Comments on: Trendy to be a South Asian Governor

By: Vineet

Vineet — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:31:07 +0000

What is up with Indian American politicians ditching their religious/spiritual background?

Bobby Jindal converted to Catholicism. Nikki Randhawa-Haley's family is Methodist (as per Wikipedia).

By: Realist

Realist — Wed, 27 May 2009 02:42:09 +0000

Question is, when will the Democrats start supporting Desis vying for higher political power as well?

Democrats will start supporting indian americans vying for higher political office after blacks, hispanic and Jews in the democratic party are satisfied with their share of political power.

By: Suki Dillon

Suki Dillon — Mon, 25 May 2009 09:09:57 +0000

That's actually not true. While we are geographically disperse, South Asians in the U.S. have been able to mobilize political voting blocs at the local government-level. This is not to the exclusion, however, of running on pan-ethnic platforms.

But is nowhere the same level that it is here in Canada. In British Columbia 7 of the 79 MLA are Punjabi, and we have 3 Punjabi MP from Vancouver who run in parts of the Greater Vancouver area's with a huge punjabi community. I think it the same for the Punjabi MP's in the Toronto Area.

By: Camille

Camille — Mon, 25 May 2009 08:59:53 +0000

In the States, South Asians don't really have the numbers in there own community to get elected like that. My 1st cousin is mayor of small town in Central Califronia which is over 90% hispanic, but that didn't stop him becoming mayor twice.

@Ashwini: With respect to changing one's first name (the last name is another story), I think it's a little presumptuous to assume assimilation. "Nikki" is not an uncommon nickname among Punjabis, and it conveniently doubles as a word/moniker in both Punjabi and English. Jumping to the "assimilationist!" rhetoric is a little knee-jerk.

@ sa:

she is about as indian as clarence thomas is black

wow, inappropriate!

@ Manju: You recall incorrectly, friend. Local staffers for the event removed a hijabi woman, but BHO did not and made his staff apologize to her.

@ Rahul, I've missed you.

By: Suki Dillon

Suki Dillon — Mon, 25 May 2009 08:44:08 +0000

Some of you people who hate on Jindal and Haley for not being South Asian enough need to get a life. Both Nikki and Bobby live in parts of the United States in which there are not alot of people of the same background. And I guess it safe bet when Mr.Jindal and Mrs.Haley were growing up in the 70's and 80's they were one of the few familes in whole area. So maybe they were not exposed to there culture, the way they would have if they had grown up in Yuba City, Vancouver or Southhall.

There are alot of South Asians born in England who have not given up there culture and in fact not at all intergrated into western society and want to do things, that if they are successful. There action's will make it harder for all brown people in the west, yet they never get the hate here, that Bobby Jindal does.

By: Manju

Manju — Mon, 25 May 2009 04:20:32 +0000

I shall never understand what Indians have to gain in the Republican Party!

By: Nikki

Nikki — Mon, 25 May 2009 04:00:29 +0000

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikki_Haley

By: metal mickey

metal mickey — Sun, 24 May 2009 14:56:16 +0000

Another Indian Am politician for the Republican party? I’m sorry, but in my opinion that person has strayed so much from their identity. I shall never understand what Indians have to gain in the Republican Party!

By: Catholic Guilt

Catholic Guilt — Sat, 23 May 2009 22:27:45 +0000

What is the “indian rural doctor” stereotype?

By: cindy

cindy — Sat, 23 May 2009 20:11:26 +0000

The use of anglicized names has been fairly common historically among many immigrant groups in this country. It's not my place to criticize others in what they did to assimilate into American culture

But why should they have to assimilate? Why can't they join American society without giving up their cultural heritage? I thought that was the whole point of being so happy on this blog that a man named 'Barack' and not 'Barry' became president. So it's just plain hypocrisy to get upset that some readers are upset that an actual DESI politician can't keep their name and get elected.