Först Bangkok och nu Mumbai! (och Sveriges Neutralitet)

Terrorism är allt en hör i dagarna!

Vad sker i städerna jag känner? I morse vakade jag till att Bangkok blödde efter bomber och efter arbetsdagens slut möts jag av Terror i Mumbai.
Eller Bombay som pressen envisas med.

I Augusti och sedermera setember 2006 var jag i Mumbai. Jag är lite förälskad i storstäders olika energi och där fanns allt. Överallt, i tidningar på bio och på TV talades om terrorism, på ett nästan extremare vis än USA -för att skapa rädsla. Och visst, rädsla fanns. Jag vistades down town i några dagar och senare i finkvarteren med mycket lite turism och NY känsla. Kontrasterna.

Det finns olika sorters terror (ism). Då jag satt på tåget från Mumbai fick följande mig att tänka till (jag skriver ofta engelska texter eftersom jag bor i utlandet):

A Neutral Country is one that doesn’t take a stand for either side in a war.

Sweden has supposedly not taken a stand since early 19th century (1814) and the end of the Napoleonic Wars.

Some are proud of that.
Others shameful.
Most of us are not so sure.

Which reminds me of the following:

India, 2006. A train between Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram (wow, those are 18 letters!) in the very south of the big country. 26 hours ahead of us. It is a second class wagon and a cabin shared by 4. We are two europeans, they are two well dressed, middle aged, indian men. We are all acting politely, speaking our languages in low voices not to disturb eachother. One of them climbes up to his bed immediately to sleep the long journey away while the other stays in front of us reading a book. I recall it being the Bill Clinton autobiography ”My life” of 2004, the english original version. Obviously this man was educated and with a political interest. It was the rain season, the monsoon, and the India rushing by outside our window was dressed in all shades of green. We were fascinated by its scenary although the airconditioning and silence made it seem unreal. They served us food, and what a delicious, spicy food it was! Made me wonder what travelling first class would be like?
He layed down his book to eat and so our polite chit chat began.

He said he was originally from Kerala where we were heading but that he came to Mumbai once in a while in business. His english was perfect, indian style. He told me some about his beautiful country and then wanted to know where I was from.
Sweden?, he lowered his face thinking.
Sweden…Sweeeden….. Sweden?
Then he smiled at me bigger than ever.
Ah, Sweden! Of course, how very stupid of me to forget!
Bofors!, he said, making a positive ”thumb up” gesture.
Veeery good guns! Carl Gustaf!
Your weapons helped us alot during the Kashmir Conflict!
You know that conflict?
I think I was blushing when I confirmed his question.
Yes, I knew about that conflict.
And then he said it again, smiling at me as to say we were friends.
Or should I say allies?

Very good guns indeed!, he repeted several times and if we had been drinking something other than water I am sure he would have proposed a toast to it.

How do one respond to that?

With a thank you or an I am sorry?

So much for that neutrality!

Bofors Carl Gustaf AB is a Swedish armaments firm founded back in 1812 as a state arsenal. The Kashmir conflict my fellow traveller was referring to was the latest in 1999.

Sweden making big bucks while staying neutral?

Nu är jag orolig för Kairo (där var jag sist)

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