John- LTNS! Nice write-up- I enjoyed it. Hope you have been well. One quick comment

" My friends who believe United States as a land of opportunities harshly decry my above statement – that it was a land of ignorance. I do not know how they see a relationship between the opportunities they garner with the unawareness within Americans."

The two are not really mutually exclusive. How about, with full credit to John Edwards for popularizing the phrase, we look at it as two Americas: one with loads of opportunities and prosperity and the other with shades of ignorance (or volumes depending on *where* in America you are talking about) and much less prosperity.

It's probably as unfair to compare rural Mississippi with Manhattan as it might be to compare Manang with Maharajgunj, no?

John Galt..Totally loved it..So very true..keep coming !!

Wow John Galt ! Keep up !

Publishing a book?

:)
At last something to rejuvenate my mind after so long time...It is so good to see you back John...
Howdy?? Hope everything is fine with you, your amor and grace!!!
Keep writing and yeah publish book, I ll be first one to buy..:)
Juggy

now thazz some good stuff!!!! aaaaai liiike.....whhy not!!! hi 5!!

~
John, how r u doin?
It is really so good to see you back again after long time and you made my day with such a beautiful narration. About me, I am still struggling with final week of this semester.

Cheers,

SAndiyana lai maan paryo........... ama maile ke bhane........ malai pani maan paryo...

Well I'll definitely criticize about ur article........... tomorrow..........JOHN>>>>>>>>>>>>

-Rockend

John,
It's been really long time coming this one! Cracking write-up as always.

"a term frequently used by a Bama redneck who finds hard to pronounce "Iraqis")?""
Iraqis = Eye-raaque! :-)

"Unawareness is everywhere, be it Nepal or Nauru or United States"
True - this is universal. I once met a middle-aged lady at a birthday bash thrown by a colleague of mine. On being told her where I came from 'originally', she was ecstatic and said with a rather serious tone, 'Oh but you don't look like an Italian, dear, do you!', much to the amusement of those around the two of us! 'No, I don't, sorry' I told her, 'Because I grew up eating rice, didn't I? Not pasta, spaghetti or pizzas with mozzarella!' :-) And before she could hurl at me with yet another of her snide comments on my hormonal deficiency(!), I gently shooed her out of the confusion the name had obviously created, by explaining to her that it took several hours by air from Naples to get there - Nepal! :-)

You make some pretty valid points in your article on our habit of looking at all things Western, through a rose tinted glass, while remaining oblivious to the ground reality. Access to MTV, Hollywood would have a lot to answer for it - the rapid proliferation of big international media houses also adds to it.

Hmm I might as well fill in the application form for DV lottery visa, and hey, I might be living next door to you, John. All things being eqaul - you will never know! :-)

It's been good 'seeing' you again after a long whack of time. Welcome back. My X-mas greetings to you and your family - have a good one.
Carpe diem

STOP PRESS:

"she could hurl at me with yet another of her snide comments"

to read:

she could hurl at me yet another of her snide comments