Comments on: Happy Diwali

By: Ismat

Ismat — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 06:56:32 +0000

Ditto to what Amitabh said.

By: Amitabh

Amitabh — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 06:54:23 +0000

As Kush Tandon said a while ago, in a bizarre way PG knows a lot about India…more than many people here in certain aspects, including myself. She certainly knows a lot about rural, Hindu, Hindi-speaking culture and mentality, which many consider the ‘heartland of India’ (in the way the Midwest is arguably the cultural heartland of America). She also seems to have some insight into Bengali culture due to her religious persuasion. It’s not easy to get a grip on these cultures, especially for 2nd gens but even for middle to upper class westernised folks in Delhi and Kolkatta, which are geographically right there but a mental universe away. The girl has clearly spent years observing, experiencing, and learning. At the same time she is immature, very often completely wrong in her conclusions, and often offensive in the way she states things…and kind of a nympho. I think it’s our specific 2nd gen/ABD sensibility which finds her offensive. It grates some of us to read the ‘exotifying’ and what not, and many of her comments have little to no understanding of our lives/experiences growing up here in the West. She has really pissed me off with some of her posts, and I understand why the moderators want to ban her permanently, but I have enjoyed the tamasha she’s provided, and I’ve learned a thing or two from her. I hope she’s not banned permanently now from this site.

By: Dharma Queen

Dharma Queen — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 06:50:46 +0000

Anna,

My examples weren't the best, perhaps - I wasn't implying this blog is closed to other races, but that the majority in any scenario can take issue with an individual/minority for all the wrong reasons. Irritation on the part of most 'guests' at the party, on its own, shouldn't be a sufficient thread to throw someone out...if the party is truly open.

By: vaishnavi

vaishnavi — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 06:47:56 +0000

just got some ladoos straight from india for deepavali, albeit a little late. guess the best way to round up this thread is hope that everyone had a good diwali/deepavali, and for those of you that it’s the new year, may it be a prosperous one. oh, and make sure not to overindulge in any leftover snacks!

By: Shruti

Shruti — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 06:17:32 +0000

But this thread is about Diwali. So I yield the rest of my time.

Yeah, I know, that’s the first thing I thought of when I saw the turn this thread had taken. Must. fight. provocation.

By: Shruti

Shruti — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 06:14:39 +0000

If she were figuratively spilling her drinks on people, making lewd remarks to individual commenters, insulting people, I'd see it...

Aye, but therein lies the problem, DQ. You don't see it.

Frankly, I think she's cancelled out by someone like Shruti, whose utterances - filled as they are with the Other, the Oppressor, Race Politics, Gender Politics, Culture Politics, Exoticism, Eroticism, Esotericism, Sex-Positivism and a whole slough of other 'isms' the mysteries of which I have yet to penetrate - are sensitive to the point of banality.

And yet, I made only two, relatively short and succinct comments on the Paris Hilton thread, whereas PG made...how many? You equate my style and conviction with BidiSmoker's and you think the few uninflammatory comments I make on race and gender cancel out all of PG's??? Wow. If I didn't know better from previous experience, I'd try to engage in a respectful dialogue with you. But I do, so I won't. Peace.

By: Sahej

Sahej — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 06:07:06 +0000

I don’t think she was trying to teach anyone a thing, I never got that sense. I got the sense she’d say something she knew would be controversial, and then spend the rest of the thread being oblivious to the controversy she generated. The fact she was “Gori” made her comments different in some way, and stood out. To me anyway.

But this thread is about Diwali. So I yield the rest of my time.

By: DJ Drrrty Poonjabi

DJ Drrrty Poonjabi — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 06:04:11 +0000

Cheap Ass Desi was in some way similiar.

I wouldn't agree that she was similar to PG: I found CAD's comments to be witty, insightful, and in the very least, coherent and germane to the topic at hand. (cough cough) I can't help but wonder why PG keeps returning after being banned and told to put a lid on the ignorant comments. If you have so much to teach us, why don't you start your own blog so we can read and learn what it really means to be Indian?

Speaking, of whatever happened to CAD? I try to read SM religiously as possible but I can't recall why she stopped posting here, if for any reason at all.

By: Sahej

Sahej — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 06:03:10 +0000

Actually, I'm not defending her at all. I think I mentioned that I find her comments unappealing. But like picking a zit, I can't help reading them. They goad me into wanting to respond. Maybe because she represents all those people I would like to chew out and don't. I was not defending her, just was wondering what it is about her that makes her cross the line from someone with disagreeable opinions to bannable.

Sorry if you thought I misattributed the reason for you comment. I see your point

By: desishiksa

desishiksa — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 05:59:27 +0000

Actually, I’m not defending her at all. I think I mentioned that I find her comments unappealing. But like picking a zit, I can’t help reading them. They goad me into wanting to respond. Maybe because she represents all those people I would like to chew out and don’t. I was not defending her, just was wondering what it is about her that makes her cross the line from someone with disagreeable opinions to bannable.