Salute and Sayonara

-I had met the Rush Limbaugh of India, and even worse, I was his guest. -

The last few weeks in India were a bit challenging for me. I started to see that every city was identical with the exception of the local monuments, the behaviors became predictable, and I became tired and ill.

A week or so I spent allowing the local bacteria to thrive in my belly, leaving me incapacitated for the majority of that time. I hung out at my guest house, chatting with guests as they came and went, and yet I felt unable to get involved in society the same way I felt in central or southern India. The farther north I went, the more it seemed like the people had resigned themselves to the abhorrent conditions, and often going even as far as defending the inhuman situation so many Indians must live with.

Enter my host from Delhi. I felt he represents so much of what bothered me about India, I think it is important to share my experience. Let's call him... Mr. Burns.

Us couchsurfers are not very picky when it comes to staying with others and accepting accomodation, which is why I was so surprised at the opulent luxury presented to me in Delhi. When I arrived by taxi, I was immediately surrounded by a large row of trees leading up to a large building set on marble pillars. After being invited in, I set my bags down and proceeded to get lost in his apartment. It was when we sat down to talk that I was so taken aback by the personal philosophies of this man.

Mr. Burns was born into an extremely wealthy and well-connected family in New Delhi, silver spooned and had access to the best education in the country. He did not hesitate to inform me of his vast wealth (over $100 million), and how proud he was from his efforts to make it. Although when he told me he went bankrupt four times, and still recovered every time, he informs me it was his karma which kept him afloat.

"I must have been a good man in my previous lives"

I question that karma, as he describes his unambiguous anti-western point of view. It became clear that he believes the west in complete and utter shambles, unable to possibly recover, and this is all due to it's obsession with human rights, increasing wages, and worrying about unavoidable climate change.

"All westerners do is complain, they don't even value marriage anymore, or pay for their children, like good Indians do..."

It was the Indian on the street who was happy, who lead the simplest and most fulfilling lifestyles. Because India is the greatest country on earth, with the richest traditions and history, and all western people are clamoring to get in, just for the opportunity to work for $300/month.

"We open our borders to all, not like western countries building up walls!"

Of course... any attempt to address or correct these issues would fall on deaf ears and a bellowing condescension about how blind I have become from media propaganda. I had met the Rush Limbaugh of India, and even worse, I was his guest.

As I listened patiently about how the unavoidable animalistic realities of human behavior should not be discouraged, but embraced, I could see he applied the laissez faire economic model and applied it directly with morality. This was reinforced later when I found Ayn Rand novels, but with every sentence, I found myself wincing.

"I don't like rape, but you can't stop it"

As a man who hates any form of taxation, I found parallels to some american "thinkers" and how he appreciates places like China, India, and the Middle East, more than western countries, because you can do anything you want to. When I politely pointed out that it sounds nice if you have the means to do something, but those countries have not provided opportunities for the masses. I was quickly corrected by noting those who do not have opportunities are simply subjects of their own fate and karma.

"God will provide"

Half of India's population is wealthy, according to this raconteur, and countries only suffer when people punish the companies which create jobs (sound familiar again?). He then told me when his architecture company needs workers, they simply go to the train station and pressgang a group into honest labor and a good meal.

"These people would be dogs in the street without the companies creating jobs"

I had to excuse myself. It was clear I would not be allowed an opinion, nor was it welcome. Absolute truth had been had, and would be shared. Which brings me to my conclusion.

Yes, it is dangerous to live in a society which refuses to teach critical thinking skills or the ability to question a point of view, especially one's own. Throughout India, I met people who were unable to see things from another perspective, or able to find how things could be improved. This alone is harmful, and brought onto the next generation via traditions.

I now see the culmination of these problems. What happens when you allow an independently wealthy and politically connected man to form all of his own conclusions about life without a single consideration to anyone else or the veracity of his claims, and not question him? You have a nihilistic totalitarian who enacts his views while believing he is accomplishing good for the world. This has been the mentality to Kings, dictators, emperors, and spiritual leaders for thousands of years, and if we wonder why progress towards human rights, population, climate, pollution, or general order has been remiss, then we need look no further than how traditional societies neglect logic, rationality, or the importance of objective truth

In the village, you just have an ignorant shopkeeper, or a corrupt police officer. In the capital, you have the egomaniacal  megalomania of a man who believes he is helping a people by suppressing them into poverty and ignorance because he has never had to taste independence, self reliance, or the pain of an honest days labor.

This monster, this man who purchased my company for the evening by offering me a place to stay, perfectly encapsulated what is so displeasing about a traditional society. Goodbye India.