I found "Smile or Die" to be a very riveting video. It is a subject not often addressed, but with so much evidence and examples behind it. One particular aspect of the video that I saw reflected in "Arresting God in Kathmandu" was that of delusions, whether they be optimistic or negative, and how they can trap someone in a situation in life. In "The Good Shopkeeper", Pramod's optimism at the beginning, that he will soon get a job and be able to take care of his family, creates a delusion that as an accountant he cannot have a simple job like "shopkeeper". While the American Optimism would claim that having positive delusions is a good thing, his inability to see the reality behind his situation keeps him, at least momentarily, from getting a job which which he can protect his family. Another example is Kailesh-ji, his delusions that his wife is a loving and committed woman backfire on him while she slows unravels her true self. She begins speaking out, questioning his intelligence and legitimacy as a philosopher, and even having affairs with multiple men. His optimism and "positive thoughts" regarding their relationship do nothing in the way of changing the situation.
The American value of equality is one that has shaped my development, but also always conflicted me. It seems that what people claim to believe, or even think they actually believe, is that all people, skin color, gender, and ethnicity aside, are equal. However, stereotypes, racism, sexism, and racial profiling seem to be so subtly prevalent that it is discredited. How I was raised, between a mixture of peer influence, family influence, and media, I came to understand and believe this value. As my exposure to the world, different people, and different situations develops, so does this belief.
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