America: The State of Our Nation, and our World

An Urgent Message to all Voters, Non-Voters, and Proponents of Democracy

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Hi there. My name is Vinay. I’m just a dude, born in India and living in America as a proud citizen. Thanks a bunch for choosing to read this. I really appreciate it. Fair warning: if you want to discuss this with me, I may or may not be able to respond to you for a while. I’m incredibly anxious and exhausted.

There is something that has been weighing in my head and on my heart since early 2020. I’ve been debating whether or not to share my experience, out of fear of being antagonized or judged.

For the first time in my life, I’m choosing to speak out here on the topic of politics as it relates to human rights and democracy. I hope that you consider reading this entire post before formulating an opinion on what it is I have to say. Whether or not we agree, I still love and respect you as a fellow human being. I know most of us are just doing our best to live good lives and positively impact others while taking care of our families.

I’d like you to know why I think it’s important all Americans take the time and make the effort to vote in the 2020 US election, but I speak from a slightly different perspective.

If you are on the fence in terms of whether or not you want to endure the process to vote on November 3rd, if you need more motivation, if you’re bored while waiting in line, if you feel indifferent to the election as a whole, or even if you already voted, well, this is for you. If you are South Asian or have South Asian friends and family, this is for you as well. 

Americans are often told that their voice and vote is powerful. We’re told this mostly because it involves conversations related to the direction of our communities, our families, our country and its policies, as well as how each of these policies and changes affect our daily lives. Additionally, if we’re being honest, the American vote has massive global significance, as America is in many ways one of the leading powers in today’s world. Our public perception and national policies influence our foreign policy and, to some degree, the policies of other nations. As a result, our choices as people and leaders also have a significant impact on the lives of billions of other human beings across the world.  Many of us may or may not care too much about the lives and policies of other nations, but it is my opinion that Americans ought to realize their nation’s influence and power when it comes to the world at large. American voters may or may not also feel a sense of responsibility to other governments or people, but in my opinion, it is important that we at least realize that while not all countries agree or follow an American approach to various issues, most are at least potentially influenced by America on the global stage. This is why I feel this story should be relevant to all Americans, no matter your current political leanings.

In early 2020, my wife and I had the opportunity to visit India together. This was monumental for both of us: it was huge for me to be able to return to my birth country for the first time in ten years, and it was a very significant moment for my wife because it was her first time out of the United States in her entire life. 

We had a wonderful time in India. We visited Mumbai (my birthplace), Jaipur, Agra, and the nation’s capital of New Delhi (or Delhi, as locals refer to it). We definitely did not get to do or see everyone and everything we had hoped, but it was a wonderful trip for which we are grateful we had the opportunity to experience together. I look forward to sharing more from our trip in the near future. Today, I’ll be writing about something that we happened upon while exploring Delhi.

Towards the end of our trip in Delhi, we decided to visit Jama Masjid, which is a renowned mosque near one of the largely Muslim areas of “Old” Delhi. 

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Originally, our plans were simple: visit the mosque, see the beautiful architecture, get a small taste of what that area of the city is like, and then head home. We are not Muslim, so we did not have any plans for prayer in the mosque. We just wanted to appreciate the sight. We did, however, happen upon a peaceful protest on our way out. I want to tell you about this protest. 

Just outside of the mosque, there were many Indian muslims of all ages sitting on the steps, listening to a man with a megaphone. 

The man with a megaphone was speaking to them, not out of rage, but out of a collected plea; a plea to be valued as equally as all other proud and contributing Indians.

I will not claim to be an expert on Indian, American, or global politics, but I will tell you what I saw, what I learned, and how it made me feel. 

This man was speaking to his fellow protestors, amidst many flying Indian flags, about recent policies that are in the process of being pushed by the Indian government. India is a majority Hindu nation. However, India is also a democracy, and all people are supposed to be free to practice their faith without consequence. This ideal was proving to be, at the very least, partially inaccurate, and at the most, in real danger.

The item that was being protested was related to something called the Citizenship Amendment Act, or CAA, as well as the National Register of Citizens, or NRC.

On its surface, these items might sound reasonable to many. The proposed law states that it intends to provide certain steps for a new and updated path towards citizenship and certification of such in India, through a detailed process involving multiple steps, various documents, and allegedly, many challenges while simultaneously not taking into account the current situations of many underprivileged people. Still, it is deemed by many to be a legitimate process. 

However, as many must know, the undercurrent of any proposed policies, as well as potential further impacts of these policies, are worth dissecting and criticizing to ensure what is intended is actually what occurs when said policies go into effect. 

Good intentions alone are not enough. To quote Sam Neill’s Alan Grant in Jurassic Park, “Some of the worst things imaginable have been done with the best of intentions.”

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Many have been saying for months that this proposed policy and amendment was disproportionately stacked up against Muslims that have been living in India for generations. The reason behind this is due to the belief that the original act seemed to prioritize certain Indians of just about every faith except Islam by providing a cleared path towards being granted a smoother path to the NRC list by mentioning every faith except Islam with respect to certain proceedings. I’ll link more substantive sources below for anyone who is interested. 

Effectively, many viewed the policy as a direct attempt to forcibly flex and benefit non-Muslims while making this process increasingly difficult for Muslims. This detail within the writing of the official amendment is especially concerning, because it may provide an avenue for proponents to argue that this is not the amendment’s intention or otherwise, which is exactly where and how systemic oppression can thrive and grow. Just ask the African-American/black community, or even the Latin-American and Hispanic communities in the USA, and you will receive hauntingly similar information, challenges, and descriptions. 

After having done a bit of research on this topic, both then and now, it seems almost obvious that this proposed setup is very much the majority oppressing the minority, while simultaneously denying as such. 

On the outside looking in, It seems as though there may even be a certain element of fear or hate leading to this policy. I thought to myself, maybe there are people that have had horrible experiences with Indian muslims, and their hearts are stained with resentment, and this is leading to the policy and oppression. Maybe those in power and those who are writing these propositions have tainted motives. 

It’s as if (and this is not a stretch, based on my research) the majority wants to redefine, or further clarify, what it means to be Indian, as if this is the most important thing. Non-Muslim Indians, or religious majorities, could then possibly be perceived somehow more legitimate in this misguided perspective. This is a huge problem, considering the fact that there are millions of Muslims who have been living in India for many generations. Thousands of people have been protesting this proposed litigation: some peacefully, and others violently.

A religious majority working tirelessly to make decisions based on their faith that affect all citizens, no matter their beliefs. Sound familiar, America?

There are many who may think I am overreaching here. Acting too emotionally. Inviting too much speculation. I most definitely do not intend to speak ill of any particular faith or belief system, as that is the antithesis of democracy. However, one must understand that policies and proposed laws are not merely words on paper, and we have seen how policy enforcement has led to dehumanizing and horrendous oppression the world over for centuries. We deserve the opportunity to scrutinize anything and everything in order to seek better understanding, and we must remain vigilant to all possible outcomes of policy change.

These Indian Muslims had a simple plea. Their plea was that they are just as valuable as any other person in India, and they deserve an equal and equitable path to a just process in their democracy, as well as a fair process to update their records similarly to their non-Muslim brothers and sisters.

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We don’t really have any clear images of the protest or the speaker, mostly because we were trying not to disrupt them or invite attention upon ourselves. We only stood there listening to what the man had to say for a short time. That amount of time was enough, though, for our hearts to sink, and for us to see the pain and frustration in the eyes of all of the attending protesters. It was incredibly disheartening. It was as if their eyes were saying “Is this really happening right now? Why are we having to protest this? What is even up for debate here?” I imagine many protestors around the world are feeling very similar feelings in 2020. 

Having just witnessed this protest, we were disappointed to witness another small protest, minutes later. A man was walking the streets just outside of Old Delhi shouting anti-Muslim rhetoric to anyone who would pay attention. He reminded me of the so-called “street preachers” in America who constantly told me that I was going to hell. Our hearts sank, and we couldn’t have been more uncomfortable with the energy the city was giving us on that day.

One should not be treated differently by their government as a result of their religious beliefs, either directly or indirectly. Period. 

It appears as though the CAA and NRC discussion remains as a massive fight within and around India. By enforcing this policy on the Muslim minority, this also might lead to a level of disdain and a lack of respect from Muslim majority countries, as well as families that have lived in India for multiple generations. But that’s okay, right? Because India first? Hinduism is best? Because some Indians are so terrified of being outnumbered by Muslims some day that they need to go on the offense to prevent this? I know the history here is complex, but we have had enough bloodshed between religions. We need to avoid that path.

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This should sound similar to many Americans, and for many reasons. I want to speak about something called nationalism.

Nationalism (n): identification with one's own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations.

(Oxford Languages)

To be clear, I do not think the current United States administration is completely to blame for decisions made in India, but the presence of similarity cannot be ignored. The wild part about the timing of the Delhi protest was that Donald Trump was literally in India as we were in New Delhi. The Trump administration and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Administration were in the process of doing an India tour, where they would boast of their initiatives to large crowds in stadiums with the intent for said initiatives to result in prosperity for both nations. I won’t get into their initiatives here, but I encourage you to look into them to achieve an all-encompassing perspective of this. approach from multiple points of view. 

In America, there is much division. There are many who support the current president (many of whom are dear friends and acquaintances of mine), and there are many who absolutely disagree with the current administration with every fiber of their being. The current people in power have boasted a phrase that has not been used avidly in decades. “America First!”

I can understand, to an extent, mobilizing the people of a nation such as America to be proud of one’s country and its success, and to prioritize its citizens whenever possible. However, I belong to a growing group of people that believes that by saying “America First!” and enacting policies to support this sentiment, we are at risk of ignoring others entirely, and causing unintended (or even intended) harm. When I hear “America First!” I also hear “Ignore the rest of them as much as possible while saving face and claiming the opposite!” I’m also seeing millions of people finding motive within nationalism to alienate, chastise, belittle, and incite cruelty upon others, whether directly or indirectly. Maybe I’m overreaching. Maybe not.

On the other side of the planet, there are a lot of Hindu nationalists (also known as “Hindutvas”) who are adopting a similar message. Embolden the people of the most popular faith or group, and de-prioritize those of minorities, but do it in a subtle way so when you are accused you can simply throw your hands up and say “What? Me? No, definitely not! Oppression? What are you talking about? There is no oppression! It’s a fair law!” (Just look the other way.) 

To my fellow Americans: VOTE.

I know you’ve heard it a lot, but you’re going to hear it again for another 24 hours. VOTE. Please! Make a safe plan, take the time, bring a book, a jacket, a blanket, some snacks, your mask (of course!), face shield, gloves, hand sanitizer, or anything else to help you feel comfortable while waiting in line and making your voice heard. It’s worth it.

The truth is, the world is watching. You may not care about the world’s opinion, but I’m here to tell you that you should, at least to an extent. 

America has often been a beacon of success, opportunity, and leadership in the world. However, right now, I do believe there is still too much focus on nationalism, and it is causing many negative consequences. I’m all for supporting American citizens, jobs, resources, and quality of life, but we need to do so while being conscious of all intended and unintended consequences. In these situations, we proud Americans must adjust for the betterment of ourselves and others.

We need to remember that nations with borders and laws are constructs of man. While I do believe laws are necessary and helpful towards governing people, these very elements, when over-utilized, can have a profoundly negative impact on billions of people, both inside our nation and in the outside world. 

We must pay attention to all of the consequences of all our choices and actions, as Americans, and as human beings on earth.

India’s government, along with many other nations, has been observing the US government. In my opinion, through this proposed citizenship policy, India is following America’s (and other countries) lead in using a political strategy to embolden a base of citizens by over-prioritizing the nation through the often-used ploy of nationalism, and sowing the seeds of oppression and wrongdoing as subtly as possible, deep within the writings of newly proposed official government literature and policy. I know this is the case because there are many Indian-Americans who are, in my opinion, blinded by the pride of seeing the current administrations shake hands and assuming this is immediately a good thing all around. 

Pride in one’s country is great, but it mustn’t be at too much expense to others. We must pay attention to all of the consequences of all our choices and actions, as Americans, and as human beings on Earth.

At the very least, there are some serious potential consequences that must be addressed. At its best, a bit of nationalism may result in better quality of life for proud countrymen and women. At its worst, nationalism can lead to autocracy, and (you guessed it), the beginnings of fascism. We need to be better, America. We’ve already been down that road. 

We can’t let history repeat itself, but it’s happening, right before our eyes.

I believe there is a way to be proud of one’s country, prioritize one’s country when possible, and also be a good habitant of this planet through acknowledging that one nation’s decisions impact other nations. I never feel good about benefitting from someone else’s suffering, and you shouldn’t either. It’s not worth it, and we should work to minimize this as much as possible.

The truth is that while America is indeed great, albeit imperfect, there are hundreds of other great nations all over the world. While I am proud to be an Indian-American and American citizen, I have been fortunate to travel enough and see that there is plenty to celebrate and plenty to protest across the globe. When we focus too much on nationalism, we run the risk of ignoring the idea that an increased emphasis such as this can alienate others. We may not all receive the opportunity to travel to other countries (not to mention during a global pandemic), but it is my opinion that most Americans need to do some serious soul searching about what it means to be a good American citizen AND global citizen, simultaneously. I believe it’s very possible. 

Indian and American democracy is supposed to be about learning from each other, seeking out and listening to stories from people with different nationalities, as well as racial, ethnic,  and spiritual backgrounds while maintaining our unique identity within our communities. We need to be working together, as a world of many nations, to find more agreeable common goals that will benefit local citizens AND other parts of our world. We will disagree, sure, and conflict isn’t always avoidable, but we must strive to minimize strife. 

We must strive to minimize strife. 

Make no mistake: both of the current administrations in America and India are claiming to do all the good things. However, it is these policies that should make us take a step back and reassess as we go. At the absolute least, we should continue to call for some adjustment in said policies, and we must reduce the stranglehold of blind loyalty and ego in the process.

I’ll never forget how I felt when I saw the peaceful protest in person, after hearing about the issue in the news for weeks. It was chilling. The protestors at Jama Masjid couldn’t believe that they had to protest to convince others and themselves that their voice matters, their opinion matters, their path to righteousness matters, and their lives matter. As it turns out, the protests and debate continue, even to this day.

Americans, when you vote, as a citizen of one of the most powerful and influential nations in the world, please realize that the impact goes far beyond our borders. Your vote is unbelievably POWERFUL. In my opinion, an over-use of nationalism can result to some of the worst things imaginable, and it’s important that we as a nation and world learn how to better balance pride for country, prioritizing country, and loving our country with being a great global citizen, from a policy standpoint, but even more importantly, from a human standpoint. 

All this to say, this is only one issue that is at stake in the 2020 election. However, no matter what happens this November, I want to encourage each and every one of you to take a moment, shut off the news and social media (just for that moment at least) and look within. What feels right? What seems like the right thing to do for ourselves and all human beings? We will need to find more commonalities as a people before we can even attempt to improve, or even maintain, any semblance of a just society, no matter who is elected our leader.

Please vote. Not only by November 3rd, but always. In your community elections, state and regional elections, and beyond. It’s the best and most direct way to get your voice heard. Social media and blog posts can help a bit, but voting is much more powerful. Thank you very much for reading. Additional links and sources are below.

Love,

Vinay

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