Mutineers, we have our first brown Governor. 🙂 Join me, as I bold my favorite parts of the NYT article which declares this history-making outcome.
Bobby Jindal, a conservative Republican congressman from the New Orleans suburbs and the son of immigrants from India, was elected Louisiana’s governor Saturday, inheriting a state that was suffering well before Hurricane Katrina left lingering scars two years ago.
Mr. Jindal, 36, defeated three main challengers in an open primary, becoming this state’s first nonwhite governor since a Reconstruction-era figure briefly held the office 130 years ago.
With more than 90 percent of the vote counted, Mr. Jindal received 53 percent, above the 50 percent-plus-one threshold needed to avoid a runoff in November. He will be the nation’s first Indian-American governor when he takes office in January.
Have I popped champagne? Yes, I have. No, I don’t believe in teaching Intelligent Design, I certainly am not an advocate of getting rid of a woman’s right to choose and I still support hate crime legislation.
I can guzzle bubbly despite all that, because there’s something else stirring within me– recognition that someone who looks like me did something so significant, combined with an uncomplicated thrill over the fact that Bobby made history.
There are so many valid reactions to Jindal; I know about them because thanks to Amardeep’s post, we have hosted a lively discussion regarding his background, his policy positions and the greater implications of his politicking, for “the community”. Amardeep’s thoughts resonated with many of us who are conflicted about Louisiana’s new Governor. The good news is, there are no wrong reactions.
Each of us is allowed to feel how we do, so while some of you gnash your teeth, I’m happy for him and by extension, us. Better than that, the next time some little kid decides that they want to be in government when they grow up, their immigrant parents now have a visual, a template, a precedent to latch on to, much the same way my English minor was suddenly acceptable once Jhumpa won.
There is much to do, much which is owed to the great state of Louisiana and her people; this is just the beginning of that story and I idealistically hope that it has a happy ending. What Jindal can do (and really, whether he can do it) remains to be seen. But I don’t think it’s disrespectful or inappropriate to raise a glass to him tonight and wish him a sincere congratulations.
Doing so doesn’t mean we buy in to his positions lock stock, neither does it mean he’s like, the greatest thing EVAR. It just means that we are happy for someone who accomplished something extraordinary. Congratulating Bobby is something I humbly think we should do, because ideally we should each choose generosity of spirit over bitterness and rancor. Choosing the former and congratulating a winner doesn’t lessen us or diminish our passionate convictions, it just demonstrates our tolerance, equanimity and good faith that we will allow a person’s actions to speak before we do, negatively and presumptously.
Quite frankly, I wonder, only wonder, whether the reaction expressed on this forum would be the same if Jindal were Hindu or Sikh?
i think if he was more “acceptable” in the positions he took up his xtianity wouldn’t be as much of an issue. it’s an ugly and classless reflex which many of us exhibit, including myself (let me be frank, a great mind who believes in demonic possession in our age? positively primitive). as it is, his public policy stance is extreme on a national spectrum no matter how you slice and dice it. so it’s easy for ugliness to come out when you already feel that his political views are abhorrent.
ramesh ponnuru is a catholic convert but he rejects ID as pseudo-science. bobby’s position has to be dictated by politics. it’s a cheap point to score because it has little relevance, the overclass never allows primitive folk science to advance very far.
“Quite frankly, I wonder, only wonder, whether the reaction expressed on this forum would be the same if Jindal were Hindu or Sikh?”
the other side of what you ask above is: what would the reaction in your churches have been if jindal was piyush jindal, the smart oxford-educated hindu who wanted to teach ‘vedic science’ in schools, ban the eating of beef etc.? (of course he wouldn’t even be on the radar with views like that) would you have been as ecstatic? i doubt it. i suspect even on this forum he would have been dismissed as a loon despite his educational and career achievements up to that point, and i’m not sure if he had been elected governor he would have been accorded the same reception (not that the reception is wrong, depending on what your views are).
More to the point, this is him with his wife.
The position of the Catholic church on abortion is very clear – zero tolerance. Jindal’s position on abortion is consistent with the teaching of the Catholic Church. Intelligent Design is more nuanced.
Kurien can comment on the position within his Church.
More to the point, this is him with his wife.
d00d!!! NSFW warning please!
and what’s bobby doing being a picture with two dark-skinned people in the background! he’ll ruin his rep.
and what’s bobby doing being a picture with two dark-skinned people in the background! he’ll ruin his rep.
And what are they doing cheering him uproariously!? That’s what I mean, the whole thing, it’s not, er, black and white! 🙂
Murli, I have been reading this blog and following the very interesting discussions for a while now, but, hitherto, I have never commented.
The reason I wonder is, because, one can’t help but notice that, comment here has been generally forgiving, and even admiring of Fareed Zakaria, who was one of the early and ardent supporters of the Iraq war, and would have been gladly serving in George Bush’s cabinet, had he been offered a job. We all know the reason behind his critical articles.
No, some members of my church do not agree with Governor [just wanted to use gov and jindal in the same sentence] Jindal on ID or Abortion, however, an overwhelming majority, not unlike Anna, are very proud and feel like one of our own has really made it in America. We ALL prayed, and will continue to pray for his success. Hey, maybe if he does the impossible, and turns around Louisiana, he could go all the way…..to the White House, God willing.
We ALL prayed, and will continue to pray for his success. Hey, maybe if he does the impossible, and turns around Louisiana, he could go all the way…..to the White House, God willing.
God must really hate all his opponents or maybe nobody prayed for his opponents.
however, an overwhelming majority, not unlike Anna, are very proud and feel like one of our own has really made it in America. We ALL prayed, and will continue to pray for his success.
d00d!!! NSFW warning please!
Aw, c’mon – it ain’t like he was Frenchin’ her.
if bobby wants to go to the white house he has to have another conversion moderating his stance on abortion. no question. which is fine, many politicians, from george h.w. bush to al gore have had changes of heart on this issue 😉
The Deists and Unitarians who founded this American Republic probably wouldnt have much of a chance getting elected today either. Thats an indictment of modern american democracy; not of Jindal’s conversion to christianity.
The Deists and Unitarians who founded this American Republic probably wouldnt have much of a chance getting elected today either. Thats an indictment of modern american democracy; not of Jindal’s conversion to christianity.
thank you universal male suffrage 🙂 remember that property qualifications prevented most of the male population from voting, so those who voted were wealthy or well educated. though, to be fair, 2 unitarian presidents were elected after universal male suffrage, the most recent being taft. so things have changed within the past few decades, i doubt a unitarian would pass the snuff now.
Right, but one of the points that some commenters have made is that this election shows that ‘race doesn’t matter anymore or it matters in a different way/we’re one step closer to colorblindness.’ So if a certain population is willing to vote for a person who looks like me (which he doesn’t… i’m a lot h0tter) but whose religious identity is also fundamentally different from mine and looked at differently by most Americans (let alone politics), has his election really done anything for me? Though I guess this does set a precedent of some sort, and might make it a millimeter or two easier for future brown politicians, I would say that I personally find it difficult to celebrate his victory on a ‘community’ level for this reason (not that I would anyway, because I don’t agree with his politics).
chachaji @ 296: In the last picture you posted (post-baby birth photo of him and his wife), I’m amazed at how good her hair and make-up looks! Right after giving birth, too! 😉
I am a Hindu but like Jindal from what I have read about him. His stance on ID is surprising given that he majored in Biology but I think this is not the crux of his campaign. His positions are based on Louisiana politics, not the national scene. His resume is extremely impressive and I am not at all surprised that he has a lot of Indian American supporters (a majority of whom are Hindu). His plans are very detailed and it would be very impressive if he is able to push those through (starting with ethics reform). I’d take Jindal any day over Rahul or Sonia Gandhi.
There are many xtians who are suspicious about his motives.. For an interesting (bigoted) exchange earlier this year, please see
http://www.erickerickson.org/blog/?p=4506
The Deists and Unitarians who founded this American Republic probably wouldnt have much of a chance getting elected today either. Thats an indictment of modern american democracy; not of Jindal’s conversion to christianity.
Desim produces a stillborn God; there is no point to ‘Him” at all. They’d be atheists today – but still wouldn’t get elected!
The reason I wonder is, because, one can’t help but notice that, comment here has been generally forgiving, and even admiring of Fareed Zakaria, who was one of the early and ardent supporters of the Iraq war, and would have been gladly serving in George Bush’s cabinet, had he been offered a job. We all know the reason behind his critical articles.
Because Fareed is da man. Also Fareed is rather liberal on social issues. Being a cultural neandarthal like Jindal is considered distasteful these days in polite company.
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pEB859VHC8MZvHHOOV3ODLA
parish by parish results comparing 2003 vs. 2007.
“design” is the unreflected “default” postion in our mental toolbox. so deism made sesne unreflectively until evolutionary theory took hold. wtf is a god who does nothing besides a sentimental attachment?
Whose God is it anyway – “the other side of what you ask above is: what would the reaction in your churches have been if jindal was piyush jindal, the smart oxford-educated hindu who wanted to teach ‘vedic science’ in schools, ban the eating of beef etc.?”
Honestly, in 2007 or in the coming decade, even if Piyush Jindal did not want to teach Vedic Science, and was the best candidate for the Governor’s or any other Sate wide or National office,anywhere in the country, he would not receive any votes from my church or most Americans [Democrats or Republicans], for that matter. And, I am sure you knew that.
Good point–that’s when the abortion issue becomes relevant–as Gov.,he has close to zero impact or influence on the issue. Glad to see we’re already looking forward to his White House run! I’m Hindu, & I knew several desis in college who converted to Christianity–they seemed like nice people, so the whole issue doesn’t trouble me much. My guess, based on them, is that Catholicism is chosen because it’s perceived as being more “intellectual” & “traditional” than Protestantism–& these were right-wing, intellectual desis. Orthodox Christianity I don’t know much about.
Does Bobby Jindal eat beef? I know some ex-Muslims raised in Muslim majority nations who though not Muslim anymore still cant eat beef because of the revulsion factor.
Honestly, in 2007 or in the coming decade, even if Piyush Jindal did not want to teach Vedic Science, and was the best candidate for the Governor’s or any other Sate wide or National office,anywhere in the country, he would not receive any votes from my church or most Americans [Democrats or Republicans], for that matter. And, I am sure you knew that.
You are obviously a Christian fanatic. Actually Christian affiliation is declining in the US every decade. Go look at some data. I suspect this country will eventually go the way of Europe.
Do Muslims NOT eat beef???
I know some ex-Muslims raised in Muslim majority nations who though not Muslim anymore still cant eat beef because of the revulsion factor.
you mean pork. and food taboos often crystallize around the age of 4-7. that’s why. most americans have no theological objections to eating snake, but they’d be averse because they didn’t eat it before they were 7. and i wondered about the beef thing too.
“Honestly, in 2007 or in the coming decade, even if Piyush Jindal did not want to teach Vedic Science, and was the best candidate for the Governor’s or any other Sate wide or National office,anywhere in the country, he would not receive any votes from my church or most Americans [Democrats or Republicans], for that matter. And, I am sure you knew that.”
so you are saying your church wouldn’t vote/pray for an indian-american hindu, no matter how non-controversial or suited for the job? of course. there’s no shame in you admitting that. some indian-americans are happy because he’s indian-american. many christian indian-americans are even happier. some catholic indian-americans are even happier than that. some catholic punjabi indian-americans/indians are even happier than that. the list goes on.
which is why i’m surprised that you find it surprising that some hindus/muslims/atheists/christians on this forum would have a problem with jindal and ask would the reaction be different if jindal was a hindu/sikh. if your church is allowed to be selective – and it seems moreso on religion alone than the issues, whereas i would bet that there are many hindus who don’t care about his religion but do care about his politics – why can’t people on this forum be selective about religion/issues? i’m just wondering if there was a need for you to wonder, given your above comment in which you state that your church wouldn’t vote for a hindu who wasn’t even a hindu fundamentalist but just a hindu who was the best candidate for the job. doesn’t say much about the much touted indian-american brotherhood and seems to give ammunition to those who disagree with the idea that jindal can be viewed as some sort of success template for others to follow.
I meant pork. My bad!
being surrounded by hindooz on SM has confused your food-taboo module 😉
p.s., i don’t eat ham, but i do eat bacon. bacon doesn’t taste that diff. to me if it is turkey, pig or cow. i think my aversion to ham must be the fact that couldn’t eat it until i left home. also, i have no problem with pepperoni.
p.s., i don’t eat ham, but i do eat bacon. bacon doesn’t taste that diff. to me if it is turkey, pig or cow. i think my aversion to ham must be the fact that couldn’t eat it until i left home. also, i have no problem with pepperoni.
Ham does have a strong smell to it. Have you tried honey ham? Its the best lunch meat around.
I wonder about his home environment as a kid anyway…what were his parents like? Did they teach their sons anything about their culture? Was Punjabi (or Hindi) spoken at all in the home? Was their diet desi? Although I’m sure there was SOME desi cultural influence in the home, there are a lot of ABDs who grew up around the time of Bobby Jindal, who are not much more Indian than he is. That’s the result of growing up in one of the few if not the only Indian families in the area, and perhaps lackadaisical parents who were never concerned about instilling any sense of these things.
Have you tried honey ham? Its the best lunch meat around.
ah! yes. i have, and it didn’t get icked out by it at all. it too ‘doesn’t taste like ham,’ whatever that means.
Razib,
Try Prosciutto–food of the gods! (I only keep veg at home.)
Al Chutiya for Debauchery [#319]- How “Polite” can your company be, when it is forgiving and enthralled with people, who, solely for ambition, shepherd thousands to an unnecessary and early demise, destroy nations, and run like rats when the excrement hits the fan, and castigate people who truly believe and espouse victim less ideas, however odious, which their faith dictates?
ps – unlike the, kissinger and huntington acolyte, fareed zakaria, i opposed the iraq war.
Try Prosciutto–food of the gods!(I only keep veg at home.)
yeah, i love it! i don’t have a problem with pork per se, but ham. when i was a kid pork = ham 😉 you know, kind of like how pasta = spaghetti.
kurien, i’m having a hard time understanding you. work the clarity bro.
I knew a lot of Muslims in college who would drink, smoke pot, party, watch porn, have sex, etc…but oh no they couldn’t eat pork!
Jindal’s close to 75% support comes in the most highly developed parish (interestingly the same support as in 2003)with a fancy web site
http://www.stpgov.org/
I knew a lot of Muslims in college who would drink, smoke pot, party, watch porn, have sex, etc…but oh no they couldn’t eat pork!
Maybe they never tried out some nicely cooked pork chops. Pure heaven!
I knew a lot of Muslims in college who would drink, smoke pot, party, watch porn, have sex, etc…but oh no they couldn’t eat pork!
yeah. weird. well, i was listening to the radio and this gay guy talked about being arrested for being gay (‘out’) in lebanon. how did the police punish him for being gay? they butt-raped him all night. no accounting for human psychology….
(i did have a muslim guy try to convert me in college while he was baked off his ass on weed at a party once. muslims aren’t comfortable with the idea of atheists from muslim backgrounds)
at peter luger’s they serve bacon like its steak, about 3/4 of an inch thick, and charred. used to be an off-the-menu item but i think they list in now, so all the riff-raff can order it.
yum
I hate having to make a reservation there weeks ahead of time–any tips on getting in at the last minute
I wonder about his home environment as a kid anyway…what were his parents like? Did they teach their sons anything about their culture?
He married a brown women so obviously he has some attachment to brownness. His parents were on a temple committee, so I presume he had some religious connection.
He married a brown women so obviously he has some attachment to brownness.
LOL.
Risible # 325 and Whose God is it anyway #328 – In #322, I gave you my honest opinion, in which I said that,no, a Hindu Jindal could [not should not] not have been elected to a state wide or national office in 2007 or the coming decade. That means until around 2017. I am well aware that society is changing and becoming more acceptable of other faiths, which is totally fine by me.
Also, I never said that, my church, which is overwhelmingly Indian, would not vote for a Hindu Jindal. I think while some would not, most, including myself would.
So, risible, do read carefully, before calling me a fanatic. Just because my religious views are disagreeable or seem of low intellect to you, does not mean I hate non-christians or like Zakaria, support the illegal invasion of Iraq.
He married a brown women so obviously he has some attachment to brownness.
LOL.
Yeah, yeah…:-)
Right, but if there’s anything I’ve learned based on what I’ve seen, Hindus in the U.S. are spectacularly bad about actually teaching their kids about religion. I’m not saying that this is what Jindal’s parents are/were like, but most of these groups (both informal and formal, including temple committees) are chock-full of drama, it’s embarrassing.
No, the reaction would be different. Frankly there would be have no reaction since a Sikh/Hindu especially the latter becoming a Governor of a converserative southern state, is more in the realms of fantasy.
Second, Bobby Jindal’s religion, and especially chest thumping of it (conversely denying/ignoring/relegating his ethnic heritage) is a crucial reason why and how he got elected as Governor in the first place. That is what set him apart from the other candidates and made him appealing to the Lousiana voters.