Letters from Readers
Teen Talk column is a worthy addition
I have been an avid reader of Khabar magazine since 2015 when I first moved to Atlanta.
I wanted to commend you on the new section Teen Talk and the topic covered in the October edition. It is very important to ensure that teens/kids are able to relate to the “desi connections” provided by outlets like Khabar magazine. Gia Agarwal’s writing is mature beyond her years and the topic of Diwali and the cultural juggling that kids do is very real. However, I do see that in recent years there has been more awareness about Diwali and other desi traditions. A few “American” families came to our neighborhood Diwali party and even eagerly asked their neighbors when the fireworks would go off! Keep doing the good job, Khabar magazine. I look forward to more Teen Talk!
Tushar Srivastava
Cumming, GA
Awakening to a new reality in America
Bad news travels fast. Be it the election night results or the avalanche of anger, fear, disinformation, and divisiveness going into it. By now all of us probably have formed an idea of what went wrong, which is heavily influenced by what the media reports and which channels we decide to watch.
The day after the election, a hitherto staunch Democrat Indian friend surprised us with a long Facebook post outlining how the first amendment and talks of censorship altered his affiliation to vote for Trump. I remember when Katherine Maher, NPR’s CEO, expressed the “challenge of the first amendment,” and Elon Musk calling her the hater of the U.S. Constitution. Musk’s America PAC spent $200 million to drive young voters to the polls, enticing them with stock footage of a strong army, family values, etc., often acquired from foreign ad outlets. It surely is one of Musk’s best investments given that his net worth has jumped over $70 billion since Election Day. He assured supporters that his PAC will be active in the upcoming elections with soft dollars permitted by a ruling of the Federal Election Commission.
Undoubtedly, this election was a referendum on rising costs of food, gas, rent, and perceived threats from immigrants and activists. Shockingly, the sketchy actors and their radical talk of mass deportation, ending of the Federal Reserve, environmental protections, the Department of Education, and college loan forgiveness programs, did not deter 72 million voters a bit from choosing Trump for the presidency. Additionally, tariffs will only lead to increased cost of living for Americans. Furthermore, the safety nets of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, affecting the most vulnerable members of our society, may be greatly cut. American people have voted against their own self-interests, in that taxes will be cut for the wealthy and corporations, while working/middle-class families suffer.
Harris did not campaign on her race, age, or gender even though we have heard enough racist, misogynistic labeling of her from opponents. The Democratic coalition consists of a wide range with vast differences—not necessarily on issues, but on their liberal to moderate positions on them. Republicans were able to replicate that model in this election by bringing in Arab American, Hispanic, and Asian immigrants who voted for him knowing that their friends and families will suffer or be deported. Democrats lost points to both sympathizers of Israel and Palestine—which helped Trump, even though he has clearly signaled Netanyahu to “do what he has to do.” Trump in his first term had legitimized the occupation of Jerusalem and is expected to go further. Yet, [some] Arab Americans in Michigan preferred him over Harris due to a perception that her support of Gaza was too weak.
We have not seen any plans from the Republicans besides Project 2025 and incendiary comments including an agenda for Day 1. If the past is any indication, everything is pointing to deep damage to American institutions in the coming days, including the firing of Federal employees, enabling programs without Congressional approval, and hiring loyalists with an “anti-deep-state agenda.” Before challenging those decisions in courts, Democrats have the daunting task of getting their coalition together by demonstrating that they are the party that works for people. They owe this to the 68 million Harris voters. Meanwhile, one should not lose faith in American institutions, which have stood the of time in protecting the Constitution and equal rights and will rise like dust in the words of Maya Angelou. God bless America, my home, sweet home.
Name withheld on request
Atlanta, GA
Interested in writing for Khabar?
Writers are invited to contact us at editor@khabar.com for submission guidelines. Please include links and/or attach copies of published articles, if any, as samples of your work. A review of our back issues online will give you a good idea of what we like to publish. Pitches or unsolicited articles that haven’t appeared elsewhere are welcome as well. If there is further interest, Khabar will respond with an offer or provide more information on our requirements.
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.
Enjoyed reading Khabar magazine? Subscribe to Khabar and get a full digital copy of this Indian-American community magazine.
