Honestly I’m soooo tired of the following topic. I know that I should be completely jaded by such things already, but I like to think that they can still bring out the fight in me. The same mob mentality over the radiowaves that we have seen in the past has happened once again. SM tipster “Ayyner” alerts us to yet another racist outburst by some East Coast on-air personalities. The following is a partial transcript (a longer transcript here) of the Jersey Guys Radio Show on NJ 105.1 FM. The Jersey Guys are Craig Carton and Ray Rossi.
[Caller]: You just said it all, the last couple of Â… callers, I guess they donÂ’t know that they live in America and weÂ’re being overrun. I had just moved out of Edison because of what has happened in the past 10 yearsÂ… Orientals are all along, the whole complete route 27. And Indians have taken over Edison in north and all over.
[Carton]: Damn Orientals and Indians.
[Caller]: I..i moved out..36 years IÂ’ve lived in Edison
[Carton]: And what was the biggest problem you had with the Orientals and the Indians ?
[Caller]: I canÂ’t handle them! ThereÂ’s no American people anymore.
[Carton]: Eh..
[Caller]: There shoving us the hell out!
[Carton]: ItÂ’s like youÂ’re a foreigner in your own country isnÂ’t it?
In my opinion the above excerpt is rather tame compared to the rest. Their ignorant invective seems to be particularly focused on East Asians. Unlike previous on-air incidents, this seems to have occurred in the middle of a “political discussion” instead of one meant to be funny. Specifically, the conversation centered around the upcoming race for mayor of Edison, NJ. The discussion basically degenerated into Carton bashing liberals who he thinks care too much about getting minority votes. You should be concerned with the majority (“me”) to paraphrase Carton. According to an article from a few weeks ago this duo has a large audience.
Touted as the most listened to FM talk show, the afternoon program commands nearly 1 million listeners a week, said Ray Handel, director of marketing and promotions for the station.
Of course this is really nothing new. Limbaugh gets away with this kind of crap all the time but is clever enough to not be so blatant. If you can’t even be clever enough to veil your racism [sarcasm] you deserve to be smacked off the airways. In any case, we’ve been informed that “South Asian legal organizations are coming together again to craft a concerted response.”
Update (4/27/05): The reaction.
It’s the mayoral race in Edison, not the Governor’s race, as far as I could tell.
Anyway, I saw this too (and blogged it too), and I’m sick of these stories also. But it makes me confused and upset in addition to angry. The thing that kills me is this:
It’s exaggerated, but I don’t know how to respond because I make the same point often. Also, I haven’t heard their show enough to know, but I’m skeptical that they’re even in the same league as Rush Limbaugh, who’s basically as evil as media members can get.
It’s the mayoral race in Edison, not the Governor’s race
Corrected. Silly mistake on my part. Thanks.
how disgusting
what’s wrong with people?
I just heard yesterday that in iceland, you can get thrown in jail for racist remarks.
Well we should be glad we’re not in Iceland. They have Björk and no freedom of speech?
These knucklheads are allowed to say this stuff, no matter how offensive.
I often lurk here… but I had to post. I grew up in Edison, NJ (since the time there were no desis in the area, which is hard to believe) and the issues between the desis and the larger community (mostly white and working class, since Edison is one of those post-war suburban towns with lots of factories so as to move people out of the cities and into the ‘burbs) have been simmering for a long time (which I often explore in my writing, both fiction and nonfiction).
In 1989 when a middle-class gang called “The Lost Boys” brutally attacked a 20-year-old Indian man behind a convenience store and drove through Hilltop Estates, a sprawling garden apartment complex where hundreds of Indian families live, calling on people to come out of their homes and screaming various racial epithets. Gang members said publicly they did it for “a thrill.”
Between 1994 and 1998, there was a huge battle over the Navratri celebrations that led to many, many, many editorials in the local papers: “It is reprehensible and a slap in the face of every resident of Edison that taxpayers must fork over $95,000 to a group of Asian Indians who have shown disdain for the people of the United States by making horrible caricatures of Americans at its festival at Middlesex County College… If the mayor and council want to give the money away so badly, let them give it out of their own pockets, nit stealing from taxpayers. I can guarantee that if I played “Amazing Grace” or “Rock of Ages” out of my window at 4 a.m., I would be arrested for disturbing the peace and the mayor wouldnÂ’t be running to my aid with a checkbook.”
I guess what I am trying to say is that I am not surprised, though disgusted again, by it. Edison is an interesting place – a confluence of many socio-economic backgrounds – and recently – a huge mix of races and cultures (desis and mostly Chinese, Korean and Filipino, some Japanese).
“I just heard yesterday that in iceland, you can get thrown in jail for racist remarks.”
That’s wonderful- when we start that here, let’s also tear up the constitution eh?
What a sad thing to hear.
bak, throwing someone in jail for their words and thoughts demeans our own rights, and what’s it going to accomplish but more resentment?
What’s the point of this comment but self-pity and for being a certain color at that? Also, who gives a special damn about all the east-Asians in Jersey?
This is my country, too, and I have every right to be here. Let’s hold our heads up high, and protest these saps.
You would think that there would be less racism in NJ because it is so diverse. But, the opposite might be true.
One of the most racist places that I have been to in the US was in Tom’s River, NJ. Also, I found out there is a good reason there are not many minorities hanging out at Seaside Heights.
These issues need to be addressed, especially when ignorant comments are made.
I grew in the Chicagoland area in a town that is known for its high South Asian population.
There are those who are ignorant and some racist. However, having lived a significant time in these areas, I have to say that the Indian community does not reach out to fellow communty members as well either.
Navratri, India Day parades, and college/highschool shows bring up probably the most visible conflicts. Much of it has to do with how the events are organized and how they affect the surrounding neigborhood. Legitimate complaints exist though.
For example: Cleanliness and noise are issues. After every event, I see the area literally trashed. Now that happens with every big community event, but lets also get our act together and make sure we clean up the mess too. I believe it was in the San Fran bay area that a township decided not to allow another India Day parade because of the horrible mess left afterwards. Anyone, correct me if I am wrong, but the story was published in the San Jose Mercury News and it was quite embarrassing.
More than a few of the large Navratri event (Garba/Rass ROCKS!!) I’ve been to, eventually the police get called because a fight broke out. I know for a fact that several hotels in the Chicago area will not give local ISAs ballrooms to rent out for their formals because fights have broken out and hotel property damaged.
Each time an incident like this happens, it reflects poorly up on us as a whole. The approach should be two fold.
1) Making sure legitmate complaints are dealt with and community concerns alleviated. This takes away any real issue that can be used to push forth a racist agenda.
2) Communicate, educate, and particpate in local community events to ensure ignorant sentiments do not take hold.
3) For those who choose not to listen, well, screw them.
Clarification. I said two fold, while I highlighted three points. The third one was not meant to be #3. It was supposed to be a comment standing by itself.
As Abhi said, the anti-East Asian diatribe in the transcript is much worse:
I used to live in central jersey, right near the oak tree road (little india), currently i reside in south jersey, and i’m starting to see more indians down here as well. Pretty soon the whole state of NJ will be over populated with desis.
From time to time i’ll listen to these guys on 101.5, majority of the time they are making racial remarks against all races, except white. I wouldn’t be suprised if the head n CEO of this radios staion is some kkk leader or nazi.
Generally, wherever i go and if i feel discriminated, i make a stand and fight back and every desi’s should. Recently in Dec, of 2004 i went to Taco Bell drive thru and ordered few things with beans, at first there was female on the other side of the intercom, as soon as i mentioned beans, some do0d came on the intercom took my order in a fobby desi accent. It didn’t occur to me at first that they were mocking the indian accent, when i pulled up to the window to pay the girl there said “Rashad you were right” meaning ya they’re indians. So i told the girl where the guy who took my order, i wanna see him, she’s like why? he’s making your food. [TO MAKE THE LONG STORY SHORT], We went inside and when i go in, all the people making the food where blacks, and the manager was a white female. So i walked in and said “you people (black ppl) should know better then to discriminate” the manager was like get out of my store before i called the cops and some other bs i cuss and yell and walked out. Went home contacted the CEO of Taco Bell, wrote them the letter provided the recipt as proof of me being that, told them what happened word for word and next day or 2, the regional manager called to apologize and turns out the whole Taco Bell at that particualre joint got flagged and they took some action towards the discrimination, I got 1 month of FREE taco bell food, and ya i used it and Abused it.
what right do we have to celebrate diwali,navratri like we do in India? The reason America is a better place is because of the civic responsibilities the culture imbibes.THe only thing the INdian diaspora indulges actively is in population growth and nuisance!! just check out the bay are, nj/edison,ny/queens,chicago… shame and disgust. So all you gripers, shut up for once.
I grew up in New Jersey and this touched a nerve. Yes, they have the right to free speech, but they do not have to right to strip us of our identity and our citizenship! We may be brown but we are still Americans.
Caller: You just said it all, the last couple of Â… callers, I guess they donÂ’t know that they live in America and weÂ’re being overrun. I had just moved out of Edison because of what has happened in the past 10 yearsÂ… Orientals are all along, the whole complete route 27. And Indians have taken over Edison in north and all over.
Caller: I canÂ’t handle them! ThereÂ’s no American people anymoreÂ…Â…
Caller: There shoving us the hell out!
Carton: ItÂ’s like youÂ’re a foreigner in your own country isnÂ’t it?
Caller: You go to own store and you canÂ’t even see American people, you donÂ’t see our own kids, American kids, working in stores anymoreÂ…
Carton: Like the next time you see an American, you think youÂ’ll probably hug him or high five him or something?
I am sick and tired of American meaning white. It’s the same thing with Abercrombie and Fitch’s hiring policy- the “All American” look. My parents have been in this country pretty much their entire adult lives. Yet, at the end of the day my family is still “Indian”, not Indian-American, not American. I am always described as the “little Indian girl.” I know my children, who will be three generations removed from India, will still be considered Indian first, American second. Of course I am very proud of my Indian heritage, my religion, and my culture. I think people need to realize that American does not mean white and Christian. Our names, our holidays, our food, our music have become part of the American melting pot. We are Americans. Get used to it!
we have to start writting letters to sponsers, station managers, and the owners of the station. if we sit here and let people just make these remarks they will go unnoticed by the mass media.
Ironically, these guys bring up some good points… catering to ethnic minorities to win an election (in my opinion) is an act of racism.
Unfortunately, instead of intelligently arguing their cause, the Jersey Guys lose ALL CREDIBILITY by being total racist assholes. How can they complain about politicians only caring about minorities if they themselves only care about white people? These guys are nothing but a bunch of hypocritical biggots.
We are Americans. Get used to it!
there is an easy way to deal with this stuff: when someone asks “where are you from?” just respond where in the US you grew up. i say la grande, OR. east asian americans have had to deal with this stuff for decades, so they have strategies to deal with it. my personal experience is that people get really embarrassed when you respond to them like this.
also, for those not born, but raised, in the USA, i think ayn rand’s quip is a funny rejoinder to xenophobia: “I chose to be an American. What did you ever do, except for having been born?”
Obviously you have never been to Syttende Mai, Oktoberfest, Juneteenth, Cinco De Mayo, St. Patrick’s Day, Mardi Gras and other celebrations in this rich and varied country of ours. If you think that the party area is left in pristine condition after any of these above celebrations, you’ve got another thing coming.
Civic sense aside, let’s get back to the topic of why some people consider themselves American just for being white, and the rest of us should just be shipped off to a parallel dimension.
Obviously you have never been to Syttende Mai, Oktoberfest, Juneteenth, Cinco De Mayo, St. Patrick’s Day, Mardi Gras and other celebrations in this rich and varied country of ours.
all of which reflect badly on the communities in question (if they are associated with any communities) and can be a source for derogatory stereotypes.
Contact info for nj 101.5
Program Director Eric Johnson: ej1015@nj1015.com
New Jersey 101.5 FM Radio PO Box 5698 Trenton, NJ 08638
Fax: 609-406-7956
Their Parent Company is Millennium Radio Group
General Manager – Dan Sullivan dan.sullivan@mrgnj.com
Business office: (609) 645-9797 Fax: (609) 272-9224
Millennium Radio Group 950 Tilton Rd., Suite 200 Northfield, NJ 08225
Well, that’s the crux of the issue, isn’t it? You will almost never hear complaints when a predominantly-white celebration goes out of control. On the other hand, the ones that make the news are those involving black, Hispanic and sometimes Asian people.
The lack of active community/diaspora on your part does not constitute a cultural emergency on mine.
Razib, people make big messes during huge celebrations, reguardless of who the people are. Why then, should they “reflect badly on the communities in question”?
Rahul, Thanks for your comment. As Abhi notes, a bunch of legal organizations are currently formulating our response and will send to the appropriate people.
Quite the blanket statement there. Still, I wasn’t aware that St. Patrick’s Day reflected badly on the Irish. In fact, I can’t think of a single negative popular connotation to St. Patrick’s Day or the parade held in NYC. Same goes for all the other festivals.
Our right to celebrate diwali, navratri and the like is firmly ensconced in the First Amendment’s right to freedom of assembly, as well as generations of caselaw supporting the freedom of religion. Apprise yourself of America’s political and legal history before making obtuse, uninformed statements similar to the ones the fools at 105.1 made. If you would rather play golf with Chad and Theodore than attend a “dirty” Hindoo festival, thats your right, but don’t question anyone else’s rights either, especially in such an uninformed and border-line illiterate manner.
Lets have some collective action here, would the sepia gods (or others) please post email addresses of sponsors, radio station managers, etc. all on one page so we can send the link around? The Hot 97 incident clearly taught that collective action WILL lead to satisfactory results, not to mention a stronger minority community.
.
There isn’t resistance today. What about when the Irish first came to the United States? All immigrants groups go through this when their customs and traditions are new to their host country and are not known in the mainstream.
In any case, bigots need to be challenged. Also, just because other communities have festivals that make a mess (and doesn’t reflect poorly on them) doesn’t mean we can’t clean our act up a little bit.
No harm in ensuring that we hold our side of the bargain up by being responsible.
My family’s been in Kenya (E Africa, really) for the past 100+ years, and people (especially Americans, desi and non-desi) around the world have taken offence to my stating that I am Kenyan not Indian. On the other hand, native Kenyans for the MOST part accept that Asians are just another tribe in Kenya. While this is a reversed situation it highlights the absurd notion that anyone else has the right to dictate your identity or sense of belonging. You belong when you expect to be treated as such.
The amazing thing about America is that there are freedoms celebrated here that should be honoured. Freedom of speech is one of the ones I admire the most because I know what it feels like to live in a country where that is not the case. These idiots have exercised their right to free speech. Now it’s our turn to exercise ours. In a civil manner, of course 🙂
Still, I wasn’t aware that St. Patrick’s Day reflected badly on the Irish. In fact, I can’t th
haha. please, i grew up in a predominantly irish and italian amerian neighborhood when i was a kid in elementary school. i’m sure some of you had the same experience, when the irish would go crazy on pattie’s day, get drunk off their asses and don’t clean up after themselves. the italians, and the few WASPs and jews in our neighborhood, would definitely give looks and some of the older italian guys would complain about the “damn micks.”
my personal experience is that many FOB types (not usually their kids) do not view littering with the same horror as the straight-laced WASPs. this is common, very few groups in the world adhere to the upper-middle-class sensibility that dominates in the west, they have other worries. when i visited bangladesh the attitude toward trash disposal was rather repuslive to my sensibilities. the “white trash” where i used to live in southern oregon were definitely a source of irritation (vocal) for the more well off (usually newcomers) citizens who complained that they didn’t clean up after themselves and what not.
if people make messes after events, they should clean it up. i heard the same stuff from people after patrick’s day parades or the christopher columbus day celebrations (a feature of italian americans in my neighborhood as a kid). the lower-to-lower-middle-class whites in my town in southern oregon would make the same mess on july the 4th.
it’s all about adhering to bourgieos values about public squalor. racism is just an ingrediant thrown into the mix.
so there are two issues
a) racism is bad
b) but many immigrants come from societies where basic survival is more important than the “smaller things in life,” so they don’t have the habits. i wouldn’t be surprised if they make a bigger mess because they don’t see the problem.
on the second question, check this out: Tension Over Immigration and the Future of the Environmental Movement.
I am so with you sunset
p.s. some of my korean american friends, though not FOBs, but very insulated i their ethnic-religious group (korean american evangelicals) would joke to me that they didn’t recycle, “it was a white thing.” though i don’t ever see this happening with south asians (probably because many people from hindu backgrounds don’t have a hard time transitioning toward valuing the intangible elements of nature and public spaces because of preexisting religious bias in that direction), i do think some of the differences between groups, on both race and class, when it comes to public decorum are real and we shouldn’t just dismiss it.
“Quite the blanket statement there. Still, I wasn’t aware that St. Patrick’s Day reflected badly on the Irish. In fact, I can’t think of a single negative popular connotation to St. Patrick’s Day or the parade held in NYC. Same goes for all the other festivals.”
St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in all major cities here in the US are a headache for police departments and they are viewed by residents of the communities where they take place to be a nuisance. Real Irish people (those born in Ireland) actually are not too fond of the way the holiday is celebrated here. Have you attended a St. PatrickÂ’s Day celebration? Green beer, fights “Fuck Me, IÂ’m Irish buttons on lapels”, bagpipes, pissing in alleyways and throwing up on steps are de rigueur.
Any big event such as a street fair or parade requires the group to obtain a permit. Depending on the locality there might be fees for cleanup by the local sanitation department afterwards. Come and visit Brooklyn in September. One of the largest parades in the city of NY takes place in Brooklyn – the West Indian Day Parade, and guess what, the streets are spotless (as much as a NYC street can be spotless) a few hours after the parade. Same goes for large street fairs (see for example, The Atlantic Antic in Brooklyn which attracts about 500,000 people.). All the trash and debris are cleaned up by the NYSD in a matter of hours. I am sure the city foots part of the bill, but the rest is probably borne by the organizers of the parade.
Enlighten me, for I have never attended a Navratri parade/event. What exactly do they do? Smear masala dosas on store windows (mmm, masala dosas – yes I am being sarcastic).
About the only parade that goes off without a hitch every year is the NYC PRIDE Parade, maybe all the parties involved would get some pointers by attending this summer. IÂ’ll be there with my go-go boy hot pants on. See you there!
Hmm, uncharitable (and un-pc thoughts) I had reading this post:
What, like they should talk – did their ancestors come in on the Mayflower?
They are obviously as intelligent as they are attractive.
(Sorry, sorry, apologies all around! I shouldn’t lower my standards, just because they have none. Jeebus. E-mail and write away, one and all……remember, as the SMers cautioned the last time this happened (sigh) civility tends to get better results 🙂 )
Responding to vurdlife :”Our right to celebrate diwali, navratri and the like is firmly ensconced in the First Amendment’s right to freedom of assembly, as well as generations of caselaw supporting the freedom of religion” The crux of every racist reaction lies in the dominatory postures adopted by various ethnic cultures,almost all from a third-world domain.SO, when you see a kirpan in school, how soon before someone asks for a bazooka jsut because his religion deems it necessary??? You have to arise from this shallow circumcised view point of enforcing amendments. India itself suffers from such ethinc “rights” with noise, population,pollution; all stemming from each individual’s desire to celeberate his/her “rights” in full blast!! THe problem this nation faces today is not terrorism but the very same dirt-cheap livlihood culture that ethinc communities import here . Everyone of us is to blame when one day people here vote another Lallu and another 10 million citizens are banished to vaporware!!
The broad point of these radio commenters is right, although it may sound ‘racist’. Why is that civilized countries are ruled by white man? Why is that is there is utter lack of civlization in non-white world? For example, India was better off when British were ruling Now look at all the chaos when Indians are ruling. Sir Winston Churchill was so right when he said that Indians were not capable for self-rule. America should rethink its immigration policy.
This is a sad example of blatant racism that has cropped up in America lately. With bad policy desicions made by those in washington. Regular joe shmoe’s feel threatened and scared at the prospect of losing their jobs to those willing to do it for less.
The only outlet they have is to blame those different than them because they are unable to take a stand against the REAL people who cause the problem of their misfortunes in the first place. Its always easier to blame those that look different first.
But I agree that action is required here. Most radio stations work off advertisement. When you call or write to complain MENTION that you will boycott their advertisers as well as their station. The prospect of losing business is the biggest fear the ‘mainstream media’ has at this point. Tell them you and your friends and your family will tell everyone they know to boycott those companies that choose to advertise with 101.5. Racial discrimination (no matter what race) will and should not be tolerated or ignored.
Nirad: I don’t even know where to begin with your comment You’re suggesting America CLOSE ITS BORDERS?? Rethink immigration??? Do you KNOW what this country was founded on? and to even QUOTE Winston Churchill only shows how ignorant you are to the real man that he was. Do some history reading please: http://www.antiwar.com/spectator/spec280.html find out what your buddy Churchill was all about.
Riiiiggghhhhttt. Millions protested, fought, and died because living was great in colonial India. Talk about revisionist history.
Hypocracies exist on both side of the aisle. For any relationship to work, both sides have to make adjustments. Indians cannot live exactly in the same way as they do in India. Nor can locals reject any new infusion of cultural exchange out of fear and ignornace.
In 1770, India accounted for 27% of the world GDP. By 1947 that dropped to less than 2%. Nice work Brits…
You is right is, white man best is.
“1. What, like they should talk – did their ancestors come in on the Mayflower?”
Aren’t we forgetting the original Americans? Indians of another sort, ironically…
Please don’t feed the trolls (Mr. ‘White Man’s Burden’).
Why do I have the feeling that this “raj” guy isn’t really Indian? Although I think I’ll take Administrator’s advice on not feeding the troll (thereby hijacking this thread), I could gladly (and rather easily) give raj’s white supremacist logic a nice boot in the ass if I wanted to. In fact, I’m sure a majority Mutineers could do the same. We should just be adults about it and ignore his childish ranting.
To all those complaining about racism and discrimination:
Have you ever been denied a job/house because of racism? Been treated as an ignorant foreigner in school or college?
Sure there are stupid bigots in America. But get a grip on this discrimination thing. Indian-Americans are NOT being victimized here.
To BanglaWarrior The very fact that you post no justification to the misconduct of ethnic communities demonstrates a lack of maturity and farsightedness. And thinking iam not an Indian is a joke on your post. If you cant debate on points I raised, I suggest you kick your own butt. To make myself clear, Iam mad as hell about racism neither do I believe in color supremacy. My point is that none of the posters seem to realize the moot issue that is causing this racial divide.The adoption by ethnic communities of belligerent postures related to cultural identity will only further the divide and misconcept.
Boo…Yah… Could you please give me a link to where you got the 27% GDP statistic. I find it very interesting.
These appeasement / second-order effect arguments are really weak. Saffronists said ‘stand down’ over the Modi visa, nawabs said ‘don’t rock the boat’ during Indian independence, the Tories said ‘don’t piss off the Brits’ in Lexington, 1776. Every single time, they’ve won themselves the Darwin Awards.
‘Turn the other cheek’ only works in the movies. Even the Gandhian nonviolence movement had a canny strategy at its center.
These issues usually arise not due to the misconduct of ethnic communities but rather out of xenophobia. To stand down then is reflexive nihilism.
To reach for anything less than full and fair treatment is to treat yourself as a tenant rather than a citizen. It’s fine if you plan on making your dollars and leaving, but unambitious if you’re putting down roots.
‘nirad’ makes a point to call Churchill as “Sir” Winston Churchill. I think that poster is just a flamer .. but if it were genuine … it would have shown interesting psychology !!!
“To reach for anything less than full and fair treatment is to treat yourself as a tenant rather than a citizen. It’s fine if you plan on making your dollars and leaving, but unambitious if you’re putting down roots.” If you are discriminated,passed racist remarks or denied existing rights due to your ethnicity,that,my friend, is a crime.If you are complaining about not able to spit or enjoy bursting crackers that is a crime too, but against the state.So what is the utopian state you long for. One where you are responsible citizen living in a clean and civilized society or a million-religion community with each other grabbing for the other’s windpipe.India is a practical example of community gone wild.britain is closely following.now the US. If you want to adopt another nation as your home for what it promises you with a better life, you better adapt to its civic sense. Being a citizen means enjoying all the privilages and rights the existing community enjoys;not enjoying what you think is your own right.
Al M, I am quoting from memory. The book I read this statistic was David S. Landes’ (harvard historian) “The Wealth and Poverty of Nations”. In that book he mentions China’s share of the world GDP was around 30% around that time.