The Indians, Pakistanis, Saudis, Libyans, Iraqis, Palestinians, Egyptians, Nepalese, Turkish, Kuwaitis, Burmese, Syrians, Lebanese, Yemenis, Afghanis, etc. We didn't do it. I'm on vacation, in a less populated, less diverse place than I live in. As I drive past strip malls, beer barns, and gas stations, the unity of the country is awe-inspiring. Flags hang from every edifice.
Signs declare the citizen's solidarity.
I have this emotion of being part of a great, waking giant. Unfortunately, there is a tension around this emotion, in that I feel I'm getting marginalized, and most more disturbingly, scrutinized. I love being Indian, and having a storied heritage, but for the first time in my life, I want to crawl out of my skin. Living in a big city numbs you to the ignorance that can prevail in times like this. If I stopped to get gas in a rural town a month ago, I would get curious, but harmless, looks.