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9240. marjoribanks - 11/29/2008 9:32:47 AM Yes, I am indeed several hundred miles away from dear old Bombay.
But this attack took place far too close to home nonetheless - I am South Bombay born and bred, and many family members live in the area which was targeted in this audacious sea-borne commando attack. The gunmen strolled down Colaba Causeway to Cafe Leopold (where many victims were gunned down) and then into the Taj - a route I must have taken at least 5000 times, and the bloodbath that ensued has accounted for at least three people that I personally know (which wasn't the case even at 9/11, even despite the proximity then).
The sight of armed gunmen striding Columbine-style through the landscape of my childhood has been an ugly, stark reminder of the times we live in, and the wrenching loss of even the illusion of safe haven that has at many times, and in many places, sustained me with its promise.
Bombay, now Mumbai, has astonishing resilience like no other place I know. Business will be as usual in a week, if that. The flow of money that animates the city will resume uninterrupted, if it hasn't already. But this attack has hurt - the marvellously open city of my childhood and early adult years is gone forever, and all these landmarks have become "targets" which will inevitably be "hardened." My children - who love this area, Colaba, where I grew up and where they often visit - will know a different place altogether, one that is no longer shielded from the killing winds that blow over our planet.
It is very sad.
I've lived through a lot already in my 40 years - outright war, devastating terrorist attacks, murderous riots, stick-ups and extortions and attempts at blackmail. But this astonishingly bold incident has me thinking bleak thoughts indeed, and I am extremely fearful about the world my sons are set to inherit. 9241. anomie - 11/29/2008 11:58:14 AM I'm sure many share your sentiments whether they are locals or not. Stay safe. 9242. TheWizardOfWhimsy - 11/29/2008 4:39:31 PM Thanks for the insight, marj and you're right on.
Angry young men without hope has become the lethal epidemic of our time--always ignored by those in pursuit of yet more money and power. 9243. judithathome - 11/29/2008 6:07:45 PM Great to hear from you, Marj, and glad you and yours are okay. 9244. jexster - 11/29/2008 6:08:38 PM Cafe Leopold looks like a fun place
Thanks for the update Marj... 9245. jexster - 11/29/2008 6:40:07 PM I am confused.
Cafe Leopold boast that its "beef chilly and fried rice combo is a must have"
1. Is beef chilly, beef tartare?
2. Does "must have" mean that it is a sacred cow? 9246. Ms. No - 11/29/2008 6:49:48 PM Marj,
Glad to hear that you are well and safe. I've been thinking of your family since the first news came through --- although I suspected you weren't in the immediate vicinity I did think of how this city is such a part of your life and how devastating it is to see your heritage and history hit by such violence. 9247. jexster - 11/29/2008 7:37:33 PM Why didn't this get 24/7 sturm und drang coverage? 9248. jexster - 11/29/2008 7:46:01 PM India: the fight is on for pluralism
The air is still thick with tragedy in Orissa state. Someone just told me the story of a Christian widow he chanced upon in the state capital, Bhubaneswar, who chokingly related the story of her husband's death. She said that he fled from an angry mob that came to his house in the night of August 28, but he was caught and told that he and his brothers and all their families must convert to Hinduism or he would be killed. He resisted the pressure, so they tied him to a tree, took kerosene from his brother's house, poured it over him and set him on fire. 9249. jexster - 11/29/2008 8:13:09 PM I am Concerned
The Hinduvata Flag
 9250. vonKreedon - 11/29/2008 11:30:27 PM Marj - Came here hoping to hear that you and your family are well; thanks for posting. The tide of global terrorism has certainly left its mark on your life. 9251. TheWizardOfWhimsy - 11/30/2008 6:25:04 AM How do we stop ignorant men from this kind of behavior?
9252. wonkers2 - 11/30/2008 6:53:18 AM That's a good question. Their civilization is not very civilized. The Muslims aren't the only religion that teaches that women must be subservient, however. 9253. TheWizardOfWhimsy - 11/30/2008 7:06:09 AM It drives me nutz to see this kind of abuse. 9254. wonkers2 - 11/30/2008 7:15:49 AM I agree. However, women in the U.S. only got the right to vote in 1920 when the 19th amendment was passed. Pakistan is not a very civilized country. Apparently terrorist groups there were behind the attacks in Mumbai. Catch 22 should be translated into Urdu and made required reading in the schools there and passed out free on every street corner with the objective of replacing Mohammad with Yossarian as a societal role model. And they could show The Big Lebowski free in every movie theater for a few months to encourage the fanatics to be a bit more laid back. 9255. jexster - 11/30/2008 9:00:46 PM Indians worship snake gods...killed 2000 Muzzies in a pogrom...killed a hundred Christians, chased 30,000 into refugee camps 9256. jexster - 11/30/2008 9:01:17 PM The entire country looks like a dump 9257. jexster - 11/30/2008 10:26:38 PM And I thought India was fuckt up
GENEVA, Switzerland (AP) --
Swiss voters overwhelmingly approved Sunday a move to make permanent the country's pioneering program to give addicts government-authorized heroin.
At the same time, voters rejected a proposal to decriminalize marijuana.
Sixty-eight percent of the 2,264,968 voters casting ballots approved making the heroin program permanent. It has been credited with reducing crime and improving the health and daily lives of addicts since it began in 1994.
Some 63.2 percent of voters voted against the marijuana initiative. 9258. jexster - 12/1/2008 9:09:25 PM Every dark cloud has a silver lining. Mumbai Massacre was tragic but at least CNN called in its Chief Asia Crisis Correspondent!!!
Just did a bit from Victoria Station (not the nice one, the India one) 9259. jexster - 12/1/2008 10:07:48 PM Indian Muslims Refuse Terrorists Burial in Muslim Cemeteries
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