Heights of Superstition in the First World

It is common for everyone in the world to dismiss people from India as people frought with superstition and blind beliefs. In India the so-called intellectuals always look up to western nations such as the US and awe at their progress and scientific temper. What these people don't seem to know or acknowledge that the west too is frought with its own superstitions. If I am to ever bring this up, America-apologetics will just brand me as a jealous third worlder who is trying to find fault with the glory of the west.
 
A recent newsreport I read on Yahoo makes me wonder about the amount of superstition that people in America hold. This report is about a highschool athlete in the state of Kentucky who walked out of a qualifying race just because she was assigned the bib number "666". The girl said that the number created conflict with her "Christian belief" and hence she would not run. This becomes national news which attracted over 20,000 comments from readers that are mostly supportive of the runner and critical of the race officials. Suggestions range from removing the number altogether from races to adding another number to this particular runner's bib.
 
In the same country when I say that I am vegetarian because of my religious beliefs people scoff at my faith and try to make jokes out of it. That is because even in India when I told people I am vegetarian, most people laugh at us and make jokes about being a closet meat eater, etc. How unfortunate!!!

Confusing Headlines

I was listening to NPR while driving to the railway station earlier this evening and one news item caught my attention and outrage. The headlines talked about how India had become the first Asian nation to launch a mission to Mars, but the rest of the story talked about the glories of China's space program. How absurd!
 
If NPR did want to talk about China's space program they could do that without mentioning anything about India. By saying that despite the fact that India has stellar achievements in space missions, the news reporter seemed to take the side of the China, the oppressive, communist regime which is attempting to steal resource-rich land, water, and other parts of neighboring nations.
 
Another blog post on NPRs website grudgingly praises India's mission to mars, whereas in reality the program should be praised as one that could serve as a model for the rest of the world.
 
Listening to these newsreports, reading the blogs, and just skimming the media makes me want to believe that the West indeed has an agenda against India.
 
 

Happy Diwali 2013

Diwali is almost over but hey... good things and good deeds can be done anytime. This image is courtesy of JK YOG, I just removed the name of their organization digitally and published it on my blog. No copyright infringement is intended.

If I were in India it would have been one pig fest eating till my stomach busts, sweets, savories, etc. But then I am in America and don't even know any Indian families that celebrate these festivals well enough that I get invited to their place. Anyway festivals or not life goes on...