America: Still got it!

Returning to the US of A after a year (exactly) was crazy and eye-opening. We hear so much in the news about how America is deteriorating and the quality of life is depreciating, etc, etc. But living in India just for a year has opened my eyes to the harsh realities that exist in third world countries that in this day and age are only getting worse. It begins with something even as simple as the airport restrooms. In the states, they are clean and people are courteous. Basic hygiene is in order. Then you step out of the airport and wow, the traffic is organized. There aren't swarms of cars getting in your way as you proceed in traffic. Civic Sense. Two magic words. It is a sigh of relief to KNOW for a fact that other people on the road or using other public amenities will behave in a certain manner. They will not be rude or intrude in your personal space.
Despite all the negative news coming from America, basic comforts remain untouched. It's business as usual for most professional people. They are still pursuing the American dream and enjoying basic liberties. Yes, there are some things very wrong in the political arena, and social issues often clutter democratic principles. But it is still possible to be away from that and life goes on. You can choose to not get involved and go about your everyday business. This concept is non existent in India. No matter how rich or upper class you consider yourself to be, everyone has to deal with the corruption, greedy politicians, dirty water and food scandals. Everyone's gotta watch his own back.
Granted, India has come a long way. More people have access to internet, telephones and televisions. Sure. But it's a long haul ahead. The educated class in India is self interested and self concerned. India is starting to suffer with an ego-centric culture. People are delving into reality shows and propaganda driven news rather than an awareness in a global sense. It's the same problem that America has been suffering from for the last decade, maybe longer. The few things that most Indians feel proud of are being lost to West-obsessed culture while the country itself is lacking in basic infrastructure, access to education, and most importantly a government that cares.
Most Indians that call themselves "patriotic" take offense to constructive criticism. They downplay the positive aspects of the first world. There is nothing wrong with loving your country, no matter how downtrodden it is. But unconditional zest with no room for social improvement is not constructive. One strong argument for India in this context is a powerful word: culture. India is known for it's rich heritage and customs. But that is in fact a hindrance to social and economic growth. People hold on to the culture argument with all their intellectual might. If all else fails, one can always come back and say, "Well, India has culture, it is secular yet relatively peaceful. What country has that?" Good point, but that doesn't make a great nation. Culture alone isn't enough to be a successful country. What about culture though? Since that too is declining. Youth are astray and chase instant gratification. Nothing wrong in that. But that's what most people dislike about America.
It's time we talk about what we like about America. Perhaps that will steer India in the right direction. Focusing on the negative is having an unwanted after effect. A fact that is unquestionably true and remains undebatable: America is a standard and trend-setter in the developed world. As Stephen Colbert wittingly titled his book : 'I am America, and So Can You'. India, the alarm is going off, and we can't snooze any longer...

Down the Street

Coming from the land of giant supermarkets where there is a one stop shop for everything grocery and kitchen related, it is quite a transition to adjust to the bustling street vendors in Delhi. Instead of having to go through dozens of aisles and shopping carts and choices, it's quite opposite here. When you leave the house, for the most part, you know what you need to purchase. You also know that even when you are done with your shopping for the week, and suddenly realize you need some immediately, there is always the option of just walking down the street and picking up whatever you like, since there are specialty stores for virtually any item you could need. The convenience of street shopping in the motherland is a boon to say the least.
Or is it?
The local street bazaar accommodates for everything a household requires without having to shuffle through thousands of products. There is an electrical store, a vegetable and fruit vendor, a local dairy store, a "chemist" or drug store, a doctor (or two or three or more!), a cigarette pit stop, video rental store, etc. A couple turns from any apartment building, there exists a local market that will contain all of these facilities and more. However, as convenient as they appear on the surface, they can be detrimental to the local consumer as well.
The false pretense of having a doctor so close by at your service might seem like a blessing, but each physician is available only during their local hours of operation, with long waiting lines, that barely understand the concept of an emergency. These doctors don't think you can really get too sick aside from their regular visitation hours and if requested, usually refuse to service their sick customers, aka patients.
The vegetable vendors are indeed selling fresh vegetables, but they all buy from one source that injects their produce with various fertilizers and growth boosters that are actually detrimental to our bodies.
The one pit stop cigarette or "paan" shop is selling cancer sticks with the great convenience of round the clock service. You might not be looking to buy cigarettes, but they are right in your face even when you just want to buy tomatoes. Good luck quitters!
Other stores that make shopping look easier also come with similar side effects. Chemists are selling various strong allopathic medicines that are often self prescribed by patients and don't require a prescription for most medications. So much for the patient turned doctor trying to eradicate the symptoms of maybe a much bigger issue at hand than what seems obvious.
I don't believe the solution to this dilemma is opening various Walmarts across India, but I guess it's just a realization and to proceed with caution. It is important to realize that take everything just for what it is, and rely on such conveniences on a need basis only. Going on a shopping spree down the street is accommodating, but sometimes is harmful as well.
Everything that glitters is not gold, indeed.