Here we go again:
They have funny accents, occasionally dress in strange outfits, and some wear turbans and grow beards, yet Indians have been able to overcome stereotypes to become the U.S.’s most successful immigrant group.
Another season, another self-congratulatory article about desis as a model minority. At least this piece — by “BusinessWeek.com columnist and accomplished businessman” Vivek Wadhwa — drops the M-bomb from the outset. It’s titled “Are Indians the Model Immigrants?” and after the self-exoticizing intro (funny accents! strange outfits! turbans!), goes through the usual recital of achievements: median household income, hotel ownership, doctors and academics (sans supporting data), Indra Nooyi. All of which leads to this burning question:
Census data show that 81.8% of Indian immigrants arrived in the U.S. after 1980. They received no special treatment or support and faced the same discrimination and hardship that any immigrant group does. Yet, they learned to thrive in American society. Why are Indians such a model immigrant group?
I’ll let you read the article to find out the incredibly profound answers, which Wadhwa offers “in the absence of scientific research” (i.e., by pulling out of his butt) and “as an Indian immigrant” who has “had the chance to live the American dream.” You’ll learn, for instance, that such uniquely Indian traits as education, family values, humility, and “determination to overcome obstacles” account for the community’s great fortune. But let’s jump to Wadhwa’s 12th and final explanation:
12. Integration and acceptance. The Pew Global Attitudes Project, which conducts worldwide public opinion surveys, has shown that Indians predominantly hold favorable opinions of the U.S. When Indians immigrate to the U.S, they usually come to share the American dream and work hard to integrate.
Indians have achieved more overall business success in less time in the U.S. than any other recent immigrant group. They have shown what can be achieved by integrating themselves into U.S. society and taking advantage of all the opportunities the country offers.
Again, this last claim (more success in less time) is devoid of any supporting data, let alone its assumptions about the meaning of “success,” but hey, fuzzy math is only one of the characteristics of the “model minority” argument, which also trots out sociological traits that are somehow supposed to be specific to the group in question, and doggedly avoids any contrary evidence. But what makes the argument noxious isn’t so much the grab-my-nuts boosterism or even the total disregard for socio-economic difference within the community in question (dirty laundry for us to hash out in places like this blog), but the implied statements about other immigrant or ethnic groups, which, if they are not as “successful” as Indians are, must therefore be inherently lacking in the bootstraps department. After all, Indians “received no special treatment” and “faced the same discrimination and hardship that any immigrant group does,” yet “they learned to thrive in American society.”
Those who wish to engage these assertions on the issues might start with the fact that selective immigration policies aimed to brain-drain skilled professionals into the US is very much “special treatment” from the get-go. I’m sure that claim about Indians having faced the same discrimination as “any immigrant group” could use a little data-driven scrutiny too.
Still, Wadhwa has done us all a favor, by deploying the “model minority” argument in such candid fashion. We know these views are prevalent in some sections of the community; now we have a complete statement of the case and its underlying logic. You be the judge. All I can say is: Macaca, Please!
Macacas rule. There I had to get post #1.
-Russell Baker
Applies to some desis I know too 🙂 ….
siddhartha, I saw this CSPAN thing with Bill Cosby, and an editor ? from the Washington Post and a bunch of other African American leaders in DC. They talked about what they could do as a community to improve things for young African American men, in particular – and they had two great kids talk who’ve made it out of rough neighborhoods talk about what allowed them to ‘make it. They each had a strong parent as a role model and they each had a parent who stressed education. They were able to say no to a lot of nonsense because of this. It wasn’t easy. Go back and look at that list: he starts with education, with family values and stresses community networks. Make fun all you want – it’s a model that would work in any community. It’s harder in some than in others, for sure. The deck was stacked in a good way for Indian immigration to the states. But don’t pooh-pooh all of it.
If you stay in school, if you don’t have kids when you can’t afford them (monitarily or emotionally), if you have a strong community network and strong beliefs in yourself, you can accomplish a lot.
It’s harder in some than in others, for sure. The deck was stacked in a good way for Indian immigration to the states. But don’t pooh-pooh all of it.
I think a lot has to do with the type of Indian immigrants who come to the US. I am pretty sure if the desi construction industry diaspora was to be shipped over to North American, the results would be different.
Yeah, I thought the “humility” part was kind of ironic. His paper basically read, “Here are ten reasons why me and my peeps are better than everyone else. On top of all these wonderful qualities we have, we’re humble about it.” Really?
I meant if the desi construction industry diapora was shipped over to North American from the Gulf, the results will be different.
Having been born and raised here with 7-11 camel jockeys, and then apu, being pricipally iconic of Indian-Americans, I welcome the long overdue correction. Is it excessive? Yes. But imo, necessary.
MD, this notion that Black people care insufficiently about education, family and community gets on my very last nerve, whether it’s coming from model-minority types or from the so-called African American leaders, who are a sorry bunch. Sorry to generalize, but if we are generalizing, white people in this country could learn a hell of a lot from black folks about family and community values. As for education, you give me a school funding system that delinks resources from property taxes and/or evens out resource allocation across metropolitan areas, and i’ll give you a hell of a lot of educated Black people, not to mention Latinos and working-class whites. Some people are scared by that prospect, including the so-called leaders.
I think the Mexicans share the same family values, networking, sticking up for each other, community etc. Also Mexico happens to have a per capita income almost 20 times than that of India. Still the Mexicans are not faring off too well. A lot of this has to do with the type of Mexicans who cross over the border and the type of Indians who fly over to the US. Some people have made the point that the Mexicans because of their large numbers donÂ’t have similar incentives to learn English etc. and hence their relative poverty. I donÂ’t really buy the argument because the Cubans in Miami are doing quite well with similar numbers. In the Mexican case, a lot has to do with the fresh supply of the most desperately poor labor coming in through the borders every day. Before the Clinton years, a lot of the migrant labor also could come in and then go back to Mexico after the season and that was a disincentive for the migrant labor to take a long term approach to living in the US.
“They have funny accents, occasionally dress in strange outfits, and some wear turbans and grow beards, yet Indians have been able to overcome stereotypes to become the U.S.Â’s most successful immigrant group.”
not being either gung-ho anti model minority or pro-model minority, i’ll just say this: apparently, given the above line, some indians haven’t been able to overcome stereotypes and, in a fit of insecurity and perhaps attempted humour, feel the need to reinforce them by trotting them out, thus showing others they have indeed assimilated and integrated by viewing themselves as others see them. sadly, i’ve had the misfortune to meet a couple of these types. although to be fair to the author, i think i understand what he’s trying to say with that line, but it just rankles nonetheless.
Siddhartha, thanks for a great post.
and this i like even more than your original post:
Hear! Hear!
On a tangent: Didn’t Survivor (Race Wars edition) air yesterday? Was it as insufferable as expected?
Also Mexico happens to have a per capita income almost 20 times than that of India.
Not true, its more like 3.3:1. 10,000 vs. 3100 (use purchasing power parity). Also about 50% of Mexico’s wealth is controlled by the top 25 families.
It was another of those perfect northern California days. In Macacavale, right off Lawrence expressway and 101, Macaca-dad piled Macaca-kid in the child-seat and slammed the door of his 2001 Toyota Corolla DX. Don’t be a naughty boy he drawled in a TNagar-meets-Dallas accent.
He then patiently waited for Macaca-mom and Macaca-wife to join him on their weekly trip to the Macaca grocery store. Damn what was taking them so long. As it is, he was irritated by the fact that the damn module wasn’t compiling. The bugs were driving him crazy. Maybe it’s time I stop coding and move on to program management he thought.
But those damn program management roles were so hard to come by these days. As it is, his job had been Bangalored three times already. Ah well he mused- at least I have a job. Just then Macaca-wife and Macaca-mom came out. “Saari huni we got held up” his wife intoned in her Cuddalore-meets-well-Cuddalore accent.
As the white Corolla DX headed down Lawrence expressway, they passed row upon row of Macaca houses. From near and afar came a cacophony of noises-Carnatic music playing, a SUN TV newscast, pressure cookers whistling. In his car, Macaca-dad adjusted his 80$ ray bans, turned up his power windows and turned on 101.3 K101 to drown out the noise.
When was the last time I interacted with a non-Macaca he wondered? I work in a Macaca body shopping company. I shop in a Macaca grocery store. I drive 15 miles to watch Macaca movies in Macaca theater in Macacamont. The 7-11 guy and the gas station attendant are Macaca. My neighbors are Macaca. Even my son’s classmates are all Macacas.
They were able to say no to a lot of nonsense because of this. It wasn’t easy. Go back and look at that list: he starts with education, with family values and stresses community networks. Make fun all you want – it’s a model that would work in any community
Thats bull shit. The problem with American education has as much to do with the way the funding is set up for public schools as it has to do with self-blame. Have you seen the resources the urban schools operate on? I am surprised that anyone can graduate from those schools. The State/Federal government need to maintain some parity in public schools across the nation. The poor will not have a half ass decent chance at success if the schools as long as the schools are funded by area property taxes.
“As for education, you give me a school funding system that delinks resources from property taxes and/or evens out resource allocation across metropolitan areas, and i’ll give you a hell of a lot of educated Black people, not to mention Latinos and working-class whites. Some people are scared by that prospect, including the so-called leaders.”
Amen! Education, community networks etc – We’d all like to believe these are all you need. But when you aren’t getting an equal access to education, funding, loans, housing etc, you don’t even begin to acknowledge basic needs. History is what separates the plight of a black person versus the plight of an immigrant. I know that alot of people will say, “but now things are different” blah blah – well, it’s not that simple. Please don’t use the Indian community, or any other community as a model of what the African American community should be. We would love to believe that if you “work hard” you can do anything – but the truth is, you get ALOT OF HELP from people along the way, whether it be your parents, or people of the same background who interviewed you for your first job, or someone in your community who gave you a good reference. And, let’s face it, African Americans are outed from these beneficial social networks more often than not. That’s not saying that immigrants are “in” – our parents had their fair share of grief and discrimination. The reasons they “prevailed” are more complex than this “humble” story.
I had a philosophy T.A. who tried to convince our group that if Jewish people prevailed in light of everything else, so should african americans. I didn’t have the ammunition to argue with him at the time – I was ignorant – but something didn’t sit right with me and I sought out information to better educate myself. He was a bigot – I can’t believe he was a T.A.
Siddhartha, very well struck. Respect!
Some people who taste a little success tend to completely forget their solidarity with those whose conditions they share. Because, let’s face it, all this talk of “discrimination and hardship” and “no special treatment” is a pointed reference to African-Americans (and, to a lesser extent Latino Americans). “I worked hard, why can’t they?” This is the mentality that leads a lot of desis to make lower taxes their political priority. This is why a recently Americanized desi will get up and support George Allen.
The very idea of “model minority” implies that there’s a right way and a wrong way to being a minority. Self-congratulation by those who’re doing it right, sneers at those minorities who are perceived to be doing it wrong.
That’s why a recent commenter could ask you, Siddhartha, what the hell you are doing living in Harlem. What the hell are you doing in Harlem? The shared history of enforced migration, or indentured labor, of Satyagraha, what’s all that to you?
What our “model minority” brothers and sisters see is that they have “taken advantage of all America has to offer,” and if history and societal structure make it impossible for others to be the same, sucks to be them.
That solidarity with those that suffer, the very solidarity that gave India the moral high ground against the British, has it made it over with Indian immigrants to the US? No doubt, yes. In some cases. But just what does the modern day Mutiny consist of? Lower taxes? Admission to medical school?
The work for social justice that many desis are doing in the US is being undone by others. Divide and rule is still in full effect.
Not true, its more like 3.3:1. 10,000 vs. 3100 (use purchasing power parity).
I stand corrected. I took the Mexican $10,000 based on PPP and India’s $500 at face value, so the 20:1. How much is India’s per capita income at PPT?
“The work for social justice that many desis are doing in the US is being undone by others. Divide and rule is still in full effect.”
This is very f’n frustrating. My sister puts long hours into social justice research and presentation. One young man, of a visible minority background came out and said, “I attend X school, and I feel there was no discrimination”. This is all it took to negate my sister (and her coalition’s) statiscially valid research. One, ignorant statement by someone who did not look into the facts, numbers, details, history of the matter. Let me assure you, the administration applauded him for his “brave admission” and he felt great about it.
Of course they care, siddhartha, when did I say they did not? Calm down and think rationally about what I am saying. Are you saying that everything is hunky dory in all communities? That there are communities we shouldn’t care about? I wasn’t talking about an expensive African American upper middle class Atlanta community with mansions on every block and trust-funds and demographics that make desis look poor. I was talking about a poor DC community. Sheesh. You know, I could actually just give a shit about communities that are struggling.
Vouchers, I say. Vouchers. Why shouldn’t parent’s have a choice? The evidence that African American parents care is the overwhelming support for vouchers.
One of my best friends in Chicago is a teacher in a public school: the teachers can barely read, the superintendent has embezzled in the past and still can’t get fired and lives up north in a ritzy suburb and the kids go home to lousy family dynamics and walk through neighborhoods infested with crime. We are failing these kids and I don’t want to waste another generation because we can’t manage to get public education right after how much money and how many years? DC spends a lot of money – it’s just thrown down the crapper into badly managed public schools.
Elements of this have been mentioned before (in the EPIC THREAD), such as when I summarized Vijay Prasad’s take on the model minority myth — namely, the way that it’s deployed by the media against African-Americans. Wadhwa plays into that.
Very good points, metric. In addition, I’d add that the mass slavery of blacks in America is a uniquely appalling historical event. It’s hardly surprising that a mere sixty years after full legal equality, things aren’t quite sweet and rosy.
In the early nineteenth century, one in every five people in New York City was African-American. And they were all slaves. In other words, they were treated exactly like farm animals, and had been for several hundred years.
Those of us whose parents were not born in the US can hardly begin to understand what that means in terms of damage to the psyche. There’s your humility.
Vouchers, I say. Vouchers. Why shouldn’t parent’s have a choice? The evidence that African American parents care is the overwhelming support for vouchers.
Because vouchers are only a choice for the affluent. Also the vouchers will mean that the relatively affluent kids will leave the schools as part of their private school tuition would be funded by the voucher pay back. The vouchers donÂ’t cover the whole cost of tuition in private schools, so only those kids will leave public schools who can afford to pony out the additional amount to make up the difference between the vouchers and the private school tuition. This leaves the pubic school now with even poorer kids and fewer resources. How will this help the public school system? Also most private schools where vouchers can be used are of religious denomination (up to 98%). So the choice in practical terms is only limited to religious Christian, Jewish and Islamic schools.
MD, I didn’t say that you said that they don’t care. I said that the argument espoused by the Cosbys of the world includes the notion that African Americans today care insufficiently about education, family, community. It’s very much a moral argument, even if it also acknowledges economics. You are referring to those arguments approvingly, and you yourself go on to say:
so it seems fair to say that you are least partially endorse the argument, no? As for rich black folks in Atlanta suburbs, no, I wasn’t talking about them either, and I don’t know where you got that I was. I’m taling about the ‘hood, you’re talking about the ‘hood. We just clearly have very different diagnoses of the problem, and different solutions to offer. Finally, when you say:
I simply don’t understand what you are talking about. Care to clarify?
As for strong community networks, that is what I am saying! Indians get a lot of help from extended family. That’s just what I’m saying. What’s so controversial about that? It is totally different being African American, I don’t for a second believe you don’t get discriminated against, but what the hell is wrong with stressing certain basic facts? That isn’t pitting anyone against anyone. Those two kids, regardless of their color, got out of a tough spot because of good parenting and paying attention to education. They didn’t go to voucher schools. They were in a rough neighborhood. Why can’t we look to their experience? Why negate it?
siddhartha, I’m too busy to make a decent comment. Let me put it this way: I care very much about poor children who are failed by their families, their communities, their society and their government. WE may have different solutions to the problem, but I care very much. You know I’ve seen those kids (or adult versions) autopsied okay? THe one I remember the most at the Cook County morgue was of a young man who killed himself in jail. His personal notes were all about how his mother wanted to abort him, how he never felt any love, how he could never get a break. That breaks my damn heart.
Tangentially: Siddhartha, I actually agree with Cosby’s argument. When your house is on fire, it’s a bad time to start arguing about whether it was arson or accidental. I don’t think he (of all people) misunderstands the enormity of the past, and its bearing on the present. What he’s saying is that, the house is burning and help is not forthcoming from without. Painful stuff, but it needs to be out there. I’m not feeling Dyson at all.
OK, back to desis.
What a load of macaca crap. It never ceases to amaze me how Indians insist on perpetuating this model minority nonsense. When you start out with one billion people, and take out a small group of the brightest (the most educated) and others who may be less educated, but are nonetheless risktakers by virture of wanting to immigrate to a new place, you will end up with a successful group.
BTW, I wonder if that Montreal nutjob who shot up all those people is in our model minority.
Is it just me or do many of MD’s arguments end with the topic of autopsies? 🙂
Indians get a lot of help from extended family. That’s just what I’m saying. What’s so controversial about that? It is totally different being African American
Because Indians come from a country where the state cannot provide anything period. In Western Industrialized democracies, assimilated people over time will usually stop relying on families because there is no need for that.
“Those two kids, regardless of their color, got out of a tough spot because of good parenting and paying attention to education. They didn’t go to voucher schools. They were in a rough neighborhood. “
The few individuals who “prevaill” or “get out” are exceptions – while inspirational, these kinds of stories are excuses to keep things the way the are, rather than giving kids in these rough neighbourhoods equal opportunity as a kid in a rich, white neighbourhood. We can expect everyone to be exceptional! Not everyone can be, by way of genetics and other factors. There are limited resources to these communities, that is impossible for only a small handful of kids to even get to prove they are exceptional. And I would even venture that alot of exceptional, talented, gifted kids aren’t making it because of a lack of resources.
Yet, we accept a kid who grew up in a safe white, high class neighbourhood who “succeeds” inspite of a lack of any kind of exceptional qualities – and we’ll say he’s GREAT and so hardworking to boot.
What are you talking about? Who is negating their experience? Where have I written that good parenting and education aren’t good things? Of course they are good things! My point is that there is a very prevalent argument out there that poor people, especially poor black people, are somehow lacking in those qualities. It’s a noxious argument that sets up a lot of bad public policy. Whether I hear it from Bill Cosby, Louis Farrakhan, Vivek Wadhwa or yourself is immaterial. I think that all those people are severely underestimating the effect on poor communities of disinvestment in public education (among other factors. The “War on drugs” and revoving door prison system doesn’t help either.). It’s an honest disagreement, so there’s no need for you to “sheesh” me or insinuate that I don’t think you care about the disadvantaged. Rather condescending of you, actually.
When you throw more money at education, everything gets fixed. Its as simple as that. 8 year olds need a laptop computer and those poorer sections of society where 8 yr olds cant afford laptops are going to stay behind. Its simple. Mo’ money Less problem !!!
When you throw more money at education, everything gets fixed. Its as simple as that. 8 year olds need a laptop computer and those poorer sections of society where 8 yr olds cant afford laptops are going to stay behind. Its simple. Mo’ money Less problem !!!
Have you ever been to a poorly funded school?
Kobayashi, that’s the part I am cool with too. It’s the moral grounding of that strategic observation that is potentially problematic. Knowing whether it’s arson or accident IS important, especially if one wants to prevent the fire from recurring.
Re: help not forthcoming from without, it’s clear that anyone waiting for government assistance in this country now is barking up the wrong tree, unless they’re rich. Self-reliance hasn’t been this urgent in a long time. A lot of us need to learn how to do more with less.
Damn, brown folk of the subcontinent got no street cred.
I have a dream, that one day, just like every other minority of the United States, desis will earn street cred. Whether it be the hipster alternative lifestyle folks or ghettos and their gangs. Only way to forge a united front is to ensure we earn respect where it counts, on the streets of LA, Chicago, DC, and NYC!
Some brothas and sistas are fighting the good fight, but there isn’t enough of them, yet.
I plan on changing that. We will pursue a policy of crack, crime, samosas, and real gangs (none of the wannabe Devon Boyz shit from Chicago).
GD, Latin Kings, Bloods, Crips are all on notice for the new power that will rule the streets – Macacas. Our sign will be holding our hands up high, slightly bent at the elbow, while flashing the padma kunjara then moving the arms mid mody and flashing the shankha varta.
i have no time…but represent MD. i’ll be back tonight >8-)
Nope. And talking seriously I do come from a somewhat priviledged background in India(and most people I know) , so I do buy the argument that this model-minority business is not accurate. At the same time, please dont forget US spends several times more on education per student compared to other developed nation and still dont have a whole lot to show for the spending. Thats why I feel that its easy to throw money and assume everything will be fine, as opposed to coming up with innovative ideas.
At the same time, please dont forget US spends several times more on education per student compared to other developed nation and still dont have a whole lot to show for the spending.
yeah, this is the land of the illiterates (roll eyes).
Some poor people are lacking in those qualities you mentioned and it does contribute to poverty, but it’s a chicken and egg thing. It’s not wrong to state that certain actions will serve you better in life. Whether you have chance to take that better action partly depends on your circumstances, but when you have a choice, make a better one.
Autopsies are kind of grim, so it stays with you….I can’t help bringing it up. It’s something I wish I hadn’t seen. I really wish I hadn’t. Sorry guys for being repetitive.
Siddhartha, you were the one who started this with the whole scolding nature of your first comment after mine: as if I said that Black communities et al don’t care about families or education! I never said that. I brought up a specific example of a specific community and you set me off. It sounded like you were making an accusation about my motives. I’m sorry if I was wrong.
I never said that this is the land of illeterates. I am talking about comparison with other developed nations. India/SA countries dont even come close to US education level.
I agree. Also, my impression is that many of the people in the ‘risktakers’, the second group, already have a fairly secure net in place thanks to their extended family, so there is some close relative already in the US, who is willing to sponsor them and can guarantee them a job once they are here.
Also, the people in the ‘bright’ group are usually not only educated, but also come from relatively privileged backgrounds in India. This is specially true in recent years, because scholarships have been harder to come by(at least before you land in the US). So you need to prove you have a truely obscene amount of money(in Indian rupee terms), say $50,000, in your bank account in India, to show you could afford to pay the tuitions and living expenses.
As a former teacher and a daughter of a current teacher, I need to make a few points:
It’s not always about the quality of the school or how much tax dollars are pumped into the school. I used to teach in the east suburbs of LA, which has high concentrations of newly-immigrated, lower-middle class Latinos and East Asians. Both groups of kids come from the same income groups, and their parents have the same education levels. Guess which group of kids always outperforms the other?
That being said, however, the parent and teacher expectations of these kids tragically vary between groups. For example, the parent of E. Asian child that does not speak any English will demand that their kid is put in English-only classes. These kids almost always learn English within a year. Unfortunately, non-english speaking Latino kids are often put in bilingual classes, where they’re often treated like special education students, and their English skills end up severely lagging those of their peers for several years later. It’s really sad, but this is why I’m fervently against bilingual education. Either it needs serious investment and reform or we should just engage in English-only instruction.
Notice how the Ivy Leagues are so full of Asians and Jews; does anyone really believe they are genetically smarter?
Plenty do. Even mainstream academics, like Harvard’s Steven Pinker, who no one categorizes as a Neo-Darwinian racist, are open to this viewpoint as a measure of man, as unpalatable as it obviously is.
The goalposts are shifting.
Mr. Wadhwa is smoking the same myth-making crack that so many desis in the U.S. are addicted to. The Siddhartha / Kobayashi tag team succinctly dissected this both in the post and comments 8 & 16 (you two need your own Leander Paes / Mahesh Bhupathi style center court chest slam thing). I’m just adding my two paisa by suggesting that desi immigrant “success” also has a lot to do with an unabashed love of “prosperity”.
Model minority? Word?!? Brutha, we are practical materialists! Failure will not well tolerated! There are no second chances! Get your kundi to medical school or you’ll end up patrolling the hood as as a subzhiwallah, ya heard?! Between the kind of social sanction that Hinduism gives to the pursuit of wealth and the generations upon generations who have endured a continual scarcity of the most basic necessities, the greed + fear combination is a pretty strong motivator.
You can dress it up in prettier ways, but greed + fear are a major component of our “success”.
Add to that the stranglehold of hierarcy that is all too familiar to those who have grown up on the subcontinent and it makes folks pretty astute about figuring out who is lowest on the totem pole in any given society. And pretty quick to dissociate from them.
Then, when melanin puts you in the same part of the rainbow as whoever you perceive to be lowest, you’ll do krazy things, like prostrate yourself to George Allen types. (It doesn’t hurt that he belongs to a party that has an elephant as it’s mascot. I mean, who can resist a political party that gives props to both Lakshmi AND Ganesh?)
Excellent post Kavita. Greed is good.
I see quite a few resumes and any desi with 5 years US experience want 6 figures, and many get it. Most are not the cream of the crop from India, nor from highly connected families. Some incompetent ones are riding the ‘desis are smart’ bandwagon and getting more than their worth, but that is the American way; more power to them.
This wont last forever. We are 1st generation Americans for the most part and have no choice but to study because people dont travel to the other side of the planet to play with a ball and after we start popping out 2nd and 3rd and 4th generation Indian American’s, Indian’s will have just as many fuc# up’s as everyone else.
The Wire rocks.
I say, have a voucher system for public schools. The school gets $x per student that chooses to attend there. Fewer students, fewer $$s. Tie school administrator’s pay to a broad spectrum of goals – including student graduation rates, college enrollment etc. We have got to get a little Darwinian with our schools.
I agree with the Greed+Fear thesis. Lets get rid of social security.
Another thing is that, it’s not like all a Indian has to do is hop over the boarder and he’s in the USA. Indian’s for the most part have to go through the lengthy process of seeking approval from the government before they can move here and who gets selected? For the most part it is people who hold advance degree’s in engineering and medicine. These people might not always go into that field, they might for example open a gas station or something. For a person to pick up and move to the other side of the world, they have to be motivated and thus alot of Indian’s are living the “American Dream.”
If India was where Mexico is then there would be a whole lot of poor Indian’s living in the USA too.
Claiming the immigrants’ burden ain’t so heavy is just as abominable as the “pull yourself up from your bootstraps” argument. Both groups used as rhetorical puppets.
I went to a poorly funded (70-80% “minority”) urban school till we moved and then attended a richly funded public school that wasted my parents’ property taxes on athletic fields and non-essential personnel. Fairly reasonable and comparable educations in both. School funding reaches a ceiling where you get commensurate gains and that ceiling is reached pretty quickly. A good education ain’t such a complex formula: good teachers, rigor and discipline.
The harder question is how to get Johnny to pay attention/not fall asleep/not talk back when he spent the nite watching his mom get smacked by her boyfriend and trying to care of his little sisters by his damn self…speaking of rhetorical puppets!