The Civil War and the Trump Impeachment

Normally in democratic societies, if you don’t like the election results, you regroup and try harder to win in the next election cycle. Not so in 1860.

Voters in slave holding states split their vote between three candidates, leading to Lincoln’s election in 1860. For most voters in the South, Lincoln was an illegitimate president. They didn’t like the Republican party’s opposition to the spread of slavery westward, and they thought Lincoln would take measures toward the end of slavery.

Instead of regrouping and trying harder to win in 1864, a number of Southern states declared secession. Glad this sort of thing hasn’t ever happened since then.

Naga Unity in 70 Years of Dystopia

 Jelle J.P. Wouters, author of In the Shadows of Naga Insurgency, claims that the primary social unit for Nagas was the village. Rarely did Nagas ask about one's tribe when getting to know someone; they would ask, rather, what is your village? and to whose clan do you belong? The rivalry and raids between villages of the same tribe are well known, which is not surprising since there were little or no external threats to the inhabitants of the Naga Hills in the 19th century or earlier (due to the extremely rugged hills). Not even the British could mount sustained, credible threats against most Naga villages.

Now, these last 70 years and more, Naga leaders have argued that the external threat comes from an occupying force wishing to colonize the Naga Hills. If this is true, then those living in the Naga inhabited areas need to identify the unifying essentials to form themselves as a people--no longer on the basis of village, or even of tribe. There must be a pan-tribal unity.

As an outsider who knows a thing or two about societal unity, it is clear to me that there is little to unite the Naga inhabited areas with the Indian union. I understand clearly that GoI's motive is to use the northeast as a geographical buffer against an aggressive Chinese government--as the chicken neck of the Siliguri Pass reveals.

Despite all the GoI talk of Nagas being one with the Indian union, there is little in common between Aryan Indians and the Nagas. Some have even argued that that Nagas have more in common with South Pacific islanders than with mainland Indians. The first time a Naga explained to me the radical difference between Nagas and mainland Indians, he said, "We eat dog." That was perfectly clear to me.

Moreover, it seems nearly impossible for Nagas to integrate into Indian society. First, there is an extreme intolerance for Christianity in the prevailing Hindu society of today. Secondly, all mainland India is wholly smitten by the caste system which not only looks down on Nagas as unclean, but also suppresses any attempt of all those in lower castes to better their social status—this is radically opposed to deeply ingrained Naga democratic commitments. Then there's the extreme reverence of the cow, making it nearly impossible for Nagas to integrate socially with mainland Indians in New Delhi or Kolkata. All this makes my heartbreak whenever I see Naga youth moving to New Delhi or Mumbai for work or education--they'd be better off moving to Kenya or even Egypt.

In light of such social dissonance between Nagas and Aryan Indians, surely there is enough in common between all Nagas to all "hang together" rather than to “hang separately.” Surely this is true despite all the dysfunctionality and dystopia that has arisen in Naga society because of having to live these 70 years in a state of armed and often violent resistance. With unity among all Nagas, and by the grace of God, the possibilities of peace, stability, prosperity, and destiny are endless.

Development in Hanoi through Free Trade with America as a Model for Nagalim

Very strange, people thought—Very strange that Trump would propose Hanoi as the venue for the second round of talks with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un. Hanoi was the place of American humiliation—and North Korea was altogether happy to exploit the venue’s embarrassment for America. But analysts are finally figuring out that Trump not only plays chess while everyone else plays checkers, but that he plays 3-D chess.

After a decade of war, Hanoi was in ruins and disrepair. For years, America did no business with Hanoi, and the city struggled to arise from ashes and despair. In many ways, Hanoi was like North Korea. North Korea is a nation utterly dependent upon China for everything. People die of starvation routinely in North Korea. There is a famous satellite picture of North Korea at night that explains North Korea’s economic ruin compared with neighboring countries. Surrounding countries of South Korea, China, and Japan are all lit up, while North Korea is dead black.

In the last 20 years, however, Hanoi has grown exponentially, and has become one of America’s strong trading partners. Hanoi’s skyline shows it vibrancy. America’s great nemesis now has an incredibly beautiful skyline. Kim Jong-un assumed the choice of Hanoi was a Trump blunder (as did most of the American media), but when Kim Jong-un and his large retinue of statesmen arrived and saw the glorious skyline and highly developed beach resorts, they immediately realized that Trump’s blunder was a brilliant move. Each one of them thought, “If America’s great enemy Hanoi could become like this through friendship with the U.S., then why can’t North Korea also become a place of great development, wealth, and beauty.”

The same can be true of Nagalim. Now, having suffered 70 years of suffering and deprivations, a stable and peaceful Nagalim could follow in the footsteps of resurrected Hanoi through free trade with the U.S. Nagalim has such extraordinary natural beauty that it would make an excellent tourist destination. Traditional festivals throughout the tribal areas could draw thousands more every year. Many westerners would love to explore the great megaliths and study traditional Naga culture in many venues. Many war historians would take the opportunity to visit the site of the Battle of Kohima which the British Imperial War Museum claims was the greatest battle ever of all time for the British Army.

All this might be overly optimistic, but the possibilities are very real. Americans don’t want to invest in China. But many would find Nagalim as a great opportunity. Given the historic relationship between American Baptists and Nagalim, there might already be opportunities awaiting in the wings.