Letters from Readers
What is Trump hiding in his closet?
This is with reference to the September editorial (“The Futility of Putting Your Faith in Trump”). You must have written the editorial in August for it to appear in the September issue. Since then, President Trump has—through his own words and deedsfully lived up to all the unflattering adjectives you have summarized regarding him in just one powerful paragraph. His private and public behavior has created a publishing boom with his former close associates and family members warning Americans about the dangers of reelecting Trump. American voters have yet to learn what skeletons are hidden in his tax returns, which he refuses to release. Could they reveal his indebtedness to Putin and many other foreign players who do not have best of America’s interests in their agendas? I applaud you for your editorial to help the readers make the right choice in this election.
Nizar Motani
Atlanta
Things to remember when voting
The August editorial (“Our Year of Reckoning”) was very well written. As highlighted in the article, there is much at stake for all of us in the U.S., as well as for people around the world, on who gets to be the president for the next four years. Trump has been a disastrous and dangerous president, perhaps the worst of all the forty-five presidents we have had so far. As a person he is a bully and abusive. The words decency and dignity are not in his dictionary. He insults women reporters and floats unfounded conspiracy theories. Not only has he personally ridiculed, he has also incited his supporters to attack people and media who ask tough questions. He lies almost every day. He has no compassion, sympathy, or empathy for anyone. His own sister and nephew have recently revealed how vicious and cruel Trump is: they have known him since childhood.
Some of my friends had argued before the 2016 election that the country needed a strong man as the president. But Trump has proven to be a very weak man who has failed miserably in controlling the virus. The death toll is expected to reach 300,000 by December! He does not believe scientists and doctors. He has shown no empathy to Covid-19 victims or to military families who lost their sons in the wars. Internationally, Trump has lost the respect of many allied countries in Europe. His only goal has been to amass wealth. Over seven of his close advisers have been accused or indicted for fraud or stealing campaign donations. As Mayor Bloomberg correctly described in 2016, Trump is a con man and a phony.
The Republican Party which once stood for moral and ethical principles looks the other way when Trump is continuously engaged in evil acts, not to forget his support of dictators like Putin, around the world. Latest polls show that as much as 80 percent of Republicans still support him and intend to vote for him. Among the Trump voters, an estimated 85 percent are white, a significant number of whom dislike minorities, immigrants, and women. If Trump gets reelected, he will bring about more divisiveness and racial tension. Democrats cannot sit back confidently because they are ahead in polls currently. They better not forget that Hillary was also well ahead in most polls till election day. They better not underestimate the intensity
of Republican voters who support Trump, no matter what. Also, Covid-19 has had a negative effect on minority and Democratic voters, making them less motivated.
Only a Biden-Harris landslide victory can shut away Trump. I very much hope we never elect another person like Trump in the future.
Shachi Puttaswamy
Greenville, South Carolina
Pride in Indian heritage
I am writing in response to Mr. Bhagirath’s letter (“Goldmining our Indian Heritage,” September issue). I would first like to thank Khabar for focusing on our rich heritage woven in the fabric of India which gives us our identity. The “10 Gems of Indian Civilization” (August cover story) which have stood the test of time should indeed serve as a beacon for all-time reference. Mr. Bhagirath has rightly pointed out that these gems of our pride have been lost and stolen, and definitely need to be preserved. But just as we cannot ignore the present, we should also remember the onslaught of other cultures through countless invasions on our peaceful identity for over a century. Regretfully corruption, terrorism, and other ills of the society are a worldwide phenomenon and need to be addressed as such.
Sadhana Windlass
by email
Letter to my Muslim community
Like many of you, I call the United States home. However, the last four years have made me feel like a visitor in my own home. This upcoming election will decide whether we have to continue to feel like outsiders in our community, or if we will have the opportunity to feel like we belong here once again. The contributions and positive impact Muslims have made to society have been overlooked for far too long. As our population continues to grow, so should the confidence of our voices.
We have been antagonized and targeted by countless acts and policies. Our community deserves more. Earlier this year, President Trump halted H-1B visas through 2020, which disproportionately impacts the desi community. This is just one instance of how our community has been attacked by the current administration’s policies. Historically, Republicans have advocated for policies that make family-based immigration more
difficult. If we continue to let this administration work in the way they have these last four years, we are risking our future and the well-being of our community.
President Trump began his presidency with the Muslim ban, which was a direct attack on us. We cannot continue to let our Muslim brothers and sisters be victimized by this presidency. An attack on one of us should be treated as an attack on all of us. Just like any other religious or ethnic group, Muslims have the right to exist in the United States. We are here to fulfill the American Dream just like everyone else, and deserve an equal opportunity to achieve our aspirations. This election is monumental as it marks the first time a woman of color is on the ticket for vice president. Kamala Harris, as the daughter of immigrants, understands the obstacles of being a minority in America. Unlike President Trump and Vice President Pence, we can count on Senator Harris to be considerate of the immigrant experience throughout her tenure as VP.
More urgently, the coronavirus pandemic is posing a great threat to our community. Since our families are more likely to live in multigenerational households, our communities face an increased risk of exposure to Covid-19. When our elected officials introduce reckless reopening plans they risk our children falling ill to the virus as well as being carriers, exposing our elders to the virus. Our voice is a critical part of the American voice; we cannot lose that. It is imperative for us to recognize that our voice matters. Thus, we cannot risk losing the opportunity to vote for someone who will have our best interest in mind. We deserve someone who will advocate for us; however, wanting someone to advocate for us begins with us advocating for ourselves first.
What can we do to advocate for ourselves? There are 3 key dates for us to remember:
• Monday, October 5, 2020: Voter Registration Deadline
• Monday, October 12, 2020: Early Voting Begins
• Tuesday, November 3, 2020: Election Day for the General Election
This is our opportunity to make our voices heard.
Syeda Bano
by email
A new look at the Mahatma
We, the generation belonging to the period of Independence struggle, grew up with Gandhi ji’s name on our lips. So extensive has been the writing on Gandhi ji’s life that any new book that gets published feels like “more of the same.”
But Dr. Uma Majmudar’s new book [reviewed in this issue] is refreshingly different. We see the ordinary human side of Gandhi ji. Like any of us, he was torn by doubts and left groping in the dark looking for affirmation of his ideals, for someone to show him the way. Thus reflecting on Gandhi ji’s journey and inner struggles, she shows that one is not born a Mahatma but becomes one by dedication, conviction, perseverance, and the blessings of a Guru who lights the path.
She also brings to fore a name that is practically unknown, much less celebrated—that of Gandhi ji’s guru Shri Rajchandra. Gandhi ji lived with Shri Rajchandra and saw for himself how Shri Rajchandra actualized spirituality and the teachings of scriptures in his day-to-day life. Rajchandra’s extensive and deep knowledge and respect for world religions, his liberal inclusiveness, and being born into Jainism and his deep faith in
nonviolence at all levels of one’s existence, inspired and assured Gandhi ji of his own aspirations of living by the principle of Truth.
Vimal Nikore
by email
What’s on YOUR mind?
We welcome original, unpublished letters from our readers. You could either respond to a specific article in Khabar or write about issues relevant to our community. Letters may be edited for length and other considerations. Longer submissions by readers may be considered for the “My Turn” column.
Email: letters@khabar.com • Fax: (770) 234-6115.
Mail: Khabar, Inc. 3635 Savannah Place Dr, Suite 400, Duluth, GA 30096.
Note: Views expressed in the Letters section do not necessarily represent those of the publication.
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