ONLY In America - In Her Own Words!

Dan And Ankush Talk Mamdani, NYC, London, India . . .

What does Mamdani's upset win in the New York mayoral primary mean for New York, for America and for the Democratic Party? What is the REAL natures of Socialism? 

Is London still a viable city and why or why not? 

How has Obamacare impacted American health care? 

How effective were those bunker buster bombs?

How has India remained the world's largest democracy and what lessons can we learn from that? 

In a freewheeling discussion Dan chats with his friend, Ankush Bhandari, a New Jersey resident and a native of India.

Trump, Indian PM Have Productive Discussion

Readout of President Donald J. Trump’s Call with Prime Minister Modi of India

Today, President Donald J. Trump held a productive call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India. The two leaders discussed expanding and deepening cooperation. They also discussed a range of regional issues, including security in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe. The President emphasized the importance of India increasing its procurement of American-made security equipment and moving toward a fair bilateral trading relationship. The leaders discussed plans for Prime Minister Modi to visit the White House, underscoring the strength of the friendship and strategic ties between our nations. Both leaders emphasized their commitment to advance the U.S.-India strategic partnership and the Indo-Pacific Quad partnership, with India hosting Quad Leaders for the first time later this year.

This Is The Best Analysis Of This So Far . . .

Vivek on Kamala's Heritage:

"Many Indian-Americans in the US are indeed somewhat offended by the way Kamala has suddenly cast aside the Indian-American side of identity... She wore that when it was convenient. She's wearing a different identity now." pic.twitter.com/Si7Pzk7zRJ

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) July 31, 2024

A LEGAL Immigrant Tells His Compelling Story!

From Panchkula, India to America: The world of Ankush Bhandari. https://t.co/FcUPEyh1aB

— Dan (@dancirucci) March 15, 2024

Dan chats with Anbkush Bhandari about his life's journey from India to America and his views about America and its place in the world right now. Don't miss this fascinating chat where you'll find out exactly what makes this legal immigrant's "blood boil."

VIDEO: Dali Lama Tells Boy: 'Suck My Tongue!'

The Dalai Lama has apologized after am unsettling video appeared on social media in which he kissed a young Indian boy on the lips before asking him to 'suck' his tongue.

So You Think You Know India, Huh? Think Again!

Ankush Bhandari has a fascinating story to tell about his journey from his hometown of Panchkula, India to America and its corporate world. It's a story repeated many times among Americans of Indian origin -- a highly motivated, value-centered, industrious group whose members are impacting many aspects of American life including our politics. We also talked with Ankush about India's history, its culture and the nation today as it continues to emerge as an economic powerhouse. Watch, listen, learn!

An Open Letter To A Villanova University Professor

Dr. Kolsky:

Aa a Villanova graduate, I find your July 3rd op-ed in the Washington Post deeply troubling.

Not because it successfully indicts the United States, but because it doesn't. And in so doing, it fails so embarrassingly that it reflects poorly on academia in general and on Villanova in particular.

Not only do you brazenly attempt to visit the sins of the mother country on her rebellious offspring, but you also attempt to poison the present with a prejudiced presentation of selected misdeeds from the past.

For a history professor to stand athwart the centuries and attempt to engage in such scholastic gymnastics is, to say the least, an acrobatic feat that defies credulity.

The word "imperial" is defined as "befitting or suggestive of an empire or an emperor of or relating to the United Kingdom as distinguished from the constituent parts." In other words, the British Empire, which historians chart from as early as the 1400s (or at least from the 1600s) all the way to the mid 1900s. To compare the multi-century sweep of that imperious reign to the experience of the United States is nothing less than outrageous.

The United States of America has no monarch and never did. Great Britain did, and still does. America did not conquer India, nor did we ever attempt to rule over it. Likewise, we did not build a worldwide empire in the manner of Britannia nor did our break with the mother country necessarily fuel Britain’s further colonial adventures.

And while the Philippine-American War may not have been our finest hour, were it not for the United States, the Philippines might be ruled by the Japanese today instead of being its own republic. 

America won World War I and emerged as a world power. Though we vanquished the Kaiser and his allies (Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire) we did not attempt to take over those countries. 

Once again, we triumphed in World War II. But we sought no empire for ourselves and today Germany, Japan, Italy and the nations they conquered are free. We not only rebuilt Europe after the war but we vanquished the Soviet Union and hastened the reunification of a free Germany. 

As President Reagan once rightly noted we sought no land for ourselves other than a place to bury our war dead. For you to brush all this aside to fit your view of today's circumstances is nothing less than unconscionable.

Having read your op-ed, I hate to imagine what sort of theories you're attempting to advance in your classes or what's really going on at the Albert Lepage Center for History in the Public Interest at Villanova.

If this is what Villanova thinks advances the "public interest," then those of us who proudly call ourselves Villanovans are going to have to step forward and demand to be heard, beginning right now. 

Respectfully,

Daniel A. Cirucci

Trump In India: The Breathtaking Video!

President Trump addressed a loud, cheering crowd of more than 100,000 earlier today at India’s Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium. He praised India’s growing prosperity and its “ironclad resolve” in joining the global fight against radical Islamic terrorism. “The First Lady and I have just traveled 8,000 miles around the globe to deliver a message to every citizen across this nation: America loves India, America respects India, and America will always be faithful and loyal friends to the Indian people,” he said. Five months ago, President Trump welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Houston, Texas, where they were greeted by a lively crowd at the “Howdy Modi” rally. The sequel took place this morning in Ahmedabad, India, at a rally fittingly called “Namaste Trump.” Speaking in the largest cricket stadium on Earth, President Trump thanked the Indian people “for the contributions your culture and traditions have made to my beloved country.” A powerful friendship grew between America and India after President Trump’s election, particularly as trading partners. Since Inauguration Day 2017, commerce between the two countries has shot up more than 40 percent. That’s made India into a major market for U.S. exports, and it cemented America as India’s largest export market. President Trump: America is booming, and that’s good news for India! The U.S.–India bond under President Trump and Prime Minister Modi is also making American safer and more secure. The two are cooperating closely to defeat global terrorism and combat drug trafficking. Together, they are also calling on other countries in the region—including Pakistan and Iran—to fight terrorism in their own backyards. Shared values make this alliance possible. “In America and in India, we know that we are all born for a higher purpose: to reach toward our fullest potential, to work toward excellence and perfection, and to give all glory to God,” President Trump said. 🎬 President Trump: India will be getting the best military equipment on the planet! Behind the scenes: See photos from President Trump’s visit to India!

Photo of the Day

President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi stand together before a cheering crowd at the Namaste Trump Rally | February 24, 2020

Celebrating A Most Remarkable Heritage . . .

Most Reverend Edward M. Deliman, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, will be the principal celebrant at the opening Mass at the Annual Indian Catholic Heritage Day.

Saturday, August 12, 2017
5:00 p.m. Opening Mass
Saint Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
608 Welsh Road, Philadelphia PA 19115

Organized each year by the Indian American Catholic Association of Philadelphia and local Indian Catholic communities, Indian Catholic Heritage Day celebrates the rich traditions and cultures of the Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara, Latin, and Knanaya communities in the greater Philadelphia region.

Indian Catholic Heritage Day will include heritage procession, public meetings, cultural show and Indian dances. All are invited to attend.

 Note: For more information on the Indian Catholic Heritage Day contact Charly Chirayath, President of the Indian American Catholic Association of Philadelphia, at (215) 791-0439.

Well, It DOES Give You Pause For Thought . . .

An Ornate Beauty You Have To See To Believe!

Discover the beauty and cultural significance of phulkari, ornately embroidered textiles from Punjab, a region straddling Pakistan and India at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, now through July 9 only.

In addition to stunning examples from the Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz Collection, this exhibition features traditional phulkaris from the Museum’s collection and high-fashion ensembles by one of India’s leading designers, Manish Malhotra.

Phulkari, meaning “flower work,” is a labor-intensive textile made of vibrant silk embroidery on a plain-woven cotton cloth. Deeply rooted in Punjabi life before the 1947 Partition of India and Pakistan (which split the Punjab region), this tradition has become a powerful symbol of Punjabi cultural identity.
Usually worn by women as large shawls on special occasions, phulkaris were also made as blankets or as furniture covers or hangings. Women of many religious groups—Muslims, Hindus, Christians, and Sikhs (who consider the Punjab their holy land)—stitched phulkaris, with young girls learning needlework from older female relatives and friends. They often created the embroideries for their dowry, which they brought to their new homes when they married.
Some phulkaris depict animals and village scenes, while others display complex geometric patterns in bold colors conveying good fortune and social status. Whether figural or geometric, all are rich in symbolism: after the 1947 Partition, phulkari textiles became an important symbol for the new nation of Pakistan.
Over the past half century, phulkari techniques and patterns have experienced a revival, especially as a commercial art. As an emblem of pre-Partition village life, phulkaris have been celebrated in popular music and videos. More recently, this folk tradition has entered the realm of high fashion through designers such as Manish Malhotra, who recently created a phulkari-based couture collection.

We're happy to share photos (below) from our visit to the exhibition but we strongly urge you to see it for yourself. Nothing can match a real, live viewing of these exotic works of art!

All photos by Dan Cirucci.

'The Letters' - Story Of Mother Teresa Debuts 12/4

The Hundred Foot Journey: Longer Than You Thought

The Hundred Foot Journey (the new Helen Mirren vehicle) is all about a culture clash - a culture class that revolves around food amidst the stunning surroundings of the French countryside.
In this tale, Hassan Kadam is a culinary newcomer with the gastronomic equivalent of pure perfection. When Hassan and his family, led by Papa, move to a quaint village in the South of France they are fleeing a calamitous past in India and searching for a new life.
Their grand plan involves opening an Indian restaurant in the picturesque countryside.
Sounds quite ridiculous, yes? And Indian restaurant in such a location?
Well, since this is really only a movie, they soldier on nonetheless. And they are undeterred by the fact that only 100 feet opposite stands a Michelin starred classical French eatery owned by an icy proprietress, Madame Mallory (Mirren).
The Kadam family comes to see that they may have bitten off more than they can chew because Madame Mallory seems determined to have their business shut down. As the two eateries and their owners  clash across one hundred feet and food flies, things start to get ugly (oven with a cross-culture romance between Hassan and one of Madame's chefs).
But then, something happens. Hassan's passion and talent for French cuisine begin to intrigue Madame Mallory.
Can the hundred foot barrier be broken? Where will Hassan's talents take him? Can Madame help along the way? And what of Hassan's budding romance with that lovely French mademoiselle?
These are the great issues that percolate like a hot French roast or a strong Indian assam.
This movie is absolutely beautiful to watch. It's dazzling in so many ways. And the young lovers (Manish Dayal and Charlotte Le Bon) are wonderfully easy on the eyes -- so much so that you can't help cheering them on.
And the film has Big Money behind it: Spielberg and Winfrey.
But this is basically a delightful small film hiding inside a big Hollywood production.
And it's hopelessly sentimental.
And it's too long.
And at times it seems obviously contrived.
But Mirren is utterly grand as Madame and Om Puri is her match as Papa.
And there are the vivid colors or India, all that glorious food, the lush French countryside, dashes of Paris and the blissful joy of young love -- not to mention a bit of amour at the other end of the age spectrum.
As a late summer treat, it proves hard to resist even with its flaws.

Holi Festival Of Colors In Philly Saturday!

Holi, the Indian festival of colors, is coming to Philadelphia this Saturday.
Throw handfuls of color powder at your friends. Celebrate the beautiful spring weather by becoming all the colors of the rainbow. To get an idea of just how fun, crazy and messy Holi is, check out this video.

Date: Saturday, May 5
Time: 11:30AM
Location: Drexel Park, 32 and Powelton, Philadelphia PA 19104
What to Wear: White shirt and clothes you don't mind getting stained. Jeans are ok.

Optionally RSVP on Facebook. Currently, 150 are coming.

Thanks to the Drexel Indian Undergraduate Student Association for bringing this fantastic Indian holiday to Philadelphia.

Man Fails Kama Sutra

From Flash News:
A man in India won't be allowed to marry his finacee after he flunked a kama sutra exam. Hindi priests say the 20-year-old man failed three kama sutra tests which are designed to give a woman multiple orgasms. The man also received the lowest kama sutra score in nearly two centuries, but priests say they'll let him retake the test later this summer. Meanwhile, the man's girlfriend says she still loves him "...even if he isn't the best in bed."

Assaultive Slumdog

Yesterday we went to see a film which has become an international sensation: Slumdog Millionaire.
One of my favorite movie rating sites, Rotten Tomatoes, gives this tale of three orphans in India a 92% favorable rating.
And our party of four that screened this film gave it a 75% favorable rating. That means that one of us didn't like it.
I plead guilty.
Slumdog is indeed a powerful tale that centers on one of the three orphans who grows up to become a champion on the India TV version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
The film is told in a serious of flashbacks and it is graphic beyond belief.
We journey through the slums of India as our protagonist is beaten, scarred, intimidated, abused, starved, orphaned and at one point even enveloped in human waste.
Danny Boyle's direction of this extraordinarily vivid tale is relentlessly assaultive. It's loud, often manipulative and ultimately overwhelming. The moments of subtlety are few and far between.
One hope to discover that the story is true or at least that it is based on a true story. That would give it some credibility.
But the whole thing is based on a novel.
Could it be true? I suppose so. Real life is always stranger than fiction, especially against the backdrop of modern-day India
Hope does eventually triumph in this tale but my, or my -- what we endure along the way!
The major performances by a young cast of Indian actors are wonderful. And the film certainly does grab and keep your attention.
Like I said, I was in the minority on this. Everyone else in our party loved this film. In fact, audience members even applauded it.
So, you may want to join in the international chorus of raves.