> THE INDIAN > ELECTIONS > The New York Times | 4 July 2013 > > It is truly the greatest show on Earth, an ode to a diverse and democratic > ethos, > where 700 million+ of humanity vote, providing their small part in > directing their ancient civilization into > the future. It is no less > impressive when done in a neighborhood which includes unstable and > violent Pakistan, China, > and Burma. > > Its challenges are immense, more so probably than anywhere else, > particularly in development and fending > off terrorism -- but considering > these challenges and its neighbors, it is even more astounding > that the most diverse > nation on Earth, with hundreds of languages, all religions and > cultures, is not only surviving, but thriving. > > The > nation where Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism were born, which > is the second largest Muslim nation on Earth; > where Christianity has > existed for 2000 years; where the oldest Jewish synagogues and Jewish > > communities have resided > since the Romans burnt their 2nd temple; where the > Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile reside; where the > > Zoroastrians from Persia have thrived since being thrown out of their > ancient homeland; where Armenians and Syrians and > many others have come to > live; where the Paris-based OECD said was the largest economy on > Earth for 1500 of the last > 2000 years, including the 2nd largest, only 200 years ago; > where 3 Muslim Presidents have been elected, where a Sikh is > Prime Minister > and the head of the ruling party a Catholic Italian woman, where the (a!) > President is (was!) also a > woman, succeeding a Muslim President who as a > rocket scientist is a hero in the nation; where a booming economy is > > lifting 40 million out of poverty each year and is expected to have the majority of its > population in the middle > class already, equal to the entire US population, by 2025; > where its optimism and vibrancy is manifested in its movies, > arts, economic > growth, and voting, despite all the incredible challenges and hardships; > where all the great powers are > vying for influence, as it itself finds its > place in the world. > > Where all of this is happening, is India, and as > greater than 1/10th of > humanity gets ready to vote, it is an inspiration to the entire World. > > ~ V Mitchell, New York,
Posted on: Sun, 14 Jul 2013 22:05:52 +0000
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