In a discussion held in the Cosmic Tent at Bangla Academy, American Literature professor and author Sarah Churchwell; adjunct professor and writer Tunku Varadarajan, and Dhaka Tribune Editor Zafar Sobhan sat down with Ranbir Sidhu, Pushcart Prize winning author, to delve into American dysphoria.
The discussion included individual experiences of all panelists as born or naturalized American citizens, or of living in or leaving America, and their views on where the country stands.
Churchwell and Varadarajan posed contradictory views on the current state of the nation, and how the history of America indicates how the superpower reacts in the face of crises.
Churchwell expressed her hope that despite the dark period she believes America is in, they are moving in the right direction.
Varadarajan opined, on the other hand, that America has suffered through bigger issues in the past, but refuted there being any major national issue at the moment. He also mentioned that a lot of the issues being brought to the forefront are individual incidents, and do not reflect a bigger problem.
Sobhan added to the debate, stating that despite not having lived in the US for a long time, he has observed visible changes in the people's identification of being an American. He also iterated Churchwell's thoughts on how the present nature of the country looks similar to what it has experienced before.
Sidhu added his two cents on the matter, and discussed the sense of unease that he has observed in his friends living in the US. Having been away from the country for a few years, he admitted that the idea of moving back seems more daunting to him.
The panelists also shared their thoughts on how many nations look to America as a nation in power, while there is a certain lack of unity within the country, which could prove to be a concern.
The audience was also divided in their opinions and participated in an elaborate Q and A session, ending the engaging session on a high note.