India is far better
Your cover story on the US election was interesting (‘Vote of no confidence’, November 15). It is quite astonishing that the majority of Republicans and their followers have still not accepted Joe Biden as the president elect of the US.
The prestige of the world’s only superpower is badly affected today. First, the manner in which it handled the pandemic. Second, the election result and the confusion thereafter. The US has become a laughing stock among the world’s functioning democracies.
Politicians of rural India will accept electoral verdicts more sportingly.
V.H. Subramoney,
Bengaluru.
It is obvious that Biden’s campaign to restore the soul of America resonated well with the electorate. His pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide but to unify, and his assurance to work hard to win the confidence of the people of the US, will assuage the feelings of the marginalised and the underprivileged sections of society in that country.
One hopes that Biden will live up to the hope and expectations of millions of his countrymen in transforming the US into a diligent, dutiful and responsible superpower, thereby ushering in a
new era.
On his part, Trump should stop playing the role of a sore loser; he should accept defeat with dignity and grace, and extend his constructive cooperation by ensuring a smooth transition of power.
B. Suresh Kumar,
On email.
Trump not conceding defeat is an aberration. There is no doubt that by January 20, 2021, the matter will be sorted out, and there will not be any uncertainty about the new president taking the oath that day, as Americans are not likely to allow any erosion in their democratic value systems.
But, the damage, I guess, is already done. These developments have created an indelible blot on the country which boasts superiority in so many spheres.
K.K. Cherian,
On email.
I fail to fathom why a developed country like the US has to sit and count its votes in paper. Why cannot they count the votes without a person having to sit there? This is such a tedious process and takes a lot of time.
The US should learn from India and use electronic voting machines. The people who sit and count these votes could be affiliated to one of those parties there, and they could be biased. And, hence, there is a good chance of polls getting rigged. Trump, in this case, is not exaggerating.
Kuldeep Tyagi,
On email.
The result was as expected. The deepened chasm in the American civil society has become disquietingly glaring during the run up to the election, and how best it can be mended is going to be the acid test of Biden’s presidency.
Biden’s docile but matter-of-fact personality is in sharp contrast to the wayward brat persona of Trump.
Kamala Harris, a thoughtfully selected running mate, would hopefully prove to be an ideal partner-in-progress in Biden’s scheme of things.
Raveendranath A.,
On email.
The results of the polls will be a major blow to Trump’s political career. Biden has proved his credibility and won the hearts of the people. He is backed by Harris, and together they will prove their political prowess.
Arathi Raghuveer,
Mysuru, Karnataka.
The BJP leaders in India, including the prime minister, will miss Trump in the days to come. It is a fact that the BJP favours a Republican president rather than a Democratic president. Trump did a lot for India, and he silently supported India on crucial matters.
Though Biden would continue to promote ties with India like all US presidents in the past, he will not be as supportive as Trump on issues like Kashmir.
Tapesh Nagpal,
On email.
Felt good
I was relieved to see the photographs of Y. Mangayamma and her twins in your magazine. They look so happy and are being taken care of well (‘Raising hope’, November 15).
I did not know that Mangayamma lost her husband recently. I hope all the media coverage and publicity will help their twins as they grow. The whole world spoke against Mangayamma and her husband on becoming parents at an old age, but I feel it was their personal choice and they had every right to do that.
It felt good to know that young women in the village who aspire to have children through IVF approach Mangayamma for blessings.
Vismay Mathur,
On email.
It suits them
The trust deficit between the CBI and state governments is here to stay (‘Bureau of bitterness’, November 8). Just as the state police are used by a state government for its own ends, the CBI is used by the Central government to weaken opposition leaders. All political parties, in this case, would want status quo, as it suits them.
Even the apex court in the past has observed that the CBI is a caged parrot.
Tigin Thomas,
On email.
Sad state
Democracy, without discussions and debates, turns out to be a tyranny. In recent times there have been instances of laws being passed in Parliament without much deliberation. There are also instances of speakers from opposition parties not being allowed to express their views on certain matters (‘Manifesto’, October 11).
If Parliament functions in this manner, how can India’s education system promote and encourage healthy debates, which lead to mutuality and sharing of ideas?
Rajendra Tete,
Hazaribag, Jharkhand.