Ravi S. Iyer: Worldly

I am an Indian who lives in India. Some readers may wonder why I am putting up so many posts related to violence and hatred in the USA while there is quite a lot of hatred and some form of violence in India as well which I do not focus on. Let me try to answer that. India is a developing country. The problems faced by its poor and lower middle class citizens are ***huge*** as compared to what citizens in the USA face. Caste related: SC/ST (Dalit) caste suppression happened over millennia. Democracy has reduced that significantly as their larger numbers have helped them vote their people into power. India also has reservation system for them in education & jobs and also elected political representative (various legislatures) seats. For more on it, please visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reservation_in_India . Environmental challenges: Pollution in Delhi is very scary. But that's the case for many cities in India. Regional anti-immigrant bias: There are regional preju...

Last updated on 30th Oct. 2018 Very saddened to know of this mass shooting involving an outburst of terrible and deadly antisemitism in a Jewish synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. The problem is the ideology of hatred of groups of people that are different. The big challenge is to replace this hatred ideology by a tolerant ideology that respects people of different religions, different ethnic backgrounds, different skin colours etc. So easy to say but how does one achieve that change, especially in conditions where many feel that their lives have become very hard due to them not getting good paying jobs? Is having armed guards in places of worship in the USA the answer? Tough, really tough question! At least 10 dead in shooting at Pittsburgh synagogue -- live updates, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pittsburgh-shooting-today-tree-of-life-synagogue-squirrel-hill-pennsylvania-2018-10-27-live-updates/ , 27th Oct. 2018 -------- Thought-provoking discussion on hatred online...

Last updated on 30th Oct. 2018 Hats off to USA FBI and other law enforcement agencies for their work! This kind of work is an inspiration and provides a role model for top investigative agencies and other law enforcement agencies of other countries in the world, including India. The suspect who almost certainly is the criminal, being caught, eases the horrific tension and scare that the pipe-bombs being sent to top Democratic Party leaders and a media house, had created. It also sends a clear signal to any wannabe imitators that that's what will happen to them if they try stunts like this suspect (almost certainly the criminal) did. Deterrence! That's the key to prevent recurrence of such horrific and scary stuff. And the FBI and other law enforcement agencies have achieved that in spades! https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/10/26/cesar-sayoc-how-federal-agents-caught-bombing-suspect/1778755002/ ----- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzcQyNyfT10 , 21 min. ...

The flow of the river has been a philosophical theme of some oldie Hindi film songs. Go with the flow of life like water goes with the flow of the river. And I love watching rivers and the sea. So I have a particular fondness for songs about rivers and seas. I have loosely (and quickly) translated the song. I think it is a great reflection of the philosophy and attitude of the times then (1960s and 70s) in India (at least Hindi film watching parts of India). Hindi lyrics are available here:  https://www.lyricsindia.net/songs/2062 . --- start lyrics translation --- The river keeps moving and so does the current keep moving The moon keeps moving and so do the stars You will have to keep moving (walk). You will have to keep moving Life never ever stops at a place It does not get scared of storms and tempests If you do not move the paths will keep moving Your eyes will pine for the destination You will have to keep moving (walk). You will have to keep moving The ri...

I don't think the 2016 USA presidential election atmosphere was as vicious and dangerous as this 2018 mid-term election atmosphere has become. My prayers to God for peace and harmony in the USA. Trump Criticizes the Media as Pipe Bombs Target Democrats and CNN, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/25/us/politics/trump-attacks-media-bombs.html , 25th Oct. 2018 I have to say that it seems to me that US President Trump, given the recent pipe bombs attack attempt on top Democratic Party leaders and CNN (a top media house), is very wrong in saying that a "very big part of the Anger" seen in US society has been caused by mainstream US media. I recall seeing an interaction of a reporter with the Late Senator John McCain where McCain said that adversarial press or media is something that President Trump has to accept (or words to that effect). If I recall correctly, McCain said that he also was sometimes unhappy with the adversarial press criticism of him, but that he accepted ...

From my Facebook post, https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2320782178138346 , 25th Oct. 2018 (slightly edited): USA now is very divided politically. Prayers for peace and unity. President Trump needs to take the lead in condemning this .... Pipe Bombs Sent to Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and CNN Offices, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/24/nyregion/clinton-obama-explosive-device.html --- end FB post contents --- From my FB post, https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2321105194772711 , 25th Oct. 2018 (slightly edited): President Trump's words here, related to the suspicious packages, are very appropriate: Donald Trump vows US will 'get to the bottom' of pipe bombs, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i79-BlKkXks , 1 min. 36 secs, published by Guardian News on 24th Oct. 2018 Ravi: He has unequivocally condemned the attempted pipe bomb attacks on past & present top Democratic party leaders and said that there is no place for political violence in the...

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman addresses Jamal Khashoggi killing, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5SzngV3Q4E , 2 min. 45 secs, published by CBS News on 24th Oct. 2018 I have transcribed below the translation to English of (Arabic, I guess) words of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MbS): First of all, the crime was really painful to all Saudis, and I believe it is painful to every human in the world. It is a heinous crime that cannot be justified. Today Saudi Arabia is carrying out all legal things to finalize the investigations, to work with the, (to) co-operate with the Turkish government, and to present the perpetrators to the court and take their judgement. This is the expected thing that all governments would do, once they see a crime. Undoubtedly today, the co-operation between the Saudi and Turkish government is unique and we know that many are trying to use this painful thing to drive a wedge between Saudi Arabia and Turkey. I want to send them a messa...

This Guardian article seems to give a good analysis of Turkish PM Erdogan's speech related to Khashoggi killing. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/23/erdogan-keeps-naked-truth-about-khashoggi-under-wraps-for-now , 23rd Oct. 2018. This Guardian article, CCTV footage appears to show Khashoggi body double in Istanbul, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/22/cctv-footage-appears-to-show-jamal-khashoggi-body-double-in-istanbul , 22nd Oct. 2018, mentions the body double matter which seems to be well established now as the CCTV footage has been shared with the public. It also mentions some very disturbing things but without evidence and quotes anonymous Turkish intelligence sources. I felt it appropriate to share the relevant few sentences in a slightly edited way in this post: --- start extract from The Guardian --- Reports on Monday suggested --name-snipped--, an influential adviser to the crown prince, participated in a Skype call to the room in the consulate wh...

Saudi King, Crown Prince Phone Jamal Khashoggi's Son, Condole His Death, https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/jamal-khashoggi-case-saudi-king-crown-prince-send-condolences-to-jamal-khashoggis-son-1935366 , 22nd Oct. 2018 The above report mentions that King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman of Saudi Arabia telephoned their condolences to a son of Jamal Khashoggi. The son reportedly thanked the king and expressed "sincere gratitude" to Prince Mohammad for the condolence calls. Ravi: It is good to know about this condolence being expressed by the rulers of Saudi Arabia, who are the custodians of Mecca and Medina - the two holiest sites of Islam, a major world religion. My prayers to God/Allah for peace and healing in this tragic and horrific murder of Saudi dissident writer, Jamal Khashoggi. ========================== Exclusive: Saudi foreign minister on Khashoggi investigation, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S-DeMUMemY , around 11 mins publish...

I think I have consistently taken a strongly critical stand against white nationalism and Neo Nazism as well as other forms of violent racism and tribalism in my posts related to USA and other countries' politics. Here is one example from August 2017 when I had publicly stated that President Trump must condemn white nationalist hatred. Many, many top USA political leaders from both the major parties - Republican and Democratic - had condemned it. I had shared some of that condemnation in the post. I think the bipartisan political condemnation may have put some pressure on President Trump. President Trump condemned it a day or two later, which I have referred to as an update in the post below. USA President Trump must condemn white nationalist hatred role in Charlottesville, Virginia terrorist road rage attack that killed 1 and hurt 19, http://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2017/08/usa-president-trump-needs-to.html , 13th August 2017

I request readers to please alert me if they feel that any of my posts related to USA politics may encourage racism and/or spread lies and hate. If I am informed of such posts, I will review them and carefully examine whether they do that. If I get convinced that they are encouraging racism and/or spreading lies and hate, I will surely either delete them or change them to remove such encouragement. Some of my posts on USA politics capture the views of its current leaders, especially the President of the USA, without me giving much analysis or opinion on them. This is like how the White House, https://www.whitehouse.gov/ , puts out statements recording the remarks made by its leaders. Similarly in India, the Prime Minister's Office/Press Information Bureau, http://www.pib.nic.in/ , puts out statements of the Prime Minister and other ministers of the union government. My view is that my posts giving only USA leaders' remarks without analysis and opinion is fine as I am try...

Saudi Arabia Says Jamal Khashoggi Was Killed in Consulate Fight, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/19/world/middleeast/jamal-khashoggi-dead-saudi-arabia.html , 19th Oct. 2018 Hmm. So now we know officially from Saudi Arabia that Jamal Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey and that the original statements about him having left the consulate alive were false. The article states, "After two weeks of shifting stories, Saudi Arabia said Saturday that its agents strangled Jamal Khashoggi, a dissident journalist, during a fistfight inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul and that 18 men had been arrested in the case." While it is tragic to know for certain from Saudi authorities themselves that Khashoggi, a dissident writer, was killed in the Saudi consulate, I think even this level of truth being shared with the world public is a big achievement. And for this achievement, we must be grateful to Turkish government and to USA Congress and Presidency. W...

In a political rally, praising a Congressman body slamming a reporter, even as a joke, is bad. And when it comes from the US President, it is terribly bad. Trump pointed at reporters when he was praising the Congressman having body slammed a reporter in 2017. Freedom of the press is a vital pillar of democracy. Body slamming reporters is not a democratic way of doing things. That's how things are done in dictatorships! Now the Congressman had apologized and accepted the punishment meted out to him by the US justice system. Trump made a mockery of that apology by praising the body slam of a reporter. Whatever complaints President Trump has of USA media, he should never encourage acts of physical violence against them. Instead he should seek recourse through courts of law and other non-violent means. What Donald Trump did Thursday night in Montana is really dangerous, https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/19/politics/trump-montana-gianforte/index.html , published on 19th Oct. 20...

President Donald Trump: 'It Certainly Looks' Like Journalist Jamal Khashoggi Is Dead | NBC News, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29Pjh_Dw4r8 , around 1 min, published by NBC News on 18th Oct. 2018 I have given below the transcript of the initial part of the above video clip. Reporter question: Mr. President, do you believe Jamal Khashoggi is dead? President Trump: It certainly looks that way to me. Its very sad. Certainly looks that way. ... President Trump: We are waiting for some investigations and waiting for the results. And we will have them very soon. And I think we will be making a statement, a very strong statement. But we are waiting for the results of about three different investigations. We should be able to get to the bottom fairly soon. --- end part transcript --- In Shift on Khashoggi Killing, Trump Edges Closer to Acknowledging a Saudi Role, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/18/us/politics/trump-khashoggi-dead.html , 18th Oct. 2018 The above NYT artic...

Jamal Khashoggi's last article in the Washington Post, Jamal Khashoggi: What the Arab world needs most is free expression, https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/jamal-khashoggi-what-the-arab-world-needs-most-is-free-expression/2018/10/17/adfc8c44-d21d-11e8-8c22-fa2ef74bd6d6_story.html , 17th Oct. 2018, referred to this report: Freedom in the World 2018, https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/freedom-world-2018 . He wrote that when he looked at the above report he realized that only one country in the Arab world is classified as "free" - Tunisia. Three countries - Jordan, Morocco and Kuwait - are second. The rest of the Arab world is classified as "not free". He then wrote, "As a result, Arabs living in these countries are either uninformed or misinformed. They are unable to adequately address, much less publicly discuss, matters that affect the region and their day-to-day lives. A state-run narrative dominates the public psyche...

The tax cuts are not paying for themselves, so far. And people are wondering whether the tax cuts will do that in future! The biggest loser in such unbalanced budget scenarios may be the next generation who were not party to the tax cuts decision, as it is they who may get saddled with the bills that the current generation runs up! What a very difficult and scary problem such economic policy decisions are! Who knows - maybe the tax cuts will eventually pay for themselves, even if they did not do so in the immediate term. But one thing is clear to me now. This tax cuts without equivalent spending cuts policy decision is essentially a gamble - a very, very big gamble. We will know the outcome of the gamble in the coming years. Around 6 mins, Published by Fox Business  on 12th Oct. 2018: US debt is growing faster than the economy: Maya MacGuineas, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeTDffkyOJM

The last article by Jamal Khashoggi now (17th Oct. 2018) published by The Washington Post: "Jamal Khashoggi: What the Arab world needs most is free expression", https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/jamal-khashoggi-what-the-arab-world-needs-most-is-free-expression/2018/10/17/adfc8c44-d21d-11e8-8c22-fa2ef74bd6d6_story.html .

I have great respect for the New York Times Editorial Board even though they are also human and, I am sure, can make mistakes. I do not know how valid the NYT Editorial Board opinion expressed in this article is. From what I have read on this matter, I think there is a probability that the original flat denial by Saudi Arabia that Mr. Khashoggi was killed in their consulate, is true. So I have not jumped to any conclusions here. In particular, I have not concluded that the Turkish government view of the matter is the correct one. Based on what I have read in mainstream media, I simply don't know for sure. However, as a social media writer based in democratic India, who thrives on freedom of speech and so is a strong supporter of freedom of speech, I feel that this matter of the disappearance of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident writer, must be investigated in depth, and the investigation and conclusions must be shared with the world public. Therefore I have decided to s...

An interesting chart: Visualize the Entire Global Economy in One Chart, https://howmuch.net/articles/the-world-economy-2017 , dated 10th Oct. 2018 As per the article, the chart uses World Bank data for 2017 released on 21st Sept. 2018 USA tops at $19.39 trillion making up 24.4% of the around $80 trillion World GDP. China is second at $12.24 trillion and 15.4%. Japan is third at $4.87 trillion and 6.13% Germany is fourth at $3.68 trillion and 4.63% UK, India and France are clustered together for fifth, sixth and seventh positions with each country's economy making up around 3.3% of world economy. UK is fifth at $2.62 trillion India is sixth at $2.60 trillion (India moved up to 6th position overtaking France) France is seventh at $2.58 trillion Brazil ($2.05 T), Italy ($1.93 T) and Canada ($1.65 T) are at eighth, ninth and tenth positions respectively. [Note: T stands for trillion.]

Around a month back I had got delivery of the book, Fear: Trump in the White House - Hardcover - by Bob Woodward, https://www.amazon.in/Fear-Trump-White-Bob-Woodward/dp/1471181294 . [ https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2018/09/got-delivery-of-book-fear-trump-in.html ] Yesterday night I finished reading the book. The book covers very sensitive topics. Note that the book's authenticity is strongly disputed by US President Trump and some members of his cabinet. So one does not know, as of now, how truthful the book is. As the book covers very sensitive topics, I prefer not to publicly comment on the book in general. But I will make one exception without getting into details. And that's about the determination of President Trump to reduce the trade deficit between USA and China, using tariffs as a way to achieve it. The accounts in the book paint a picture of Mr. Trump being very aggressive in his views on levying tariffs on China so as to reduce the trade deficit. And, pe...

I have been reading up on the news about the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi, including Saudi Arabian reports flatly denying the charges that they (and their embassy in Istanbul, Turkey) had anything to do with disappearance or alleged killing of Khashoggi. It is a deeply sensitive matter. As of now, one does not know what the truth is. I have great respect for the deep faith of the people of Saudi Arabia in Islam, one of the world's great religions. Saudi Arabia has the two holiest sites in Islam - Mecca and Medina. The value that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia gives to these two holy sites can be easily understood by the official title of the ruler of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custodian_of_the_Two_Holy_Mosques . I am a follower of the 19th and 20th century Indian saint and spiritual master, Shirdi Sai Baba, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sai_Baba_of_Shirdi , who used to often say, "Allah Mal...

Are Trump and Xi on the brink of a new Cold War?, https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/12/asia/us-china-trade-military-politics-intl/index.html , published by CNN on 13th October 2018 A small extract from it: Since June, United States and China's diplomatic ties have deteriorated rapidly across a range of fronts, not just trade but also military and politics. It may not be the start of the next Cold War, at least not yet, but relations between the two sides have been plunged into an unprecedented deep chill. --- end small extract --- Ravi: This article seems to reflect the reality of a tense standoff between USA and China on a variety of matters, not limited to trade though trade issues have been highlighted by USA administration. This tense standoff between the two biggest economies (country-wise) in the world today, USA and China, perhaps is the biggest world order stability issue in our early 21st century times. [USA: 2018 nominal GDP of around 20.5 trillion US$, China: 2...

When author of post or comment is not mentioned, it should be assumed that it is me (Ravi S. Iyer). In FB post,  https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2321553988061165 , dated 25th Oct. 2018, I wrote (slightly edited): Woh hai zara khafa khafa Hindi film oldie goldie (1960s), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmqJaXF-AFI , Sung (by) Lata and Rafi, Lyrics - Majrooh Sultanpuri (note the video quality is not that great). Nice remake of that in 2010s (perhaps 2016), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFPS2jvD29E , around 4 mins. Comparison of the remake with the original captures so well how life and cultural mores in urban India (especially a city like Mumbai) have changed over the nearly half a century gap btw the original song and the remake. ... A 2017 orchestra rendition of it which is quite good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVstSPErPj4 ============================================================= In FB post, https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraJoyPlattnerMullen...

Brett Kavanaugh Sworn In As US Supreme Court Justice After Divisive Fight, https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/brett-kavanaugh-sworn-in-as-us-supreme-court-justice-after-divisive-fight-1928024 , 7th Oct. 2018 Above article has a pic of Brett Kavanaugh being sworn in as US Supreme Court Justice. His wife and two young daughters are with him. His wife seems to be holding the Bible on which Kavanaugh has placed his left hand (palm). The US Senate voted 50 to 48 in favour of Kavanaugh's nomination. A small extract from above article: "The two-vote margin of victory made it the closest Supreme Court confirmation vote since 1881 -- and by far the most contentious since Clarence Thomas in 1991". The Senate vote video (has some audio disturbance at times): BREAKING: Senate Votes YES to Confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to be Supreme Court Associate Justice, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih3am3lVk7M , 17 min 32 secs. Ravi: I was deeply distressed to see the bitterness that g...

Given below are contents of my recent Facebook posts, and more, on Russian president Vladimir Putin's recent visit to India. [To open pic in higher resolution, right-click on pic followed by open in new tab/window. In new tab/window you may have to click on pic to zoom in.] President Vladimir #Putin arrived in New Delhi for the 19th #Russia-#India Annual Bilateral Summit, greeted by Smt. Sushma Swaraj #PutinIndiaYatra #DruzbaDosti Russian Foreign Ministry - МИД России / Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India / India in Russia (Embassy of India, Moscow) Above pic and captions, courtesy Facebook user: Russian Embassy in India, https://www.facebook.com/RusEmbassyIndia/posts/1848439105192857 , 4th Oct. 2018 Welcome to India, President Putin. Above caption & pic courtesy: Facebook user Prime Minister of India) Narendra Modi, https://www.facebook.com/narendramodi/photos/a.10156627257580165/10160988239810165/ , 4th Oct. 2018 I (Ravi S. Iyer) sha...