indians

Bush in India yesterday:
"The partnership between the United States and India has deep and sturdy roots in
the values we share. Both our nations were founded on the conviction that all
people are created equal and are endowed with certain fundamental rights,
including freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of religion."

I hate shit like this. First of all, it's not true, and I think you make people cynical about government and about the history of their country when you pretend that it is.

Our forefathers had no such conviction. Not for women, not for slaves, not even for people who weren't at least landed gentry, as they were. It's the truth, and for chrissake can we just face it for once and for all and stop making up fairy stories about how the mostly wealthy men who founded this country were 150 years ahead of their time when they in fact weren't?

And India! What, is he kidding with the "created equal" bullshit?

Yeah, that's why India had to split into 2 countries after the British left, because Hindus and Muslims felt so free and equal.

And don't get me started on the caste system, which is still very much alive there. Even fucking Ghandi couldn't get rid of it. And although, like discrimination in our country, it is technically illegal, the laws are ignored with impunity. Maybe because there aren't enough people from the lower castes with the power or influence to force a change. Maybe because most of the people in India believe that social order is maintained by keeping the poor people in their place.

Come to think of it, our countries...not so different.

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