So here's the thing about going to Mumbai: It just got bombed. No, that's inaccurate. It's hotels, tourist destinations and train stations were taken over by terrorists who are targeting Westerners. There that's better. Except that for me it's not. At all.
My first response was to play the whole thing down. Like, "O.k., this type of thing happens all the time right? Isn't there an unspoken rule about things happening twice in the same spot?" These delusional statements were followed by anger that I'd let fear get in the way of taking an awesome trip. This was followed by more anger about spending and perhaps losing money because of terrorists. Later came sadness about the people whose lives were lost and a solid commitment not to lose my own.
It's not just about taking a trip. I mean, I had no assumptions about what I might learn from traveling to India. In signature form, I was naive about the implications of traveling to a developing country as an American. Sure, I heard that I would see extreme poverty, and I knew that religion was treated very differently, but I guess my own respect and admiration for other cultures clouded the fact that not everyone thinks like me. Some, not even close, as evidenced by recent events.
So, the task at hand for me is to weigh my options. Am I willing to risk being held hostage to prove that I'm not afraid... After September 11th, everyone was saying, "We can't let the terrorists win! Do not be afraid!" Of course, George Bush said to go shopping, but what I saw was increased discrimination in this country of Middle Eastern people. Should Americans stop going to India and countries where the U.S. is not held in high regard? Maybe we should all just go back to our own respective countries, vow to immerse ourselves exclusively in our own cultures and just call it a day.
Maybe it's because of the internet (or the million other reasons), but I would say that's likely never ever to happen. Not even close. There will always be extremists in every nation, culture, and representing every view point who wish the whole world, except for their own, would go away. I think it comes from fear-fear of assimilation, discrimination, and persecution-not to mention the belief that compromise would result in an eternity in hell.
That aside, I don't want to live in fear. I also don't want to die. So, it's sort of a toss-up at the moment. We'll see what happens....I'm open to suggestions.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
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How many people cancelled their travel plans to New York City after the 9/11 attacks? Don't believe the news media sensationalism. Of course it's all over the news because it was Islamic militants targeting westerners .... but it's not a reason to cancel your travel plans. These things happen, but there is also a reason why you have a ticket to Mumbai, why you and Mom bought the tickets already ... there are bombings everyday in southern Thailand and New Years bombings in Bangkok a few years back, but the odds of being involved in something like that are about the same as dying in 9/11 or being in a plane crash or having a tree fall on your car while you're driving down the interstate. It's very slim odds that these things happen, it's not like it's an everyday, or monthly, or even yearly occurrence. I urge you not to fall prey to the news media sensationalism and their thirst for Islam extremist violence and cancel your travel plans. Don't think that going over there means you are going to die. It's plane crash odds. Let's still go and have a good time... This trip is meant to be ... Happy Thanksgiving!
p.s. btw, you were the one who wanted to fly into Mumbai, I wanted to fly into Delhi. ;)
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