Obama, Federer - Kodak Moments

There are things in life that affect you deeply some how, even though you may not be even remotely related to it. I have labeled these - 32 teeth baring (I have only 28!!:( ), sentimental and woosy occasions of mine as 'Kodak Moments'.

Some news that actually made me smile in the past few days -

Nummer Een - Obama's Speech in Cairo


In what has been claimed as the most historical speech made by Obama yet, the thunderous applause following his 'Assalaamu alaykum' had me in goose bumps for a while. A new beginning in the horizon?

On a lighter vein - :D


Nummer Twe - Roger Federer conquers the clay court, finally!


God! what keeps this guy going? After being beaten in the French open finals four times successively, he doggedly came back the fifth year to clinch the title. This win made him the sixth man to have won all the four grand slam events and equaled his total tally of 14 grand slam wins, with the legendary Pete Sampras. In his own words - "It's maybe my greatest victory - now and until the end of my career I can really play with my mind at peace, and no longer hear that I've never won Roland Garros ".

Picture Courtesy - http://blogs.wsj.com, Al Watan - Saudi Arabia, http://www.bbc.co.uk

The grim situation Down Under

I wouldn't want to be in Australia now, especially being a student. What began as a stray incident in Melbourne on May 24th, where 2 teenagers stabbed 4 Indians in their home (with 20 other people inside!!) has gradually turned out into what can only be called a nightmare for the Indian students. I hear reports of the so called 'curry bashing', specifically against the Indians every day now. Slowly. the students begin revealing that they have been receiving similar racial treatment from time to time but have just been afraid to speak out for fear of getting their records tainted. Since 2004, around 3 reports of violence have been made by the Indian community every week! Meanwhile the Australian Police brushed the 'remote' incidents under the carpet saying they were student fights??

Education is the third largest industry in Australia now. Indians are the second most common foreign students after the Chinese. The Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd made his sympathies clear when he stated that their economy would be hit by such negative publicity. With about 80,000 Indian students studying there, and each student being $30,000 worth, the government makes roughly $2.5 billion per year! My question then to the punks who indulge in this violence would be - " I know you have mental limitations but are you seriously brain dead?" I mean why would you go about attacking people who indirectly pay for your social benefits!! And if you have something against the Indians, then please don't let them in the country in the first place!!

With the media attention that this news has received and with the otherwise good relationship between India and Australia ( Australians are among the top five tourists in India!!), I am sure both the governments are working hard on damage control. Though soon enough I hope.

What did sadden me even more is that while the entire world condemned the cruel face of racism that Australia displayed, the Indians being the usual self criticizing and over analytical self that they are, began to question themselves. The media reported of how Indians are the worst racists possible, indulging in it with our own countrymen! Media people, I know you want to be the best news website/channel but that being true or not in no way makes the discrimination faced by Indians in a foreign country right! Most of the news channels have switched topics completely over the issue.

Whether Indians are racists or not will be a much analysed topic for some other time. Meanwhile, I am just happy that Australia got eliminated in round one of ICC World 20-20 series...:D..Serves you right!!!

Picture Courtesy - http://worldsikhnews.com