A reporter who writes about an incident/development/individual/country does not necessarily share that ideology/viewpoint. I have merely quoted former US president Jimmy Carter in the post, and his happiness at the outcome of the Nepalese elections.

DLS would do well to read his statement again because Carter knew the casual/half baked response from his countrymen to this major development in a country so close to China.

From his reply, it seems that DLS prefers “guided” democracy or worse. How can anyone manipulate the victory of a particular political party/individuals? It is the prerogative of those who belong to that country to vote and select their own leaders. Or, does DLS want that US should decide the leaders in other countries, such as Musharraf?

The people's mandate has to be respected. Suppose McCain wins in the next US presidential elections…what happens? The people's will must prevail/respected once the result is out.

Even the US citizens continue to go along (albeit helplessly/reluctantly) with president Bush's questionable/dangerous policies/actions because he won through a democratic election. Never mind that his popularity ratings has now dipped to 28 per cent.

So it would do no harm to DLS if he does do a bit of introspection before making sweeping statements because TMV blog allows him to express his views freely.

The fear psychosis of seeing terrorists and communists under every stone, and the perceived “threat to the USA”, has reduced the once mighty democratic nation into a pathetic caricature by its present administration.

And what is more alarming is that its citizens/institutions just watch helplessly at the erosion of democractic norms within and outside the country which was once a beacon of light for freedom-seeking individuals in the world.

The mentality to see everyone through tinted glasses…”Either you are my pal, or my enemy”… can be myopic and dangerous. It implies that the world cannot have people with a mind of their own, and who refuse to take sides.

The best people like DLS can do is to state their ideology before taking part in a discussion, and leave it to others to form their own judgements about themselves. Let their words/deeds speak for themselves…and not left to people like DLS to judge. Becaue someone may ask him:”What are your credentials to judge others?”

The way DLS has categorically stated about my “ideology”, as perceived by him, makes me wonder whether he looks at people's clothes and then begins to talk to them. He would, it seems, talk to a person wearing coat and a tie in a different manner from a person wearing a casual shirt, not tucked in.

DLS please do not misuse the freedom of expression… and try to make a healthy discussion. I believe that the TMV forum is for making constructive suggestions, and not to express one's personal prejudices. Thanks…

China is hardly an invisible or sweet presence. Don't merely ask people such as Dr. E could refer you to inside China were it safe to do so, but ask the Vietnamese, Koreans, Philippine neighbors, as well, those who begin by being visited by those peaceful “unarmed” “fishing vessels” in maritime locations where natural resources abound.