Comments on: The Birth of the Indian-American “Celebrity?”

By: Paranoid ANdroid

Paranoid ANdroid — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:15:34 +0000

Abhi, Amardeep and other writers of political issues – i know it is cool for all (or most) brown people to cheer Obama, but have any of you written about the real implications for the largest brown concentration (india) or even the larger south asia? E.g. Bush might have been a disaster for rest of the world and US, but his time was the turning point for US-India relations, as well for the econo-military-political emergence for India. No democrat would ever have taken a political risk and given India a pass on the nuclear deal. etc etc.

By: Suki Dillon

Suki Dillon — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 01:40:21 +0000

I just like to ask them, if you are frightened of what the West represents, and romanticise the purity of your religious or ethnic utopia, why did you bother emigrating to the West in the first place? Needless to say, it is not a popular question to ask.

I been asking the same question for the past 6 years since I moved to Vancouver.

By: Nayagan

Nayagan — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 00:34:28 +0000

61 Â· Harbeer said

Those are the 2nd Gen desis I grew up with. You may not see us, but we do exist.

Hard to see that from the trailer park.

I can say that 2nd-Genners don't all come from wealthy backgrounds because many of my 2nd-Gen peers and I don't come from wealthy backgrounds.

can relate somewhat, but my sample population was definitely skewed towards children of professionals--at least households that could afford a $1,200 summer camp for up to 2 children.

I don't think that makes what I'm saying any less valid, either

not even thinking about that--it's clear to me that you're not trying to make a truth-statement (i.e. the sun rises in the west/east).

Yes, even rich people benefit if everybody has food, clothing, shelter, and an education. At least their daughters won't run off with poor ignorant bastards...

Ok, I just like to see more specificity when people talk about helping poor people--such that these wishes to help are accompanied by qualifying statements (i.e. helping them maintain a subsistence-level existence, stop being poor (permanently), etc.)

By: Harbeer

Harbeer — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 00:22:49 +0000

I can say that 2nd-Genners don't all come from wealthy backgrounds because many of my 2nd-Gen peers and I don't come from wealthy backgrounds. I grant you that "Apth" said "most" and not "all." I am not aware of any studies on this subject and I'm not too concerned with any data Razib digs up about how 95.3% of all desis in America make more than $576,000/year because that doesn't make ME 95.3% wealthy (or have the attitude of of somebody who's 95.3% wealthy).

The street I grew up (a small suburban street spanning about three blocks and ending in a cul-de-sac) had at least 8 Indian and Pakistani working class families living on it. Those are the 2nd Gen desis I grew up with. You may not see us, but we do exist.

As for rich people's self-interest in sharing with the poor--you never know where a good idea is going to come from. If everybody is given the opportunity to become the best person they are capable of becoming, society as a whole benefits. Actually, I don't know how to answer your question without bringing my personal philosophy (i.e. common sense) into it. I don't think that makes what I'm saying any less valid, either.

Yes, even rich people benefit if everybody has food, clothing, shelter, and an education. At least their daughters won't run off with poor ignorant bastards...

By: Nayagan

Nayagan — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:46:14 +0000

"I would take issue with both statements."

Ok, so what causes you to do so (aside from the biographical information provided above and personal philosophy)?

By: Harbeer

Harbeer — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:36:44 +0000

58 Â· Nayagan said

Do you think what apth wrote is factually incorrect?

Which part of it? That 2nd-Genners come from wealthy backgrounds or that it's not in rich people's self-interest to "share the bounty?" I would take issue with both statements.

By: Nayagan

Nayagan — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:30:37 +0000

53 Â· Harbeer said

I assume you're saying that we're a bunch of idealistic rich brats who should be voting Republican

i'm an ex-idealistic poor brat who's voting for Bob "I'm not Black!" Barr--with the knowledge that I am an outlying example (poor, voting for a third-party) in the US desi population. Do you think what apth wrote is factually incorrect?

By: Joolz

Joolz — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:16:50 +0000

Maybe I should qualify it again Harbeer. I think it's probably natural to romanticise 'imaginary homelands'. And I have sympathy with the nostalgia and reminiscence they feel. It's just when it takes on too rigid and uncritical an edge that it becomes actually rather loathsome. And that feeds into civic engagement in the country your children are born in. Orienting your engagement on the basis of your imaginary homeland, replicating communal lobbying of local politicians, has a very stale and bitter and regressive edge to it. And it diverts attention from the world you live in now.

Anyway, if we are all assimilated in a generation or two it won't matter, we'll just be what everyone else is.

By: Joolz

Joolz — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:11:08 +0000

I just want to qualify, not all Desi elders are like that, I was generalising too much there. I was talking about a sub section of the Desi elders.

By: Harbeer

Harbeer — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:10:17 +0000

54 Â· Joolz said

the elders have a dream about an idealised utopia back in the the desh

Rushdie wrote a book about that.