Suresh’s Random Ramblog

I haven’t been writing for a long time with a reason. I’ve been travelling a lot in the last month: Salem - Bangalore - Bombay - Nasik - Bombay - Bangalore - Salem - Coimbatore - Bangalore -Salem! I’m off the Madras tomorrow. However something came up that had me fired up.

Happy Winterval!

Are you confused? Well! That is the new secular way to greet people at Christmas time- at least if you were in Birmingham (Winter+ Festival). The ‘Christian’ west now thinks it is more politically right to call the Christmas Holidays as Winter Holidays and the Christmas tree as a ‘Community tree’.

I’ve actually been pissed off with the whole political correctness & pseudo-secular movement which seems to have reached the heights of absurdity this year. I’m not particularly religious. However growing up as a Hindu in England we always celebrated Christmas with our friends and at the hospital where my dad was working. My rights and sensitivities as a ‘minority’ was never affected.

Growing up later in Brunei (an Islamic country) we always had a Christmas tree (abet a plastic one) lit up at home during Christmas. It was just the spirit of the season. Most of the day would be spent with friends of ours (who were Christians). we were part of the family, helping out, receiving visitors and even attending Midnight Mass. Conversely they would spend Deepavali with us in a similar fashion. We also celebrated Id Mubarak (Bakrid) and the Chinese New Year. Such exposure has made me strongly secular with the belief that religion is a personal issue as long as it does not inconvenience the public. If someone wants to celebrate a religious festival, it’s their right. It’s also your right as an individual to participate or ignore it.

I fear this neo-liberalism run amok. It will just end up with a backlash serving no one’s interests, let alone the so called minority sensitivities, and give liberalism a bad name. I consider myself a liberal, but I reserve the right to smack my kid! (i.e. when I have one)

You have a choice. Either enjoy the spirit of the season or just ignore it. There is nothing wrong with Non-Christians having a Christmas tree during Christmas, Non-Hindus bursting crackers during Deepavali or Non-Muslims enjoying a good Biriyani during Bakrid.

Merry Christmas what ever your faith.

BTW, the family tradition of having a lit Christmas tree during Christmas survived with us in Salem till recently. We had a real Christmas tree growing in front of our house. Lighting it was just part of the festive season. Unfortunately last year, it had grown too big and as part of a new landscaping effort the tree was cut down.

Today I heard some depressing news. The Golden Swan is closing. This goes back to my life in the US. The Golden Swan was a Chinese restaurant with a difference. Unlike most American Chinese restaurants serving Americanised versions of Chinese food, where most of the dishes are indistinguishable because they all contain MSG and taste sweet, they actually served Chinese food that tasted like Indian Chinese. I realise, American version or Indian version, they both aren’t authentic Chinese but so what? Taste is a personal preference.

So why am I so devasted espically since I no longer live in the US? Well, the Golden Swan was my regular dinner haunt. It was more than just another restaurant for me. Spencer and his family who ran the restaurant took personal care of all their customers, always with a smile. That personal touch is missing in most chain stores in the US.

For me it was my second home. I’ve spent countless evening there with a book in hand eating my regular (i.e. “Spencer, I leave my dinner choice to you. It’s up to you!) I’d finish my dinner and just stay on reading the book. Rita, Spencer’s wife would come up and tell me there was no hurry for me to leave and to take my time. They always made me feel as if I was family.

Spencer would come through in emergencies too. School would be get over at 8.50 pm. I’d call Spencer and ask him to have a take away ready for me.

Did I mention the food always tasted great there? Spencer’s cooking was simply superb.

I gave them a call today. The economy hasn’t been doing too well in Cleveland and it has adversely affected them. They’ve ended up loosing money in the buisness and have to sell their house. They seem to be philosophical about it. It’s sad to hear that another small buisness close down. Although I’d like to blame big buisness, the chains and franchisees for it, I don’t think I’d be justified. I now have one less place to visit when I’m in Cleveland.