America: The Agony And The Ecstasy

USA is a land which draws extreme reactions. In spite of the ground realities, the fabled lure of the ‘American dream’ remains strong as ever.

- Kaajal Oza Vaidya

PLACE: CHICAGO,

Time: 12:30 AM (midnight)

A seventeen year old son of a Gujarati Patel family cries out to his mother saying, “Mom, we have a guest at our place.” The hard working, accomplished mother goes to the son’s room and sees a 21 year old girl there. She has encountered this particular girl earlier at a relative’s marriage. She tries to recall her name, but fails. She asks the girl her name, but the girl refuses to answer…

When the girl’s parents are called, the girl’s mother, without any shame or hesitation warns the boy’s mother, “I need to take her to the doctor. She needs a checkup. How do I know what would have happened at this late hour?” The Patel family which owns two Subways and three Dunkin’ Donuts are facing such an incident for the first time. The mother of the boy is clever. She understands the actual reason behind the warning. She replies to the girl’s mother with immense calmness, “You are free to do anything that you want. I won’t let this alliance happen…”

This is a true incident that happened last year in America!

PLACE: NEW JERSEY,

Middlesex Country

An 18 year old, Ravi Dharun, is convicted. Tylor Clementi, his roommate who stays with him in hostel, jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge. The reason behind it was his homosexual relationship which was recorded and circulated amongst his other friends by Ravi. The price of intruding his privacy was paid for by Ravi’s own career and life. Ravi was sentenced to 30 days in jail, 300 hours of community service and a $10,000 fine…

PLACE: SAN FRANCISCO,

Time: 10:30 PM