Comments on: Totally Pulled a “Nikki H.” http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2011/08/03/its_like_balbir/ All that flavorful brownness in one savory packet Sat, 30 Nov 2013 11:11:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: V.V. http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2011/08/03/its_like_balbir/comment-page-1/#comment-285936 V.V. Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:07:28 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=6616#comment-285936 <p>A comment in three parts...</p> <ol> <li><p><b>So I found the video funny and all (esp. the white guilt side effect), but why do women have to be white to express their sexuality?</b></p></li> </ol> <p>Good point, Vivek.</p> <p>2.</p> <p>Spotted this on FB today:</p> <p>http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/8317/fda-bans-23-more-whitening-products</p> <p>Lede: "The Food and Drug Administration ordered the banning of 23 more cosmetic whitening products found to contain mercury exceeding legal limits."</p> <ol> <li><p>Indian is not an ethnicity.</p></li> </ol> A comment in three parts…

  1. So I found the video funny and all (esp. the white guilt side effect), but why do women have to be white to express their sexuality?

Good point, Vivek.

2.

Spotted this on FB today:

http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/8317/fda-bans-23-more-whitening-products

Lede: “The Food and Drug Administration ordered the banning of 23 more cosmetic whitening products found to contain mercury exceeding legal limits.”

  1. Indian is not an ethnicity.

]]> By: Alina_M http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2011/08/03/its_like_balbir/comment-page-1/#comment-285935 Alina_M Thu, 04 Aug 2011 23:51:24 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=6616#comment-285935 <p>I don't understand your hate for Ms. Haley changing her religion. Why should the religion her ancestors adopted centuries ago determine her beliefs? She did not choose that belief system, she was simply born into it. I think it would be far more disingenuous for her to go to temple weekly pretending to follow Sikhism for the sake of feigning authenticity. She had both a Methodist church ceremony and Sikh gurdwara, so it's clear she still honors her parent's faith.</p> <p>As for names - the reason Jindal didn't change his name is exactly a matter of principle; men don't take on their wives names in this culture, it's usually the other way around. Haley also gave both her children Hindi names (Rena and Nalin) whereas Jindal gave his children European names (Selia Elizabeth, Slade Ryan and Shaan Robert). As for "Bobby", that is something he got from the Brady Bunch, not a Punjabi thing. So it's odd that you label Haley a sellout while giving "Bobby" a pass.</p> <p>Now I will say that it's a shame politicians still need to "Anglicize" themselves to get elected in this country. I mean if a man whose middle name is Hussein could get elected, I think the public would've been fine with Nimrata. Though admittedly I'm not from the South.</p> I don’t understand your hate for Ms. Haley changing her religion. Why should the religion her ancestors adopted centuries ago determine her beliefs? She did not choose that belief system, she was simply born into it. I think it would be far more disingenuous for her to go to temple weekly pretending to follow Sikhism for the sake of feigning authenticity. She had both a Methodist church ceremony and Sikh gurdwara, so it’s clear she still honors her parent’s faith.

As for names – the reason Jindal didn’t change his name is exactly a matter of principle; men don’t take on their wives names in this culture, it’s usually the other way around. Haley also gave both her children Hindi names (Rena and Nalin) whereas Jindal gave his children European names (Selia Elizabeth, Slade Ryan and Shaan Robert). As for “Bobby”, that is something he got from the Brady Bunch, not a Punjabi thing. So it’s odd that you label Haley a sellout while giving “Bobby” a pass.

Now I will say that it’s a shame politicians still need to “Anglicize” themselves to get elected in this country. I mean if a man whose middle name is Hussein could get elected, I think the public would’ve been fine with Nimrata. Though admittedly I’m not from the South.

]]> By: Vivek http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2011/08/03/its_like_balbir/comment-page-1/#comment-285934 Vivek Thu, 04 Aug 2011 23:42:28 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=6616#comment-285934 <p>So I found the video funny and all (esp. the white guilt side effect), but why do women have to be white to express their sexuality?</p> So I found the video funny and all (esp. the white guilt side effect), but why do women have to be white to express their sexuality?

]]> By: Blue http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2011/08/03/its_like_balbir/comment-page-1/#comment-285933 Blue Thu, 04 Aug 2011 23:15:38 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=6616#comment-285933 <p>Sellout Punjabis……..Hmmm, we do like power, but to sell out of religion, that’s a whole new level. I will give Jindal some benefit of the doubt, since many Punjabis have first names Bobby, Sunny, Jimmy etc. I can understand why he chose Bobby over Piyush. He also kept his last name even after converting to Christianity.</p> <p>Now, Nikki is a whole different story. She clearly made calculated moves to climb the political ladder. Randhawa is a prominent Jatt Sikh caste in Punjab. Jatts place great pride in their ancestry & hardly marry outside their caste. Switching religion is almost unheard of among Sikhs. I will speculate that her parents supported her marriage, religion and name change, so she could succeed politically. Could she have made it in South as Nimrata Randhawa? Well, we can only speculate.</p> <p>After learning that her older brother also converted to Christianity & served in US army, my old uncle pointed out that they must come from same blood line of Jatt Sikhs who sold out to British by joining their army for personal gains and power.</p> Sellout Punjabis……..Hmmm, we do like power, but to sell out of religion, that’s a whole new level. I will give Jindal some benefit of the doubt, since many Punjabis have first names Bobby, Sunny, Jimmy etc. I can understand why he chose Bobby over Piyush. He also kept his last name even after converting to Christianity.

Now, Nikki is a whole different story. She clearly made calculated moves to climb the political ladder. Randhawa is a prominent Jatt Sikh caste in Punjab. Jatts place great pride in their ancestry & hardly marry outside their caste. Switching religion is almost unheard of among Sikhs. I will speculate that her parents supported her marriage, religion and name change, so she could succeed politically. Could she have made it in South as Nimrata Randhawa? Well, we can only speculate.

After learning that her older brother also converted to Christianity & served in US army, my old uncle pointed out that they must come from same blood line of Jatt Sikhs who sold out to British by joining their army for personal gains and power.

]]> By: razib khan - atheist http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2011/08/03/its_like_balbir/comment-page-1/#comment-285932 razib khan - atheist Thu, 04 Aug 2011 22:59:11 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=6616#comment-285932 <p><i>As <b>Indians</b> we should chide and ridicule those who 1) change their name, 2) change their religion and 3) change their ethnic identity to further their ambitions.</i></p> <p>and as <b>americans</b> we should pass the apple pie.</p> As Indians we should chide and ridicule those who 1) change their name, 2) change their religion and 3) change their ethnic identity to further their ambitions.

and as americans we should pass the apple pie.

]]> By: Ram http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2011/08/03/its_like_balbir/comment-page-1/#comment-285931 Ram Thu, 04 Aug 2011 22:32:17 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=6616#comment-285931 <p>I wouldn't go so hard on Nikki... I would argue that perception of race varies significantly across parts of the country. I grew up in NJ (before Edison was big), went to Rutgers (as Edison was sprouting), lived in Atlanta, Portland and San Francisco. I could see myself classifying myself differently in different locations based on what the choices were and what the local demographics were. In Portland (predominantly white), Asian may be a reasonable answer. In SF (where it seems like every other person is Asian), not making the distinction between east and south asian seems awkward. In the South, the division is much more black/white.</p> <p>Which brings up a story... When I was in grad school in Atlanta, a buddy of mine who's parents are chinese (but also lived in NJ) said that his mom had visited Atlanta in the 60s... She was going to the restroom, and saw the two doors - one marked "white" and the other marked "colored".... My buddy said his mom stood there for a few minutes dumbfounded, until a little old white lady walked up behind her and said "You should come in here with me"...</p> I wouldn’t go so hard on Nikki… I would argue that perception of race varies significantly across parts of the country. I grew up in NJ (before Edison was big), went to Rutgers (as Edison was sprouting), lived in Atlanta, Portland and San Francisco. I could see myself classifying myself differently in different locations based on what the choices were and what the local demographics were. In Portland (predominantly white), Asian may be a reasonable answer. In SF (where it seems like every other person is Asian), not making the distinction between east and south asian seems awkward. In the South, the division is much more black/white.

Which brings up a story… When I was in grad school in Atlanta, a buddy of mine who’s parents are chinese (but also lived in NJ) said that his mom had visited Atlanta in the 60s… She was going to the restroom, and saw the two doors – one marked “white” and the other marked “colored”…. My buddy said his mom stood there for a few minutes dumbfounded, until a little old white lady walked up behind her and said “You should come in here with me”…

]]> By: maitri_twitter http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2011/08/03/its_like_balbir/comment-page-1/#comment-285929 maitri_twitter Thu, 04 Aug 2011 21:50:54 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=6616#comment-285929 <p>Then, there was the time Illinois removed the race checkboxes from speeding citation forms, but the Champaign police officer went out of the way to identify me as "ASIAN" in the margin. Got that ticket plead way down.</p> <p>Pointing out that Bobby Jindal's and Nikki Haley's first names are Piyush and Nimrata disappoints me as much as these folks' desperate need/wish to be white. There is nothing wrong with reinventing yourself, as long as you don't look down on where you came from and the people who didn't change with you.</p> Then, there was the time Illinois removed the race checkboxes from speeding citation forms, but the Champaign police officer went out of the way to identify me as “ASIAN” in the margin. Got that ticket plead way down.

Pointing out that Bobby Jindal’s and Nikki Haley’s first names are Piyush and Nimrata disappoints me as much as these folks’ desperate need/wish to be white. There is nothing wrong with reinventing yourself, as long as you don’t look down on where you came from and the people who didn’t change with you.

]]> By: neeta http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2011/08/03/its_like_balbir/comment-page-1/#comment-285928 neeta Thu, 04 Aug 2011 21:20:26 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=6616#comment-285928 <p>"Surely people of color don't need to be reminded that they are people of color. When you cross that line of becoming someone who chides an adult on an issue as complex as identity, then a bit of the legitimacy your message had is lost."</p> <p>As Indians we should chide and ridicule those who 1) change their name, 2) change their religion and 3) change their ethnic identity to further their ambitions. It is gross, and their kids will spend many hours in therapy trying to sort through why their parents had so much self hate.</p> “Surely people of color don’t need to be reminded that they are people of color. When you cross that line of becoming someone who chides an adult on an issue as complex as identity, then a bit of the legitimacy your message had is lost.”

As Indians we should chide and ridicule those who 1) change their name, 2) change their religion and 3) change their ethnic identity to further their ambitions. It is gross, and their kids will spend many hours in therapy trying to sort through why their parents had so much self hate.

]]> By: neeta http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2011/08/03/its_like_balbir/comment-page-1/#comment-285927 neeta Thu, 04 Aug 2011 21:13:55 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=6616#comment-285927 <p>The problem I have with Niki and Bobby, is I can't tell my kids, " Look in America, if you work hard you can be anything." They are the twisted, distorted, dysfunctional example of the American Dream. Clearly, one must convert to Christianity, despite already having the the most tolerant religions on the planet, marry (or convert your spouse) to Christianity, and adopt a stupid "name." Really, you want to be named after a character on the Brady Bunch? Jack Ass. I have contempt for these two because in their quest for power, they have proven that Indians really can't be Indians in the political realm. Their precious little conservative party would abandon them in a sec, should they be perceived as having any Indianness to them.</p> The problem I have with Niki and Bobby, is I can’t tell my kids, ” Look in America, if you work hard you can be anything.” They are the twisted, distorted, dysfunctional example of the American Dream. Clearly, one must convert to Christianity, despite already having the the most tolerant religions on the planet, marry (or convert your spouse) to Christianity, and adopt a stupid “name.” Really, you want to be named after a character on the Brady Bunch? Jack Ass. I have contempt for these two because in their quest for power, they have proven that Indians really can’t be Indians in the political realm. Their precious little conservative party would abandon them in a sec, should they be perceived as having any Indianness to them.

]]> By: PKS http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2011/08/03/its_like_balbir/comment-page-1/#comment-285926 PKS Thu, 04 Aug 2011 21:00:05 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=6616#comment-285926 <p>Sigh. Can we please drop the everyone named Nikki/Bobby is a sellout? Every third Punjabi person (even in India) is called Bobby, Nikki, Tony, Tina, etc. Some even have these as their given name. So when you want to chide someone for not being brown enough (and I am no Nikki Haley fan) can it be for her politics and positions rather than her first name? Otherwise your position, at least in part, boils down to you're not brown enough if you're Punjabi.</p> Sigh. Can we please drop the everyone named Nikki/Bobby is a sellout? Every third Punjabi person (even in India) is called Bobby, Nikki, Tony, Tina, etc. Some even have these as their given name. So when you want to chide someone for not being brown enough (and I am no Nikki Haley fan) can it be for her politics and positions rather than her first name? Otherwise your position, at least in part, boils down to you’re not brown enough if you’re Punjabi.

]]>