July 4th and I’m heading to Canada to see my siblings. I haven’t seen my eldest sister and her family in years.

The day is sunny and beautiful. At the moment, we are flying over Tennessee.

At Memphis airport while checking in, I was asked by the security officer that I needed to step out for additional checking. No scanners beeped, no other reasons, except the fact that I was wearing a turban.

It was one of the very few moments in the last three years that I have been in the United States, (I would suppose very few compared to Biharis in Punjab or Haryana would have to deal with), that I felt that congress still makes racist laws. I wonder why TSA does not check for a women’s bra or men’s undergarments, if the sole concern is that some chemical might be hidden in the clothes. Why target only turbans? Simple – Because congress has been known to use scare tactics throughout the history.

My take on the whole thing -

1. Dumb politicians and idiot right wings responsible for selecting them exist in every country – doesn’t matter how democratic it is.
2. Racism and regionalism is often painted as patriotism.
3. Few random incidents should not change your opinion about anything or anyone.

I still believe US is one of the most free nations in the world – definitely more than India is. And I hope to retain this view unless something happens that drastically changes it. In the latter case, I am moving to “ANTARCTICA”!!