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Melvin's blog
Nshima & Curry
Melvin's Blog
Nshima & Curry
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GANDHI STILL LEADS THE WAY
In the excellent PBS documentary "The New Americans," an
Indian computer programmer named Anjan Bacchu seems to be
enjoying the benefits of a higher salary in America, taking
his wife on a shopping spree and stepping into a more
materialistic lifestyle. But while other shoppers are asking
themselves questions such as "Is this laptop light enough?"
and "Does this dress make me look fat?" Bacchu is troubled
by an even weightier question: What would Gandhi do?
The question is similar to what many Christians ask
themselves -- What would Jesus do? -- as well as what many
British people ask themselves -- What would Beckham do?
I couldn't help sympathizing with Bacchu, imagining his
doubts about every purchase: Would Gandhi drive a Toyota or
a Cadillac? Would Gandhi watch movies on a DVD player or a
VCR? Would Gandhi wear boxers or briefs? (Gandhi was a
lawyer -- he probably preferred briefs.)
It isn't easy living up to the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, a
man renowned for pacifism and self-sacrifice, but people
like Bacchu are giving it their best shot, even in America.
They'll probably never go on a fast, but they'll at least
try fast food. They'll probably never use a spinning wheel,
but they'll at least try to spin their wheels. They'll
probably never attempt celibacy, but they'll at least try
celery.
Yes, it's hard to even come close to some icons. But
thankfully, there are a few areas of life in which emulating
Gandhi may be simple, as the African National Congress,
South Africa's ruling party, wants people to realize. Hoping
to win the general election, the ANC has distributed posters
carrying a picture of the Mahatma and the all-important
question: "Who would Gandhi have voted for?"
It's probably not a question many South Africans have
contemplated, but Gandhi's granddaughter Ela Gandhi is
confident that the Mahatma, who spent more than two decades
in South Africa, would have supported the ANC, seeking the
best interests of the poor. That may be true, but it seems
unfair to other parties that the ANC has managed such a
coup -- getting an endorsement from the dead. Shouldn't they
at least be required to organize a séance?
I mean, what's to stop the Democratic Party from enlisting
Gandhi's help in disparaging President Bush, posing
questions such as "How many millionaires would Gandhi have
helped?" and "Which country would Gandhi have invaded?"
Before long, Gandhi would be appearing on millions of signs
and posters, lending his support to all sorts of causes. At
an animal activists rally: "What would Gandhi eat?" At a
marriage counselor's office: "Who would Gandhi divorce?" At
a Las Vegas casino: "How much would Gandhi bet?" At a boxing
arena: "Who would Gandhi knock out?" At a telemarketers
convention: "Whose dinner would Gandhi disturb?"
Various advertisers would doubtless get in the act.
SouthWest Airlines: "How would Gandhi fly?" MasterCard: "How
would Gandhi buy?" Crisco oil: "How would Gandhi fry?"
Kroger: "Where would Gandhi get his food?" Wal-Mart: "Where
would Gandhi get his clothes?" ESPN: "Where would Gandhi get
his scores?"
It's a good thing Gandhi was cremated, or else he'd surely
be rolling in his grave.
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