Spirit of Mumbai

Living in Washington, I take the Metro all the time. It's a fantastic way to commute, shuffling thousands of people around every day -- but also opening them to the risk of terrorist attacks. When I heard about yesterday's bombings in Mumbai (formally Bombay), India, my heart skipped a beat. Watching bloodied, wounded people being pulled from trains brought to mind all the times I've been on the subway here, and how vulnerable you really can be. \nI can imagine it. Trains crammed full of average, hardworking people trying to get home to their families - a split second later, there are people dying and injured. \nOf course, coverage of these attacks was superseded by breaking political news -- like how our Senate is going on vacation soon, right before elections, and so politicking is going to be amplified...\nThe only real question that the networks asked was whether or not al-Qaida was involved. Would it make Bush's policies seem worthwhile?\nI'm not stupid. I know that people die everyday, and most Americans go on without knowing or caring much about it -- but the method of attack made me identify immediately with the victims.\nThe single most touching and infuriating sight after Sept. 11, for me, was watching the world react. As a nation, we were shook up -- but we had friends with us. Canada, Mexico, France and England all called us up, saying that they were here for us. Meanwhile, I couldn't help but feel my blood boil when I saw people dancing in the streets of the Middle East, celebrating America's pain. \nThat's why I think that if we had any type of real leadership in the country -- conservative or liberal -- it would step up, denounce the attacks and tell the people of Mumbai that we support them; that we understand terrorism affects everyone in the world, and not just Americans. As of 1 p.m. yesterday, when I finished writing this, the only statement from the White House was Bush proudly taking credit for lessening a $300 billion deficit. \nEven Pakistan's President Musharraf issued a statement, denouncing the attack as a "despicable act of terrorism" -- this from Pakistan, India's arch-nemesis. \nIf the United States wants to live in a world without the constant fear of a terrorist attack, we first need friendship and mutual respect. We need to support victims -- not after much deliberation and political strategizing, but right away, when they need it. \nHearing about the "Spirit of Mumbai," I couldn't help but be moved. The people of Mumbai are not strangers to terrorist violence -- in 1993 they were hit with a barrage of attacks. Citizens went back to work in an act of silent bravery, refusing to live in fear. \nDoesn't that sound like a city of people you would want to be allied with? Doesn't that sound like a phenomenal ally to have during a "War on Terror"? \nMr. President, please say something to the people of Mumbai.