Last Weeks London Bombings:

I have been thinking and thinking about this. In 2001I was having a discussion with Pawel regarding Muslim Teachings and their interpretation by the mullahs.

I sometimes used to go to mosques on Fridays. This was not because of my love for Islam but more for the good food they sell in the mosque premises on those days.

I also find Islam in general better than many other religions, because of its straight forward philosophy and strict adherence to it. This is both a Pro and a Con as far as my thinking goes.

The discussion with Pawel started after my 1^st visit to a mosque in the Chicago area and soon after I saw a movie called “My Son the Fanatic”. At the end of the Namaz, a collection bowl was sent around for the Palestinian cause and to fight the Israelis. This was a shock to me that collections were being done in the open to support the fight. (Some may view this as a fight for freedom and some as a terrorist act). I view anything that kills people as a terrorist act. Way back in England, even the IRA was fighting for freedom. They were more systematic, but their bombings were directed towards the system rather than killing innocent bystanders. I view this to be better than what is happening in Israel, Sri Lanka, Kashmir, or any other place today.

Going back to my discussion with Pawel, I was advocating the practice of non appeasement and to strictly deal with the terrorists/insurgents in Afghanistan. Pawel was taking a more humanitarian approach to this and was talking about dealing with it in a peaceful way. We talked about this for like 1 hr and quit.

This was also the time when the news was all about the disappearance of Chandra Lavy. And then one day, September 11, 2001 the attack happened in NY,NY. I was in Pawel’s house that day or the next and we were watching the news. This was my “I told you so!” moment. J And I also told him that this was the answer to Gary Condit’s prayers regarding Chandra Lavy.

Well the incidents after that were sort of promising the way George Bush started to deal with the problem, but again he has fallen prey to the obligations of politics, appeasement of the Minority Community. HISTORY has shown us that appeasement is not the best policy and does not give proper returns. The problem should be dealt in a fair and square manner. Unfortunately, all over the world, every country tries to appease the minorities and create problems for themselves.

In India, the BJP government, considered to be a party with Nationalist Hindu ideology was appeasing Muslims by increasing the subsidy for Haj. But no such benefits were given for Hindus.

Well, I was expecting UK to be hit real hard by this new Muslim terrorism after I saw the movie “My Son the Fanatic”. I always believe that UK was sort of ignoring its problems.

The movie details the contentious relationship between an aging cab driver, Parvez (veteran actor Om Puri), and his beloved son, Farid (Akbar Kurtha). On the verge of becoming engaged to an English girl, Farid suddenly breaks off the relationship and aligns himself with a group of hard-line Islamic fundamentalists. Parvez, who has rejected religion as well as most of his culture, is deeply upset by this turn of events, and matters become worse when his wife begins embracing Farid's beliefs. Feeling alienated from his family, Parvez turns to Bettina (Rachel Griffiths), a prostitute with whom he shares a special bond (of course, she has a heart of gold). The second aspect of My Son the Fanatic details their relationship as it develops into something deeper than the usual interaction between a hooker and her driver.

Farid’s behavior and the way the life in UK is depicted were realistic and was the way the youth in general was going.

London should at least now respond to the reality of what is happening in its streets. No appeasement should be done and the law and order should be strictly enforced.

Hopefully, the world goes towards peace faster. Let’s wait and see……