Letter To Trump From An Indian in America: Make Fun Of Accent But Don’t Divide Society

DearMr. Trump,

Hopeyou are doing great. This open letter is about your recent comments on Indiansand their accent, during a rally in the great state of Delaware.  To start with, let me sum up the opinion Ihave of America and Americans in general, having lived here for more than adecade.

WhenI first landed in the US to pursue an advanced degree in engineering, Iwas struggling to unhook a piece of baggage from the carousel at the airport, when an elderly American gentlemen reached over and pulled it for me, saying “Here, let me help you, Son!”. I wasimmediately bowled over by America and its welcoming attitude towards people ofall colours, races and creeds.

AsI settled and moved on with my degree and my career, I have been constantly overwhelmedby the love and affection this great country shows towards immigrants.  There maybe one or two unwanted experiencesbut the overall goodness easily overshadows these stray incidents.

Now,about the Indian accent. It is true that we have an accent given the fact thatIndia is a diverse country with several native languages being spoken. Anddefinitely, some find it funny, just the way Indians find something else funnyabout the aspects of a different culture.

Butin the end, it is just an accent, and it would be most appropriate if I quote WilliamShakespeare, whose 400th birth anniversary was last week. He hassaid “What’s in a name? That which wecall a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet?”  And I am sure the same could be said of theseveral hundreds of accents spoken across the world.

Butthe point here is not about accents or making fun of them, the bigger pictureis that it is an election season and definitely in politics (whether it is inthe US or in India), leaders do take stances in support of natives who are at adisadvantage due to the ever-changing and complex nature of the globaleconomy.  But let’s not take it to the extentthat we are pitting people against one other, whether directly or indirectly.

Andthe Indians in America, I am sure you agree, are one of most successful immigrantcommunities, having enriched the American way of life at several levels. Thelist can be Googled, which incidentally is led by an Indian Immigrant.

Ouraccent may be your capital and you wish to make a deal out of it, so as toemerge as a winner and I wish you luck in your endeavours sir, but this is justa humble letter seeking to your vast wisdom and highly successful experience.

Asfor the Indo-American relations I am sure elections will come and go, but theywill stand the testimony of time built through our strong friendship at thepeople-to-people level, just like there will be no “Terms & ConditionsApply” added to the plaque of the Statue of Liberty.

Thanks,

AnIndian American.