Dr. Veda Pratap Vaidik

The shootout in Brooklyn, New York has shocked the entire America.  About three dozen people were injured but fortunately no casualty has been reported so far.  South Asian people live in large numbers in that area. The attack was early in the morning at Brooklyn’s railway station. It is not yet known whether the attacker was from any terrorist outfit or was a misguided criminal.

The attacker first fired gas bombs spreading panic and then opened fire.  Under the cover of commotion created by the firing the assailant managed to flee, leaving his belongings and vehicle which the police could take into custody. Name of the assailant is known from his credit card. His photo has also been flashed by the police and a reward of $50,000 announced for his arrest.  It is expected that the attacker will be apprehended soon.

What if he is caught and even if he confesses to his crime? What would happen even if he is executed?  Will the number of such murderous crimes ever decline in America?  Never. The number of killings happening India per year is not even half of that occurring in America a year.  America is considered the wealthiest nation in the world, and its citizens are well educated. But the crime rate, especially murder and killings, is much higher compared to many poor countries of Asia and Africa.

Unless American administration and analysts do not reach to the root causes of the increasing criminal incidents there is every chance the situation to deteriorate further.  After the Brooklyn attack, dozens of people told the New York Times that life was no more safe and comfortable in New York City.  Fifty years ago when I was living in New York, my American aunt used to tell me to be cautious of criminals while going out.

The situation is still the same in the major cities of America. The state of civil insecurity that existed in America 200 years ago remains the same even today. The Whites of Europe did not even dare to enter America without being armed. Even today, firearms are kept in every house in America. Now there is a growing demand that as in airplanes, restrictions should be imposed on passengers for carrying arms in trains and buses and security should be tightened in stations.

All such suggestions are fine, but these proposals are not expected to change the attitude of the violence- loving American polity. In America’s consumerist society, as long as deep economic disparity and apartheid prevail, such violent incidents will continue to happen.  Mental disorder, a common phenomenon in any capitalist and consumerist society, also contributes to such unwarranted violent incidents.

*Dr. Vaidik is a widely travelled scholar-journalist. He has visited more than 80 countries on diplomatic and educationalmissions. Dr. Vaidik has won more than a dozen National and International awards for academic and journalistic excellence. He has been a member of several Advisory Committees of Government of India.