As a bonus, when development from the ground up leads to more opportunity and prosperity all around, citizens are less likely to become radicalized and involved in terrorism. When a young person has hope and dignity and the prospect of a bright future, living is viewed as more meaningful than dying for a cause, whatever it might be. The biggest threat to any society is the creation of citizens who have nothing to lose.
During my trip to India, I did not practice yoga in Yamuna Nagar, levitate in Lucknow, consult an herbal healer in Hamirpir, receive a mantra from a Mahabubnagar yogi, find inner peace in Irinjalakuda, study Vishistadvaita philosophy in Firozabad, have mind-altering experiences in Ashok Nagar, or leave offerings at the altars of Annapurna. Instead, I saw a lot of human nature, which I believe helps a person decide what kind of human being he or she would like to be, and that was indeed a benediction.
I left India thinking how clever I’d been to avoid a swine flu epidemic, dysentery, leprosy, dengue fever, tuberculosis, and malaria, which was rampant during the monsoon season, along with a new superbug that had started in the subcontinent and was rapidly spreading throughout the world as a result of medical tourism. However, when I arrived back in Manhattan, there was a raging bedbug infestation and a number of public places were closed, including a Times Square movie theater and several large retail outlets. The bedbug czar appeared on TV to report that the city was under siege and losing the war on bedbugs. Meantime, the Long Island Railroad had collapsed due to equipment failure, with Amtrak’s northeast corridor following right behind since they share tracks and switches, thus stranding thousands of travelers. In other news, half a billion eggs had been recalled due to salmonella poisoning, while several high-ranking politicians were facing corruption charges. Perhaps I should’ve stayed in India. As the New York State Lottery ads prophetically remind us, “Hey, you never know.”
About the Author
Laura Pedersen is a former New York Times columnist and the best-selling author of ten books, including the award-winning humorous memoir Buffalo Gal. She has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Late Night with David Letterman, Good Morning America, The Today Show, Primetime Live, CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC. More information can be found at www .LauraPedersenBooks.com.
Planes, Trains, and Auto-Rickshaws Page 15
