Month: January 2017

The Fault Lines

Beneath San Bernandino, lie the San Andreas Fault lines, one of the seismically complex well-known earthquake area on the North American tectonic plate. The pressure between the plates has been building over decades and a massive earthquake is strongly predicted. In fact, scientists have called this a ‘Ten-Month-old’ pregnancy.

How does this relate to the executive order banning people from those seven nations? Well, first thing first. That’s not a Muslim ban. If I understand correctly, there are 56 nations that have a Muslim majority. Though most of these Muslim majority countries are peace-loving, occasional countries with a Muslim majority have severe unrest. The ban is against people moving from these strife-torn countries. A recent wave of immigration in Europe is a vivid and life example.

Is this devoid of Logic?

It gets confounding, especially when you compare this executive order with what was talked during the campaign (speeches). However, let us take one step at a time and discern what was said during a campaign from what is being done to protect the nation.  How would you protect the nation from an imminent threat arising from a minuscule population of malafide people mixing along with innocents entering as refugees? Trump hasn’t said, this is permanent, all he has done is move into immediate action until he evolves a mechanism for stalling or stopping any miscreants entering US soil and doing the damage.

This truly is a ‘haste ban’

This ban sounds something done in great haste, without supporting risk and impact analysis. Ideally, directives such as these, are thoroughly researched, modeled and thought through before being implemented. It throws some fundamental constitutions tenets such as the ‘Immigration Act of 1965‘ to disdain. As it stands, this bans nationals originating from these seven countries, everyone from Muslims to Christians, including ladies and innocent kids. If you look at the percentage of terrorists coming from these seven nations or the possibility of being attacked by immigrants turning into terrorists from these seven countries, the potential is minuscule, lower than someone being hit by a car while driving. More so, banning these countries displays a lack of cost-benefit calculation done for countries like Saudi Arabia or Pakistan. Of course, this does not take into consideration the reputation of the US as a beacon and an apostle of the free world. That’s not a consideration at all.

It caters to the populist base, overrides statutory stipulations and displays a presidency in haste and reckless decision making. When we implement and then think through, that is haste. Haste is always not bad but, is it required in this situation?

Why is it difficult to trust that, this is not a ‘Muslim Ban’?

The onus of protecting one’s country is with its own citizens and their elected leaders. That behavior is dictated by threat perception. If President Trump needs time to refine and devise a mechanism, should he wait until then and implement a refined mechanism? Or in the interim, should he implement a mechanism that provides and prevents immediate mitigation (for a limited period) and keep refining? I believe both options are directly dependent upon threat perception and perspective of protection.

If this is right, why is it difficult to trust what President Trump is doing? We all know, the epicenter of terrorism (Pakistan) or the place from where most terrorists belonged too during 9/11 (Saudi Arabia). Neither of these countries is in the list of the banned list. Devoid of the reasoning on their omission (Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s), it becomes less trusting and erodes the authenticity of this order.

Why should Saudi Arabia be excluded?

This is oft-repeated question. The answer is cost-benefit analysis. Presume, I do business with you and despite a hard wall or bottleneck, I still make some money that is critical to my volume. Add to that, the administrators on either side are aligned for decades. If it is proven that the perpetrators of crime are not state sponsored, do you think we should burn those bridges too? Suffice it to say, the petrochemical appetite, the massive financial engagement on either side and the goodwill cooperation on either side are sufficient to not enlist Saudi amongst those seven countries.

Pakistan

I am still perplexed about how Pakistan always manages to go scot free, irrespective of being a cauldron and a melting pot of terrorism. Irrespective of the power in Hill, it has the propensity and potential to escape the wrath.

It is threat perception and response to that perception (It is not anti-Muslim)

Let me drive another example – when a Muslim country bans another Muslim country, it is not called ‘Anti-Muslim’ but when a secular nation, based on its threat perception, bans few selected nations, it is immediately labeled as Anti-Muslim. Kuwait banned five nationals from entering its country in 2011, citing, ‘”difficult security conditions in the five countries”. Visit Kuwait’s decision to ban citizens from five nations. Kuwait bans visa issuance to five nationalities: Nationals from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan banned from entering Kuwait.

(updated on Feb 11, 2017)

On Feb 11, 2017, Saudi Arabia has just confirmed deporting 39,000 Pakistanis from its country since many of those deported are connected with terrorist activities connected with ISIS. This is sufficient to dispel the general perception that every ban is not a religious ban or religious bias; it is threat perception and not religious bias. The chairman of the Shoura Council (the security committee) went a step further and recommended thorough scrutiny of Pakistanis nationals since they were complicit with security concerns.

http://www.dailyo.in/politics/saudi-arabia-deported-39000-pakistanis-nawaz-sharif-pakistan-terror-groups-pak-saudi-ties/story/1/15608.html

Suffice it to say, this is NOT anti-islam but ‘Anti-Terror’ Haste Ban. Imagine a world without these ban from Saudi Arabia or Kuwait, we would have certainly thought that the US ban is Anti-Islam. Just see how profusely the common Americans feel sympathetic towards  Muslims. That is marvelous and highly appreciable.

Scarred of recent European Immigrant ‘Law and Order’

No one wants another 9/11. Recent Syrian immigration to Europe is a history in making – rapes, looting and anarchy are rampant in selected parts with a severe influx of Syrian and Middle Eastern. Law enforcement in Europe was never built to handle this influx of citizens who had a different set of ethos and value (not that their practices are bad, just that we all are different in our maturity and adoption). Europeans never thought the fashion of their women would subject them to aggravated sexual assault and they never thought women need to change lifestyle or get additional protection upon the arrival of immigrants to continue their lifestyle.

First and foremost, an immigrant has to be grateful to their country of adoption. They need to imbibe and align with local law enforcement. Lack of law enforcement meant less lawlessness. On the contrary, lack of enforcement was interpreted as a lawless community. Europe and specifically Germany and France were never built to handle this chaos. Trump’s voting base is worried about that.

Lessons from history

The humanitarian crisis has to be met with humanitarian aid but in an appropriate way (read my blog on Syrian immigration). Recipients of humanitarian aid need to follow certain norms while accepting the gratitude (truly interesting blog and a must read on successful immigration by Parsis that shaped India).

Does the protest appeal to human consciousness?

Not completely.  What made these protesters lose the moral luster? Truly, these protesters would have widened their appeal and given a stronger moral ground, if all these same protesters would have assembled when San Bernandino or the Orlando Pub shooting happened. Empathy is when we feel and perceive the pain of others. Empathy is a human need and it goes both ways. It is never material, and sincere feeling backed up with action, are always appreciated. We should learn to stand up and express sincerely.

Compassion is a two-way street

To preserve our rights and perspective, we should protest but when those protests are self-serving and lack compassion, it erodes the values and deprives the moral beacon that appeals to human yearning for justice. Let me draw a parallel. If only all these protesters swarming the airports in the last two days would have participated in similar protests when the attack at San Bernandino or the one that occurred at Orlando pub, people would have sympathized more assiduously.

I still remember, when Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist from Pakistan, responsible for 26/11 in Mumbai, was tried and hanged eventually; the Muslim community from Mumbai refused to offer him the burial (ground). Compassion like this paves way for solidarity with the Non-Muslim community and create an atmosphere of trust. Why do they always feel the world is against them? Sometimes, they too can stand along with the world. The Muslims from Mumbai did exactly that.

The tectonic plates of American heartland versus Urban Americans will keep colliding until enough corrections occur.  Of course, no one likes earthquakes, and had these been addressed earlier, the chasm between the two would have never widened enough to see rightward shift.

…and a closing comment

The country should be above religion and religious affiliations

When I saw these Muslims clamoring at the airports protesting the so-called misconstrued ‘Muslim Ban’, I felt it strong, they should have revisited the history of attacks on this country and this country’s vulnerabilities. Religion cannot be above every action. If the threat perception mandates ban (from selective countries)  so be it. Let us honor that perception and perspective. The country should be above religion and religious affiliations. Align with the country’s interests. Don’t alienate, just align! 

Does that mean banning or vetting is wrong?

No, banning or vetting immigrants to protect once the country is not wrong. However, it should follow ethos and natural principles of justice, should have adequate research and an embedded mechanism, and lastly, it should provide legal redressal or appeal. Devoid of these, bans such as these are unlikely to provide a solution. Until the fault lines show correction, we will see similar frictions between the populist base and the educated and elite. Suffice it to say, this is not a Muslim ban, this is a ‘Haste Ban’.

(Updated Feb 3, 2017)

U.S. District Court Judge James Robart ruled against Trump’s travel ban from seven Muslim countries. Read excerpts from Politico, “Judge Robart’s decision, effective immediately, effective now, puts a halt to President Trump’s unconstitutional and unlawful executive order. It puts a stop to it immediately, nationwide,” Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson told reporters. “What the judge announced today was nationwide; the president’s executive order does not apply.”

My Comments after Judge Robart Order:

Trump’s Executive Order may go through the labyrinths of legal challenges but it is clear that devoid of diplomacy, Trump is an expression of, not the erudite but, the apprehensive common man. Those not agnostics should take cognizance, rather than deny this, and introspect why most aggressive and radical attacks are statistically skewed towards certain faith/s. Those asserting themselves, individually or collectively, need to abandon aggression and adopt dialog, trusting that dialog doesn’t mean one party will walk with everything or nothing.

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Citations:

http://www.npr.org/2017/01/31/512439121/trumps-executive-order-on-immigration-annotated

https://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/terrorism-immigration-risk-analysis

Guns in the USA. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34996604

Cultural Clash from recent Muslim migration to Europe

I have cited excerpts from The New York Times, on a Swiss Court ruling for Muslim girls swimming along with Local Boys.

Cultural clash is a sequelae of migration, especially if the migrants arrive from a land with diverse religious beliefs and cultural norms.

Like Sugar Dissolves in Milk

Europe is burning due to issues and consequences created from migrant muslim population. Historically, migration is not a new phenomenon but it was led and managed well, both by the migrant and the assimilator, led primarily by the assimilator. Parsi’s migration to India, is a great example for successful resettlement to the adopted land.

After persistent atrocities from the increasingly aggressive Arab – Muslim population, Zartoshti’s fled Persia (Present day Iran) and migrated to India. Initially, they landed in Diu, Kathiawar (part of present day Gujarat).  The local King welcomed them and asked them to integrate in the wider community like Sugar dissolves in Milk.

The ‘Qissa-i Sanjan’ talks about their integration amongst the local Indian population. The Parsis followed the principle of dissolving sugar in milk. They had to follow certain rules, foremost amongst those being – talk local language, follow local customs and carry no weapons. Each of these principles had a deep impact on integration, assimilation and cohesion of migrant population. Parsis (Zartoshti) followed their religious scripture, ‘The Avesta’. They did not abandon their identity, ethnic or religious. Neither did the king asked them to do so. Their religious principles, Ahura Mazda, let the goodwill lit the surrounding with good deeds. Today, Parsis are a vibrant part of Indian subcontinent, despite their drastically dwindling population, is a very successful thriving community.

The story does not stop there. It also reflects the goodness of the ‘Assimilator’ and their conditions for allaying their apprehension. Truly, we all are territorial but life is tough and we need to accommodate realities of life. With a brave heart, the ‘Assimilators’ assimilated this newly migrated community as their own. A further reflection on the ‘Assimilator’s goodwill and acceptance. It highlights further, the values and principles that need to be followed by migrant community. This is not a story, but an actual historical fact with lessons on migration, a great example of integration – both from the migrant and the assimilator.

A Masterly Stroke of Leadership & Management

That was a masterly stroke in leadership and management that set precedence for migrant population for several centuries. The tenets set in this example still active, live and should form an essential part of the philosophy that needs to be inscribed within the psyche of any migrant community.

Example cited above forms a basic tenet in guidance and leadership for migrant population – irrespective of Muslims migrating to Europe or any other ethno-cultural group migrating to any part of the world. (On a side note, I feel, the Indian community has not well integrated within the wider US population and I presume, the next generation would carry the next wave). It is equally true for folks migrating from one part of the country to another part of the country, however, the difference in the cultural clash is not significant enough to allay the fears of segregation and isolationism. Assimilating with the local while maintaining the identity as a group is always a struggle, however, where social life is concerned, it is best for the harmony and integration.

Ahura Mazda are the Good teachings espoused in the religious texts of Zaroaster. Similar ethos are embedded within individual religion – Christianity, Buddhism, Muslim, Hindus, Sikhism, Jainism etc. I trust, Ahura Mazda’s from individual religions will prevails and …sugar will dissolves in Milk.

The lesson is simple – immigrants need to understand and assimilate local customs and dissolve like Sugar in Milk.

Selected citations –

Syrian refugee crisis http://wp.me/p7XEWW-42

Parsis Communities – Early History

Zoroastrianism (From BBC)

—-

Excerpt from an article from The New York Times, Jan 10, 2017 issue, titled, ‘Muslim Girls in Switzerland Must Attend Swim Classes With Boys, Court Says’. Link at the end of the excerpts below.

The parents argued that even though the Quran does not require girls’ bodies to be covered until puberty, “their belief commanded them to prepare their daughters for the precepts that would be applied to them from puberty” onward, according to the court’s summary of the case.

The decision, by a chamber of seven judges, did not dispute that the denial of the parents’ request interfered with their religious freedom, but it emphasized that the need for social cohesion and integration trumped the family’s wishes. The court also noted that schools play “a special role in the process of social integration, particularly where children of foreign origin were concerned,” and that, as such, ensuring the girls’ “successful social integration according to local customs and mores” took precedence over religious concerns.

“The swimming pool verdict unfortunately is what we expected,” Qaasim Illi, a board member of the Swiss Central Islamic Council, wrote on Twitter. “Tolerance toward the religious is diminishing throughout Europe.”

(Prelude: I have shared this link with selected folks, whom I trust for their out of box thinking, those who have an inbuilt ability to challenge the prevalent concepts and someone, who can be creative enough to offer criticism, not alone to this topic but also on how best to correct course with the current democratic selection.

Our experimentation with democracy has been almost for several centuries, while few countries are in mature phase, others are late adopters and few are not yet initiated. However, when we see those mature democracies, we certainly think, do we want to implement this model? Certainly, you will ask, what is the alternative? What options do fit optimally if not best? I have no answer. This is a foundational attempt in initiating that conversation with selected folks).

Well, you may wonder, haven’t read this term. Certainly, you are right. Let me explain what that means –

When ‘Equations’ and ‘Demagogy’ dominate our polity, all we get is a plethora of residual issues and remnant of social malice. That is Equatogogy. I just coined this term. I am sure it will add to the parlance of literature.

It is an irony –

• when we choose a leaders for enterprise management, we choose the best. The selection process goes through thorough scrutiny.
• When we have a medical problem, we seek an advise from the best doctor. One with significant experience, skills and continuously updated knowledge within their field.
• When we send soldiers to the border, we send the strongest and the best of the lot.

However –

When it comes to democracy, the electorate has little choice. More so, electoral politics has become a number’s game. Those who can cobble up more than 50%, are the chosen decision makers. It does not matter if those numbers are put up with rudimentary math or brute influence or dithering ambivalence and a snapshot distrust on the political dispensation existing at that time. When we have such equations that dominate our polity, we have outcome such as long lingering and simmering dissatisfaction of huge segments of people. That frustration ultimately erupts into phenomenon such as Brexit, recent US election fiasco, the Russian political crisis etc.

Leaders (for any specific country) are chosen for a limited period, from four to six years depending upon the country. Ownership ends with the tenure. What follows is a short sighted approach towards long term problems. However, stakeholders are keen to know the results and having a short term 3 – 5 years approach for results at the leadership level is by far the most pragmatic one amongst the multitudes of options.

Some may suggest, at the federal level, we have five year schemes and roadmap. Frankly, those plans too are vitiated to amalgamate the short term objectives. In fact, it’s a complex process driving the short term, midterm and long term objectives, especially in this era of superfast changes. It is fair for enterprise to have a short term and mid-long term segmented view of it’s vision and mission, however, the life of a country far out numbers the life of an enterprise. Integrated five year plans that are not regularly updated, and (more so) those which do not capture the needs of the minority segment (those less than 49% by far a huge segment, enough to create a revolution, if pent up frustrations are significant), poses a real threat and vulnerability to the long term progress, if not integrity of the country.

On top of that we have leaders who are chosen despite the handicaps who have major or only say on deciding and executing policy. The result is an outcome which deprives a non-majority segment with resultant simmering dissatisfaction.

Are we truly getting the results from our current democratic selection?

As mentioned earlier, I initiated this dialogue, and I am still in conversation with select few whose thoughts are important to this process of expanding my own understanding of this complex maze. Please comment.

Related blogs:

Ultimately, it is the enlightenment of the common man that would raise the nation, not the influence of money over the media. Please visit my brief blog on This topic. http://wp.me/p7XEWW-uV

Human Rights are the ultimate assets that needs to be safeguarded. That does not mean democracy is the panacea. Also, democracy is not the same for every regional political grouping, not the same for every ethnoreligious group. Implementing a uniform model of governance is unlikely to give us the desired results. Please visit my blog Your Democracy, My Democracy! http://wp.me/p7XEWW-7g.

“Your Democracy, My Democracy”.

While both human rights, and universal suffrage serve as minimal guarantees for safeguarding ‘Human Rights’, those are not the recipes for building democracies. Using those as building blocks for governance is not adequate and enough. Equating human rights to democracy is not sufficient and enough, the West has been vindicated while imposing its set of value and political system.

Recent US election is a clear reflection of inadequacies of those democratic processes. Brexit is an example of that ineptitude where a majority, deprived from the benefits from an evolved mature political system, chose to secede from European Union that was in formative stages.

Event the mature democracies are showing cracks. Just imaging Brexit, where a majority, composed of the the deprived, chooses to select a leader or define the destiny of a Union. This is short of mob lynching, where justice is inflicted (not served) by pelting stones. How can a mob lynching be cited rational?

Are these founders mutation? While we are still experimenting with our own democratic concepts of political framework, we definitely cannot impose that as a Gold Standard and a Standard bearer of political norms. West has been vindicated in imposing its set of value and political system. Iraq and Syria are stark examples of such failure. What ignites the safeguarding of human right, ultimately turns into a flagrant and blatant erosion and destruction of existent political system and a total collapse eventually creating a political vacuum. Such vacuum are later occupied by the radical forces that leads to bonfire of those same values for which this struggle eschewed.

Iraq – as we all know was a classic example. Saddam Hussein was eliminated and the west strived to install a democratic system that never flourished. Iraq descended into chaos and nearly 200,000 people died in the ensuing conflicts. Iraq and Syria are stark examples of failed state, violence is rife and citizens suffer the ignominy from the denuded human values, which were at the least guaranteed before these invasions.

I consider all these – from US, Brexit, Iraq, Syria etc. as founder mutations of our democratic system of Governance. Well, to those uninitiated with Founder Mutations, these are the mutations that are accrued and passed on to the next generation. Selected clones of mutated cells with genetics aberrations, that bear the disease, get carried through the lineage. Several diseases have an origin with such founder mutations, Breast Cancer from BRCA or Iron loading diseases are examples.

Selected Citation:

Visit Link on Scientific American for More on Founder’s Mutation. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/founder-mutations-2006-06/