Contrasting responses

Sir, - In your Editorial ``Arresting Hate Crimes in America'' (Sept. 24), you have rightly urged the Americans to intensify efforts to sustain their social harmony. In the light of the sporadic attacks on the ethnic minorities in the U.S., in particular Sikhs and Arabs, such a vigilance is very essential.

The visit by the U.S. President, Mr. George W. Bush, to the Islamic Centre in Washington was a praiseworthy gesture which must have gone a long way to instil confidence among the minorities.

While reading your editorial, I was struck by the similarity between the gesture of Mr. Bush and that of our Prime Minister when the latter visited Gujarat in the wake of the violence against the minority Christian community there.

But there was a contrast in the responses. Mr. Bush, acknowledging the honoured place which Islam occupied in America, called those who masterminded the terror on September 11 ``traitors to their own faith'', Mr. Vajpayee had no word of consolation or encouragement for the affected minority community. ``Have a debate on conversion'' was all that he said.

The valiant efforts which the U.S. with its very brief history as a nation is making to preserve its multi-religious and multi- ethnic social fabric should expose the criminal neglect by our political leaders of the issue of preserving the social harmony. Yet they are proud of their nationalism.

In the presence of the American leaders, our leaders proclaim that both the countries have many shared common values. One wonders what common values they have in mind!

Fr. John Peter,

Salem, T.N.

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