| SNepali |
Posted
on 06-Nov-01 03:16 PM
Until yesterday, most of the posters or imposters in many internet postings were flogging Subash Gurung for his crime that was in the process of investigatation. Some were cursing him for being a Gurung and there were others who who were hurlying him with choicest racial slurs of the lowest taste for the Gurungs and Gurung like groups. This was the most unfortunate and sad thing.
The first reation of the news from the many in the U.S. was like "what will happen to me now?" as a result of this incident. Well, if you have not broken the law, and you are here legally, you need not worry. I am afraid that may not be the case for some of the imposters.
No one, I mean no signle posting, mentioned about getting some help for this poor soul named Subash Gurung. When a Nepali is in trouble, he is parsed as a Gurung and scolded by many of his own people. WIthout even going through the process, the judgement is delivered in some of the postings. This is the kind of community spirit and Nepali belongingness that has been displayed by our great internet visitors in the U.S.
Now, as it turns out that Subash Gurung was not associated with the terrorism, we take a sigh of relief. But there is a lesson to be learned from it. How do we react as an individual and then how do we react as a community?
Where are the Nepali community organizations like, GBNC, ANS, ANA, etc., to respond to the emotional needs of Nepalis living in the US at this juncture of confusion? We are on a fourth day and we still have heard nothing officially on this episode from the Royal Nepal Embassy of Washington DC.
Surely, Subash Gurung case is not the most shameful event that the Nepalis living in North America had to witness it. It appears like a honest mistake or a gunuine case of forgetfulness. One report said he did not even know what a "bond" meant and he repeatedly asked the judge to repeat his charges.
We have had a fair share of shame in Washington DC where the Nepali Ambassdor was caught red handed stealing books from a book shop several years ago. We've had a diplomat caught carrying drugs.
I am not happy for what Subash Gurung did. But then it is not justified to lump his ethinc group into it and hurl racial slur even if it is spearheaded by a few zealots. This kind of act must be condemned by all those who are proud to be a Nepali. And, where is our spirit of helping each other in the time of greatest need? We just trash him because oh... he is just a Gurung.
There is much to learn...for me, at least.
Afuko
SJ Nepali
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