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p>This past week, I flew in and out of NYC for a conference on the civic engagement of immigrant youth, which incidently, also included U.S.-born to immigrant parents. Considering the political climate this month, this roundtable was very interesting to be a part of. Electoral youth organizing is something I’ve been doing for the past 8 years, and working on the civic engagement of desi youth has been my passion for the past few years. In 2004, the youth vote turned out in significant successful numbers, as well as the South/Asian American youth vote.
According to the Youth Vote 2004 Fact Sheet released by CIRCLE, no other age group increased turnout by more than 5 percentage points. The 2004 campaign brought out the largest percentage of young voters in 32 years. Studies suggest that once a young person is involved in the political process, they are more likely to continue to be involved in it. 35.5 percent of 18- to 25-year-old Asian American citizens turned out to vote in 2004, the largest percentage since data started being collected in 1972. [link]
Couple of the big questions asked, and the ones I keep mulling over is, “What is civic engagement? What is political?” Though the traditional ideas are out there of voting and volunteering, there is a whole ‘alternative’ form of civic engagement that youth today take part in.
Back in our grandparents’ generation, being “political” meant you had to go to a rally or a protest, or join a union. Today’s youth has a whole new definition, according to this survey; 22 percent have worn a wristband, 36 percent have signed an online petition, and 30 percent have written an email or letter advocating a position. Eighteen percent have contributed to a political blog. i.e., 918,000 young people are “political bloggers,” which is fascinating since the blogs are a product of only the past few years. 34 percent of [college youth] say they turn to blogs [to get their news].[link]
I was thinking about this when I received Jeff Yang’s newsletter this week, where he referred to Sepia Mutiny as a political community blog. SM is a virtual space that is an interactive forum where people get the news of our community, debate about pertinent issues important to us, and I’ll be the first to admit when researching the South Asian American diaspora for SAAVY or for reports, this blog is the first one that I come to. To me, reading, commenting, being a part of the Sepia Mutiny virtual community is a form of civic engagement, and in that sense is a real political space. Truly, this space is revolutionary in every sense of the word.
Yes mutineers, my time as Sepia Mutiny Temporary Super Star has come to an end, and at midnight I will be released from the North Dakota bunker and sadly back into the real world. Trust when I say that I have had an amazing time being a part of the faces to the right, and engaging in conversations with mutineers around the world. As a South Asian American organizer, I felt that this month has given me a deep insight into the very community that I’m politicizing and personally have learned so much from the experience. But just because I’m leaving the blog doesn’t mean I will be leaving you- in fact, it’s fueled my passion even further and I am reinvigorated to continue doing the work I do with South Asian American Voting Youth (SAAVY), work I hope you’ll join me in. We are always looking for volunteers (wink, wink!) and you can always join our listeserv to get networked in.
Thanks everyone, it has been a blast. Go vote, and be mutinous.
girl, you represented nicely.
To the powers that be,
Why for heaven’s sake Taaz and neha be declared legal (or documented) residents of this blog ?
That will be a pleasent change from preponderance of hirsute males
Taz,
Your posts on immigration were thought provoking. I do not happen to agree with your position but thanks for the opportunity.
Regards
That will be a pleasent change from preponderance of hirsute males
hm. you know, since you said hirsute males, one could infer that you haven’t eliminated neha & taz from hirsutitude (i.e., they could be hirsute females). and have been checking manish’s flickr account or what?
Taz,
May the force be with you.
PS: No plagarizing there, originally yoda (one of my forefathers) said it before me
can’t think of anything appropriately geeky now that Kush Tandon has uttered the magic words
Your posts have been informative and thought provoking. Thanks Taz, and all the best!
Taz for permanent SM blogging!
Razeeb (3#)
While the discussion is very interestng (from purely intellectual motives ofcourse), my modesty forbids me from discussing the ladies (lest I be accused of being a lecher male).
I did not know that Mr Vij had a flicker account, but my assumption is that being of punjabi ancestory he will be hairy.
Taz
While I do not know about Americans, Indians are invetrate gossips as far as politics and social matters is concerned, most famous being “Adda” (Bengali) and “Tekri ” ( Marathi)
Regards
Regards
In fact, we even export our body hair to Kerala, where some males stand hairless in shame-shame. They pay us in coconuts 😉
but my assumption is that being of punjabi ancestory he will be hairy.
isn’t that racial profiling???
at least punjabi dudes don’t have to by scarves and sweaters 🙂
Razeeb (8#)
It is! The only recourse that I see is to order shameless males without hair to go for hair transplant.
I think this thread is not about hair or males, this thread about Taz, let us not steal the thunder and deny the glory to lady.
Regards
taz rox! girl, you showed us some brownitude 🙂
I had to look up what hirsute means, but now that i know… I am not a hirsute female! 🙁 What is it with hair on this blog…?
taz, non-bengali browns don’t have our dollop of eastern hairlessness.
p.s., so i’ve heard.
Loved your insightful posts Taz.
I second Taz for permanent SM blogging!
Oh Taz, please say it’s not so!
I’ll admit, I was a bit skeptical when you first started your guest stay a month ago, but after you conistently broght good thought provoking articles, and offered a female perspective on them, I have grown to enjoy your blogging more than almost anyone else on the Mutiny crew. Is there any way we could lobby to have you instated as a full time mutineer?
At the very least you should open your own blog so we can continue to enjoy your contributions to the south asian community!
Thanks everyone! But do you realize how much time I spent on SM blogs? Maybe I write slow but I spent a good 2-3 hours a day on it, and research papers, saavy, and work all took a backseat this month. I have to spend a decent amount of time catching up on real world work now. I have mad respect for the permanent bloggers on here that are able to juggle real full time jobs, lives, and blogging. Thanks though. It’s not me you’d be lobbying, anyways…(wink!)
Hmm… Huh. What? 😉
Thanks for the fablogging, Taz. So long, farewell, auf weidersehn, good night!
Hmm, does this mean that SAVVY will be updated more frequently and we can get the Taz fix there?
I enjoyed reading your stuff. Thank you.
Guys
It is superb that you have Amardeep and Siddhartha as permanent bloggers but the truth is that SM is now really really top heavy with men – and with the only permanent female mutineer being ANNA I submit that it would be brilliant to have more female perspective.
Guys
The truth is that SM is now really really top heavy with humans – and with the only permanent animal mutineers being the SMU I submit that it would be brilliant to have more cat blogger perspective. Also, more socialists, neocons, Martians and people with no hands. We haven’t heard their special and unique perspectives yet.
In fact, since everyone is unique, we must not rest until every brown person on earth is a Mutineer. Into that heaven of freedom let my people awake.
Taz, great job, insightful and well-researched posts! And whether or not Taz can do it – please, yes, more women as permanent bloggers! It’s a bit testosteroney in here.
to anandos…wow, is someone else from mangalore?
that’s the first time i’ve seen someone use that name on this site! sorry random momentary excitement…
but Taz,
you will be v sorely missed and your contributions were so appreciated by lil tiny blog commenter me. you can see how much people liked reading your work if people with polar opposite political views took the time as I now will to:
bow down
keep going with your activism and everything you’re doing in politics. you are one very intelligent, passionate and articulate blogger. oh and you made someone from NZ (me) hooked onto this blog, the only way someone can top that for geographical distance is to convince a creature living in Antarctica to brownify themselves into becoming a mutineer.
Good Luck sista!
Toodle pip Taz, I barely knew ye. Sorry I missed much of your stint but stick around. Here’s my gift to you – I’m South Asian and I’m voting this week! (admittedly in the British local elections which don’t concern you in the slightest, but still)
Sorry to see you go, Taz. You did a great job.
we’ll miss you taz!
Aww Taz my brown sista that was too short lived. Thank you for gracing us and enlightening us and making us all fight and argue for a better understanding of the world. I will miss your very thought provoking posts.
Great posts. Taz for President.
Taz! Don’t go!
barmaid for prez. -thanks taz-
Thanks you, Taz. We’ve never had a blogger quite like you and your posts were very popular. Also, much grateful appreciation for getting my six. I was unable to do the needed, you graciously stepped in, so I didn’t have to.
… in the thought provoking sense. .
I wish I knew how to quit you, Taz.
Hey Taz – thanks for the thought provoking blogs. See you in the comments!
Thanks for the great posts Taz. You more than quardrupeled evereyone’s interest in politics and (piercings) and made SM more addicting than it already was. The LA meetup added a nice touch as well. Stay in touch.
-Payal
You’re awesome, Taz. Your passion is inspiring. Best of luck with SAVVY, school and all else!
Aww Taz – thanks for making April an especially rabble-rousing month in the world of online mutineering!
Make Taz permanent!!!!!!!!!
Hear hear! Your posts really brought out a lot of great comments and great threads all around. Way to rouse the rabble!
Permanent for sure. Why, just look at how popular her posts were – unprecedented, I would say. Congratulations on a wonderful, thought-provoking run.
thanks for the good work taz. loved your posts…
Awww! Already?! No way. 🙁
Well, look me up next time you want to take in some bay area punk rock, milady!
Shucks, Taz, the furry pink walls around here just won’t be the same 🙁 Thanks for the wicked posts, much love and respect.
Muchas muchas gracias Taz!!
I loved your posts. Nicely done 🙂
hasta, Rupa
Yes, even a cranky f@#k like me has to admit that he liked your posts 🙂 Good luck with everything and hope you’re back soon.
I loved your stint here, Taz. Much love homegirl.
This is what happens when you let Ennis do the interior decorating. So many “fabulous” Mutineers. If these guys were “flaming” any more, you’d need to dial 911 and call the firefighters.
wink
Taz I hope you managed to escape the notorious SM “exit interview”, which involves dupattas, handcuffs, mango chutney, and being subjected to 3 hours of the theme tunes of the Saas-Bahu serials “Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhie Bahu Thi” and “Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki” (one in each ear of the headphones) playing on a continuous loop. They should use that as a refined “Granada invasion” strategy and play that at full volume on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, it would result in OBL surrendering by sunset.
Ok, hold up. Not only are there SM corporate cards that I wasn’t given, but there are exit interviews as well that I wasn’t given??? With Mango CHUTNEY??? How did I miss all of this??? Seriously, there’s so much untapped secrets to the mutiny I that one month hardly covered.
Thanks for the kind words everyone- I’ll keep on writing in other places in cyber space, not to worry…!
And who knows, I may run for president… 😉
taz, you rocked. you said so much that was on my mind. thanks for your spunk, creativity, and flair. love saavy. rock on girlfriend, rock on.