The Ohio Independent Baptist, April 1972

Why the Doctor Weeps Here is l1 o w Dr. K et cha111 feels a!Jout A111erica's policy towarcl Bang– ladesh : American citizen living in Bang– ladesh this last year have uffered considerable 1nental anguish because of the U.S. government policy toward Bangladesh. When the Pakistani mili– tary machine fir t rolled over the Bengalis in March, the fleeing nation– al leaders of the Bengali people came to us and hopefully asked when our government would come to their res– cue. Certainly a land of freedom and democracy like America would come to the aid of people who were being exterminated by an oppressor. They pleaded, they begged, they cried. No help came. When the Pakistan Army was in control here, we were continually em– barrassed to have to stand before Ben– galis and explain how it could be that the American government would still give military aid to West Pakistan, even though that aid was being used to kill Bengalis. When the Mukti Bahinis began to - - - - - - - ....... ri e up and reclaim the land from the hand of the Paki tani military ma– chine, we were ashamed to tell them that there was stil I no he] p coming to them from U.S. Finall y came the day when victory was complete. Bangladesh was a re– ality. The shame became even more acute. Why isn't America recognizing Bangladesh? Again and again we were asked this. One official in the new government told me, "I trust no American." He made an exception in my case, since according to him I am Bengali and not American since I stayed here and suffered with the Bengali people. There is now a strange pheno– menon seen in village and town alike . Everyone seems to recognize that the American people are solidly behind Bangladesh. It is only the cabinet that is dragging its feet . They feel that the one who is the real traitor to their cause is Henry Kissinger and, as a result of Kissinger's influence, Rich– ard Nixon. It is a shame to America that Russia and so many others have recognized Bangladesh first. We have lost the advantage in this land. •• Our consular official s are in the anomalous position of not officially being here. We know that with America's recognition will come con- iderable amounts of aid to rebuild this land, but it is the Russians who have gotten here first . They are the ones who are getting all the credit. They will do the ]east in the way of aid and get the most fanfare, because they got here first. I have been here in thi s troubled area all through the terror-filled days. I've seen the bombs fall. I've operated on the blasted bodies. I 've cried with the people in their oppression and shouted with them in their victory. I feel all this as keen} y as they do, but they never let me forget that I am the representative of a country that talks a great deal about freedom but won't help a morally raped people to become a free people themselves. I feel the shame of it keenly . I weep for the Bengal is . I weep more for our own dear country in which policy seems to be determined by what is expedient rather than what is morally right . AT SKY VIEW RANCH Sky View Ranch RFD 4 *CAMPERS--Juniors--Junior High --Seniors--S1g1 up for t/Je wee!?. of yoLtr cho1ce--– St,ll plenty of room Millersburg, Ohio 44656 Registrar Rev Wm . F. Russe ll 191 Whipple Ave ., N.W. Canton , Ohio 44708 THE OHIO INDEPENDENT BAPTIST * *SUMMER STAFF OPPORTUNITIES-- lnterested??--C'o ntact ,\f r 1'0 ,>-1 Loper, Cedarville C,o!lege, (.:edaro1lle, OIJ10 4531-1 •**WORK--The Ranch needs workers to get ready for the summer--Contact ,\Jr l1 oljj at tl;e Ra11cl1 for details ,j' me-n fro111 yo11r churcl; ca,1 /Jelp out!! APRIL, 1972 5