Twittering ghats

I spoke to a young chemistry student yesterday while staring into the river Ganga. He told how much the indians adored President Clinton, how they were united against the war in Iraq and how they supported Chris Rock's comments and stance against the relevance of the Oscar awards. He even gave me a hug when we talked about the NHL season (He must have seen my eyes tearing). Again it was so refreshing to talk to random strangers who are so interested in foreign events.

He cut to the chase and asked me my opinions on Pak/Indo relations. When I admitted that my opinions were uneducated, and tainted by the media's lenses he gave me lots of background about Pakistani promises and the war of 1971. Now I understand... I think.

We talked about how conflicts and injustices cut so deep that generations need to die out before healing can begin. He thinks india needs couple more generations of leaders until they can really work things out with Pakistan (He believes Bin Laden is still hiding out there). Nobody in india trusts Musharraf just like nobody in Palestine trusts Sharon.

I had diner with an Austrian guy who was sure that most Americans were nuts. He's also obsessed with Arnold Schwartzenegger's rise to power and sure presidency. There was live classical music with Sarod and Tabla. I was giggling about my inability to talk to strangers about politics. I swear that I didn't bring the subject up.

Now, we're in Varanasi and the ghats are really all a'twitter. There has been such an outpouring of support and sympathy that Michele, Anabelle and I are all overwhelmed.

I'm writing to let our readers know that the people of india are sharing the collective grief of their US brethren and sisteren. We are all in shock and awe over the hacking of Paris Hilton's T-Mobile Sidekick II. Michele is especially torn as she is an avid Sidekick I user.

There is a mad dogfight outside of the internet cafe. The indian woman who is the first of her generation that I've seen (mid 60s maybe) in an internet cafe nodded her head slightly and kept whacking away at the keyboard. "Here is a woman who acknowledges the barking, but keeps moving toward a future goal," I think. In her sari she sits a rare example of the past and future. I'm amazed. Maybe I was wrong about the whole generation dying out thing. I check over her should to see how it will all end... Naked indian guys! Internet porn. I should have known.