That’s what once was said by Srinivas to his beloved wife Sunayana in response to her concern about the new reality of America.
Yes, Srinivas is going back India, but he won’t be able to say to his mother when he gets there, “Mom, I am back to see you.”
Srinivas had a dream like millions of youth around the world in coming to America because, “Good things happen in America.” The talented Srinivas earned his engineering degree in India, and came to USA for post graduate studies. He earned his masters, got a job, married in 2012 and recently was making plans to be a father. The dreams of this young, handsome, kind-hearted gentleman was becoming the reality he had hoped for. In fact, this reality is not new and is happening to of millions of other immigrants in the US.
But who could have predicted, one bullet would take away the entire life of Srinivas on Wednesday in Kansas City? The incident put a veil of dark shadow to the beautiful eyes of his wife, Sunayana (Sunayana means “beautiful eyes”). The parents of this family back in India woke up with a phone call and this unimaginable news.
We know there are thousands of accidents around the world that cut short lives. But, it was not an accident that took away Srinivas’s life. The bullet came out from a gun of a normal person enraged with hate because of a new reality in America. The shooter shouted, “Get out of the country.”
The new reality in America is “America First.” As do millions of Americans, I agree with this slogan in principle. But senseless talk and tweets can make a few people senseless too.
Do we want a society here in America where people become enraged with hate when they see people of color or with different accents? I am sure the majority people do not accept this kind of new reality in America.
Some may say, “Oh! this is just one incident, why am I so concerned?”
Maybe it’s a sign of an increase of hate and intolerance in our society. If that is the case, we’re in for troubling times.
We must be accepting of those who don’t look, believe or think like us. After all, Americans travel abroad to countries where they are in the minority. Let’s hope they are met with acceptance and tolerance.
And, may this racially motivated killing be the last.
Jiben Roy, a native of Bangladesh, teaches chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences at Mississippi University for Women. His email address is [email protected].
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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