Dear readers:
Dr. Jiten Roy asked me few questions concerning the ills of liberalism. I decided to rebut his entire write-up paragraph-by-paragraph so that the context is not lost.
Sincerely,
A.H. Jaffor Ullah
March 5, 2008
------------------------
Dr. Jiten Roy (DJR) wrote:
< It is immaterial how we came here or how good ones English proficiency and writing ability are. You are a very good writer, no doubt. Everybody cannot be good writer. You deserve the praise.>
Jaffor Ullah (JU) replies:
I really don't deserve this encomium from anyone. We all should try to express our thoughts lucidly through dialogue or civil discourse for which one has to learn good usage of language – English, Bengali, Hindi, etc.
DJR wrote:
<The question is how good our presence is for this country? I am aware of the fact that immigrants made enormous contributions in the past.>
JU replies:
Contrary to your line of thinking that only immigrants from yesteryears made contribution to the western society, I would say many recent immigrants have made their marks in myriad of fields. One of the founders of Yahoo is of Asian descent. The chip manufacturing company, Intel, has many scientists from Asia. Have they not made any contributions? Dr. Roy lives in New York City; therefore, he only sees cab driver, grocery store owners, restaurant workers, etc. Immigrants do live in college towns, and in small cities. There, many hard working immigrants are contributing very positively to their respective communities. Come to think of it, Dr. H. Govind Khorana, an immigrant from India lived in Madison Wisconsin in the mid 1960s. He contributed in the field of Biochemistry and received the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology in 1968. Prof. Fazle Hussein of Bangladesh who teaches at Univ. of Houston has made contribution in his field. Therefore, Dr. Roy has to look outside NYC to find immigrants who have served the American society. Let us be proud of these overachievers.
DJR wrote:
<But, what's our future is bringing? Until recently, this was a great country on the face of the Earth. Just look around what's happening now to this once golden country.>
JU replies:
Dr. Roy, you are living in the past. The modern society is mired in many problems but look at the positive side. The progress in Internet technology, medical imaging, biotechnology, medicine, etc., gives me much hope for a better future. Yes, we have inequalities in American society. That is precisely why we need Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton to run this country. The crime problem is everywhere and I blame the Hollywood-Bollywood culture for glamorizing criminal enterprise.
DJR wrote:
<The recent immigrants are not the same immigrants, who came through the Ellis Island. These recent immigrants do not have loyalty to this country as past immigrants did. I can see how things have changed in 27 years, I have been here. Recent immigrants are changing the demographic and social structures of this country, which cannot be good even for the immigrants themselves. These immigrants will transform this country into the third world country from where they came from. Because, they are bringing their notorious characteristics with them and liberalism is allowing them to preserve those cultures here.>
JU replies:
Dr. Roy, how much do you know about the old immigrants who came to the shore of America from Europe? Did not mafia people come from Sicily by boat? Many ruffians came from Europe too alongside with good people! America is a vast country and you are rest assured that the criminal elements will probably stay in NYC, cities in NJ, CT, etc., and will not venture out to rural areas. By and large America is still a nice place to raise a family. I hate to say that you are fear monger who thinks liberalism is allowing vile and criminals to flourish in this open society. Can you back up your comments with research findings?
DJR wrote:
<The support for the liberal ideology in the administrative and media power structures allow them to preserve their characteristics in tact through multi-culturalism. Multi-culturalism has replaced the melting-pot theory. I know multi-culturalism brings a sounds good feeling in the recent immigrant community, but is it good for this country? I happen to think that it is not good for this country or the recent immigrant communities. We may be able to see the result of multi-culturaism when millions of illegal Mexican immigrants get legal status. We might see communal tension between different immigrant communities sooner than later.>
JU replies:
You are saying that only liberal folks support multiculturalism. Perhaps you are watching CNN's Lou Dobbs program way too much. Newscasters such as Lou Dobbs, Rush Limbaugh, etc., are true fear mongers. Dr. Roy, do you know that without the labor of illegal Hispanics in New Orleans area our reconstruction work would not have been possible. My house was almost destroyed by hurricane Katrina led 8 feet of water. The roof was damaged too. The Hispanics were God-sent. They did all the work for white contractor and in the process the Caucasian contractors made money hand over fist. Sitting in the Big Apple you have no idea how the Hispanics are shaping the future of America. Get real, Dr. Roy? In 50 years time Hispanics will surpass the whites in terms of population.
DJR wrote:
<Now, lets go through the following:
Test for a Liberal:
- Do you believe in Homosexual/Lesbian marriages?
- Will you surrender your own culture to accommodate other cultures?
- Do you support abortion?
- Do you think pornography should be considered as a freedom of expression?
- Do you believe that an ideal family can be formed without a father and a mother?
If your answers consist of 3 or more "Yes" then you are a "Liberal." Otherwise, you are a Conservative.>
JU replies:
- The world is teeming with 6.25 billion people. As you know homosexual marriage won't populate the world. Therefore, from the perspective of ZPG (Zero Population Growth) it is not a bad idea. As long as homosexuals keep it to themselves, why should it bother you and me?
- Yes, I would. I came to this country not to join an organization that will erect an "OM" or La Ilaha Illalla signboard at their doorsteps. I came to this country to assimilate.
- Of course, yes. Human being makes babies. A couple should decide whether they should have babies or not. Infanticide is a serious problem in South Asia. Are you aware of it?
- Pornography is always a part of human civilization. How about the erotic pictures so gracefully adorning the Mandir allover India, Dr. Roy? Or, is it the Playboy or the likes of it that you abhor?
- What is the definition of an ideal family, Dr. Roy? South Asian people have no problem watching seductive Bollywood films three-generations sitting in the same room. Before criticizing the westerners please look into our culture first.
DJR wrote:
<I know liberals are free thinkers and productive members of the society. I also know, many contributions from Liberals have been detrimental to the society as well as the country. >
<Regards,
Jiten Roy>
JU replies:
Please show me the contributions of the illiberal people (read: conservative). Religious people from time immemorial have shown their bias as conservatives. They hardly contributed to the progress of human society. Please read more about the enlightenment movement of eighteenth century in Europe. That movement was made possible by liberals. Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Dwarkanath Thakur, Michael Modhusudan Dutta, Ishwar Chandra, Bankim Chottopdhaya, Rabindranath Thakur, etc., were the direct beneficiaries of that liberal movement. Had this not for them, you and I would be schooled in "Tol" and "Madrassah." This is an understatement, Dr. Jiten Roy.
