It has been a week since the US warship USS Nimitz left the shores of Chennai but I am still disturbed. No, I am not thinking about the alleged nuclear emission or the shameful way with which India prostrated and still prostrates in front of the US. I am only thinking about what the sailors did in Chennai.

What disturbed me the most was the hysteria in the newspapers. Reporters went gaga over the ship and the sailors, followed the sailors day and night and flashed not one two but several of their pictures on the front pages.

Who are these sailors? Are they heroes to be given such a welcome? Have they done any heroism in the warn- torn countries like rescuing human beings from burning houses and vehicles which were bombed by the same warship?

On the other hand, what had the war ship been doing all these years? Missiles sent from this particular ship had been killing women, children and men in Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia. I have no idea how many they might have killed so far; it is not in hundreds or thousands, much, much more than that. The fact is they also may not have any idea about the numbers, and perhaps they just don’t care.

It is another matter that Americans care only about the lives of Americans and all the other lives are indispensable. The attitude is, why they should care about the lives of the poor Afghans or Iraqis or Somalians.

I am reminded of what George Bush the Senior said in July 1988 when a missile cruiser, the USS Vincennes, stationed in the Persian Gulf, accidentally shot down an Iranian airliner and killed 290 civilian passengers. He said, "I will never apologise for the United States. I don’t care what the facts are." Yes, they just don’t care.

USS Nimitz was on its way from Iraq when it docked at Chennai Port. The smiling sailors were first taken to a Muslim school where they caressed the children, hugged them, kissed them, and showered them with gifts. Remember it is the same hands that let the missiles fly from the war ship which killed hundreds and thousands of young Iraqi kids. Will caressing some Muslim children in Chennai wash away the bloodstains from their hands?

They also visited a school which has physically and mentally challenged children. Again, the same act of love and affection was shown. I wonder whether they didn’t think of all those innocent Iraqi children who have been orphaned, who lost either their hands or legs, who are paralysed, who are bed ridden…all because of them. Do they not even once think of those children and felt a pang of guilt? From their faces, I don’t think the thought ever flashed their minds. They acted as if they were doing a great service to these children.

Newspapers reported that they then went around cleaning our beaches and schools. As if we need some Americans to clean our beaches and paint our schools! Have they ever tried to clean the mess they have created in Afghanistan and Iraq?

Newspaper reporters were behind them when they visited the bars, when they drank, when they puked all over the ground and when they even visited women in Kodambakkam for sex! I pity the policemen who had to literally push and carry the drunken sailors to the bus.

Finally when in Chennai, they also celebrated their independence day. How could they celebrate when many countries are suffering and lost their independence because of them?

Finally when the war ship left the shores of Chennai, they were given heroes’ farewell. If those who send missiles to kill innocent children, if those who drink and puke without any shame, if those who visit brothels when they are in another country as guests are the modern day heroes, I feel sad about the whole world.