Comments on: America has a Nativism problem, not a “Muslim Problem”

By: Varun Shekhars

Varun Shekhars — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:28:29 +0000

The point is, that India has a long philosophical tradition of acknowledging different religions/philosophies as legitimate means to understand the divine, or life, if the divine does not figure into it. With the US, it's been all "Only Jesus saves". That in a big way explains American parochialism, ignorance and exclusivism.

Whatever problems Indian states have with migrants now and then( explained largely because of poverty and competition for resources) by and large Indians accept migrants as integral parts of the community. Caustic remarks here and there notwithstanding.

By: Dr Anonymous

Dr Anonymous — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 02:22:44 +0000

"The point is, they're trying to build the victory mosque as close to Ground Zero as possible"

"Whats the best evidence of this intention?"

The paranoid fantasies of fundamentalists don't bother with things like 'evidence.'

By: Dr Anonymous

Dr Anonymous — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 02:17:37 +0000

What people do in India is of no relevance to the NYC situation.

Neither is this entire so-called debate.

By: Tutu

Tutu — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:17:39 +0000

Muslims in India have been present for centuries, how then could Muslims be a nativism problem? India has plenty of nativism problems, Biharis and Bengalis in Maharashtra just as an example. In fact most immigrant groups within the Indian border are not viewed positively. In Bangalore there is wide spread anger against immigrants from the northern part of the country, in the South they refuse to speak Hindi.

By: Varun Shekhar

Varun Shekhar — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:06:21 +0000

This issue should cause Indians and persons of Indian origin to reflect a little. India is more progressive and enlightened at certain levels than the US. India possesses a rich, even noble heritage of acknowledging different, multiple religions, and in recognising them as legitimate paths or means to contemplate the divine. Whereas in the US, for the overwhelming majority of the last 200 years of its existence, there has been an emphasis on the Christian character of the country, and of the religion Christianity being the only truly legitimate one. This again would form part of America's 'nativist' problem.

By: Manju

Manju — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 04:06:27 +0000

"The point is, they're trying to build the victory mosque as close to Ground Zero as possible"

Whats the best evidence of this intention?

By: Sandip

Sandip — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:51:15 +0000

Dr. A, the 2-blocks point is a tired talking point. The point is, they’re trying to build the victory mosque as close to Ground Zero as possible. Are you familiar with victory mosques in, say, Indian, Jewish, or Spanish history?

By: LocknLoad

LocknLoad — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:21:56 +0000

Never said anything about the developer’s background being a reason to stop them from building anything they want , be it a community center or a circus. Just an observation that for a center that is trying to establish community outreach , it is a peculiar choice to have somebody with anger management issues and drunk driving on their record, both traits not conducive for good community relations, as the person of choice for the post. If his past dishonesty is any indication, how can they hope this project will be done satisfactorily ? If the Catholic Church or the VHP had chosen to have somebody with this guy’s background as a developer for a high profile community project would you be so “background neutral” in your response ? I doubt it given the slant you have. And we’re not talking about India in this thread. What people do in India is of no relevance to the NYC situation.

By: Dr Anonymous

Dr Anonymous — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:08:12 +0000

I don't have a problem with someone doubting claims of 'building bridges' or whatever. Those are things to be evaluated on the merits.

What I would and do have a problem is starting with the assumption that any attempt by any 'suspect' disempowered group to engage in any kind of community activity needs to be policed, immediately, because it absolutely must be something along the lines of what the majority community is paranoid about. Usually, this seems to be followed by claims that the people in the disempowered group are not being sensitive, should be more deferential, and broadly speaking, should accept that they have second class status in the place they're trying to live. And if they are not...coercion and force are used to make them comply (whether that's legal maneuvers or deportation or massive media arguments or sheer violence).

And, unsurprisingly, this generates a counterresponse in the 'other' side that is very similar. Trigger mistrust, breakdown of social interaction, and possibly violence.

By: Dr Anonymous

Dr Anonymous — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:53:02 +0000

No, the site is what used to be the Burlington Coat Factory. Equidistant or closer from the former World Trade centre site are a strip club, an OTB, a burger king, etc. http://daryllang.com/blog/4421