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.
Hindus in the U.S. are spectacularly bad about actually teaching their kids about religion.
i think part of the reason is natural complacency. they grew up a culture where their religious presuppositions were supported. this is not that culture, even for christians (where there is major denominational switching or disaffiliation). my parents exhibited the same complacency re: islam and saw both their two older children discard religion. my younger siblings have been more thoroughly inculcated (they are teenagers) because of ears of a similar erosion, though i think i can convince the more intelligent one to move past an attachment to superstition.
Kurien @ 347
Kurien @ 322
so which one is it, dude? & is your church in louisiana, for you to have the option of voting for him? i wonder how we would feel if we actually lived there…
i think kurien has a difficulty with translating thought to web-prose. perhaps he/she is using dictation software? something is off.
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.
Nala you’re dead on. The religion by osmosis model won’t work here as it does in India.
Just wanted to say, with all the hate being poured on Jindal, this news article with his statements as Governor-Elect states two things – reducing the corrupt image of Louisiana and trying to get more federal money for Katrina damage.
Most politicians say things to get elected and don’t really do much. Considering that precedent, I can understand how someone like Jindal can be so despised since many don’t agree with his policies or the way he has risen through the ranks. I don’t support intelligent design and I am pro-choice, however, I don’t think he’s trying to be white or anything else. I frankly don’t care if he rejects his ‘South Asian’ side or doesn’t give those roots even a nod. It’s a free country and a man/human/person, regardless of their background should be able to define themselves in which ever light they CHOOSE TO. I’m not going to harp on any brown for being too white (I have in my younger years, how myopic of me). Pro-choice isn’t just for women or abortion, even if Jindal himself doesn’t see that. Him being in a position of power does give rest of America a visible/visual market. A brown guy as governor? Yea, that’s happened before (ordinary Americans can say now – black, white, and everything in between).
Once in a while, you get politicians that get elected by saying a bunch of things, but execute on completely different issues that objectively matter to the state(and don’t put that boring, but important word ‘governance’ on the shelf). Lets hope Jindal turns out to be that, not the former mentioned in the previous paragraph who say crazy things and actually think those would be good for the majority of the people you’re sworn to govern for. Only time and the people of Louisiana will really be able to tell.
Nala you’re dead on. The religion by osmosis model won’t work here as it does in India.
there are two models which work well it seems
1) adopt the radical protestant confessional model
2) engage in religious separatism (physically living in segregated communities)
non-haredi judaism (from modern orthodox to reconstructionist) has adopted a protestant confessional model, and to some extent even the catholic church has had to do that (american catholicism has a more individualist and ‘protestant’ feel in a world wide context, which is why there is a term for its suite of biases, ‘americanism’). as i’ve said many times on this weblog hindus have to do the same.
kurien, i’m sorry, but the way you wrote your sentence, this is how it read to me: whether now or in the coming decade (i didn’t take that literally but read it to mean or anytime in the future), my church would not vote for a hindu, even if he/she was the best qualified for the job. even if you, correctly, feel that a hindu/muslim/sikh candidate would not get many votes, democratic or republican, why do you say that your church would not (and should not) vote for a hindu/muslim/sikh at this point in time or in the coming decade, even if they were the best candidate possible? what does the timeframe have to do with it? and don’t you vote on the facts before you/your conscience rather than whether how “acceptable” a religion is? are you saying that even if some of you felt jindal wasn’t the best candidate you would still vote for him and support him because of his religious/ethnic background? i understand we all have these “tribal” instincts….
anyways, i apologize if i distorted what you said.
OT – On eating beef. No Hindu religious text bans eating beef. There is evidence that in ancient times people in the area ate beef. Religious text does refer to cows as ‘Gaimata’ because it gives milk, and that is probably where ban on beef came from. Hindus in Kerala eat beef….and I have heard that it is also eaten in Assam. To me ban on eating beef is as irrelevant as stuff in manusmriti instituting hereditory aspect to caste system.
sorry, that last bit should read: are you saying that even if some of you felt jindal wasn’t the best candidate you would still vote for him and support him because of the specific combination of his religious-ethnic background?
When I first read that, I thought he might be the youngest Governor in US history, but he seems like he’s going to be the youngest Governor of Louisiana, and that’s no small honor either. Bill Clinton, for example, was elected Governor of Arkansas for the first time when he was not yet 33, Bobby Jindal is already 36+. There may have been others in other states who were younger than him when they became Governor, I don’t know.
But to your second point, desis in Canada occupy the same position in the consciousness of Canadians that blacks do in the US. Although there are nearly as many people in Canada of African as there are of South Asian ancestry, when people think ‘visible minority’ in Canada, they think immediately of a South Asian. So yes, I would say a desi usually gets somewhere in Canadian politics not in spite of but because of their desiness.
Almost all the major national level desi politicians in Canada run in ‘ridings’ with significant numbers of desis, and their competitors in each race from each party also are other desis, especially in Ontario and BC. So in effect those constituencies function as ‘reserved’ constituencies.
However, Alberta has also elected some desis to Parliament – all from the Conservative party – their ridings may not have significant numbers of desis.
So Bobby Jindal’s victory may be a bit like Rahim Jaffer’s in Canada – he’s a Muslim candidate elected from (what I think is) a largely white constituency – but whose defining characteristic is identification with the far right. (Jaffer is also chair of the National Conservative Party caucus in Canada.)
I agree that Jindal’s win is not like Dosanjh becoming Premier of BC, as you also note, and in terms of a ‘backward’ state, yes, Louisiana is perceived like Newfoundland is in Canada.
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.**
Most traditional/native religions suffer this fate — indian/chinese/japanese etc. The reasons being:
In a material/atheistic/scientific world — the need for religion is not felt as science has replaced faith
One important reason — in these native beliefs — the fear quotient is substantially less — no constant drumming of the sin/devil/ and eternal hell concept — and expectations of an eternal heaven. So need is much less.
Often times these youths also have some latent/overt spiritual needs. And it is not surprising — they convert to another religion which is active in proselytization. Why is how we ended up with Bobby Jindal. And more to come with more second generation de-relionized desis — so fasten you seatbelt!
I just want to know what’s up with his accent. I grew up in a small and very conservative southern town, and I think his accent just sounds FAKE! Another attempt to garner votes, perhaps?
right, my brother & i are not really religious, and we look at most of our mother’s beliefs as supersition. she is part of an informal prayer group, and even though the parents bring their kids (up to a certain age) to the puja, the kids spend most of the time off playing somewhere, only called in to clasp their hands in front of the shrine for 5 seconds. i even know one family who volunteer at the temple together, but the kids tell me that they don’t want to go the room where the actual puja is because “it’s boring”! i can see why though, b/c they probably can’t read telugu or don’t know it that well, which they would need to know in order to join in on the singing. another obstacle to hinduism in america. oh and recently there was some drama in the group because one of the women criticized another for not bringing enough food or something. this is the same woman who’s having trouble finding a husband for her daughter b/c apparently there aren’t enough telugu doctors of their caste (and probably district, i’d wager) around. jeez.
With regard to ID the position of the Catholic Church was similar to the one below
I know a lot of non Brahmin Hindus who eat beef over in the US. I was raised eating red meat. Then again, my family is a pretty big meat eating family.
Just a DBD view:
I am constantly amazed that supposedly the most advanced nation on earth is still so stuck up on issues of religion. Every country has its peculiarities, but still.
I hope Jindal doesn’t run for President. The entire TOI staff will have a simultaneous spontaneous orgasm.
And people who say they support Jindal because of the miserable, alienated childhoods they had: that is known as the Hannibal Lecter excuse. 😉
I’ve always had a soft spot for Lecter, esp. when he criticizes the Jodie Foster charachter (Starling)for having cheap shoes.
Just want to say that all Indian catholics are not excited about Jindal’s election. Some of understand that there are issues where conservative views are not in line with catholicism. Immigrants rights, capital punishment and liberation theology are examples, while I understand that on other social issues such as abortion rights and gay rights they are. Catholics traditionally have been quite liberal in their politics with a few notable exceptions. The Franciscans would not be very comfortable at a religious right rally. On a side note I don’t consider myself very religious but I think you will find quite a few observant catholics who disagree with Jindal.
Jindal’s formula for success applies to Brown folks(& possibly Blacks and Asians too): Now there is hope for the brown man! Even brown people can get elected to high office and be popular. And best of all.. you don’t even need to invest on skin bleaching creams!
Follow these steps carefully…. Join their gang……you gotta think like them, pray like them, walk like them, talk like them and be really smart too.
If you are all ready Christian, that makes things a lot easier. You have credibility of faith. Jindal’s victory is undoubtedly encouraging for Brown folks who are Christian because it shows that being Christian is a good enough barrier against racism and opens doors that would otherwise be closed.
If you are not Christian, then convert and have a convincing story about how you got ‘saved’.
As far as thinking like them is concerned, you gotta be as racist as possible, without looking too silly. Please watch Dave Chappelle’s episode of the Black KKK leader to grasp this point. You must appear that you are a racist,white conservative who just happens to have brown skin.
Remember kids, being brown is a barrier no more. Thanks for making it happen Jindal!!
As far as thinking like them is concerned, you gotta be as racist as possible, without looking too silly. Please watch Dave Chappelle’s episode of the Black KKK leader to grasp this point.
analogy is not apt. chapelle was always wearing the outfit so that his “followers” didn’t know his true race.
Wow–you are more in need of psych. counseling than me–that is quite the accomplishment!
ANNA:
Anna, of the bloggers on SM, you are the most sensitive and easily riled. I don’t think you create a “safe place” (your words) at all for people to disagree with you. One the things that makes SM interesting to read day after day is the lively interplay amongst your readers. I think you should relax a little bit and not take things so personally. Peace!
370 analogy is not apt. chapelle was always wearing the outfit so that his “followers” didn’t know his true race.
A thousand apologies! Analogies are not quite my forte. I was merely trying to convey that it is silly to be racist against your own people and that Jindal stops short of that to his advantage.
371 Wow–you are more in need of psych. counseling than me–that is quite the accomplishment!
I accept. But life is just not fun without a few crazies like us..:)
“you’re sensitive and easily riled! you say ‘ow’ when i poke you!”
“please stop poking me?”
I did not write this post because I wanted to invite disagreement with me. I wanted to initiate a conversation where others could similarly share their emotions about such a momentous development and be vulnerable on a well-moderated thread; that is what safe space (my words) meant.
I don’t mind people disagreeing with me at all. Camille, Shaad and Maitri did, for example. The difference is, they were fair and they actually RTFA as well as my comments.
It seems like what some of you are really saying is that I’m supposed to create a space where I get attacked and take it quietly. A space that is safe for everyone but me.
I wrote this post when I noticed that people didn’t feel comfortable expressing anything positive about Jindal’s win, despite the fact that so many whom I was speaking to, from either party, were excited, surprised, amazed. Frankly, I think it’s kind of sad that I even had to do that– “look, it’s okay to feel how you do about his win. It doesn’t make you a neo-nazi. see? I’ll go first!”
This reminds me of when people confidently and helpfully tell someone who is depressed, “just snap out of it!”. Well shit, if they could, they would.
This is going to be my new pet peeve, this piecemeal peace-ing. When quondam mutineer Siddhartha did it, I believed him. He sincerely did wish me peace. He listened to me, respected me and accepted me, despite our wildly different views on things (See? it is possible). I wish for more peace like that.
I think you should relax a little bit and not take things so personally.
easy for you to say. and the other bloggers aren’t attacked personally nearly as often. e.g., abhi, you’re a shitty writer. i wonder if your abstracts as turgid and clumsy as your posters.
So how do we describe Jindal in the end.
A David Duke without the rough edges morphing into a kinder gentler Pat Robertson? Or is it the other way round?
kinder gentler Pat Robertson
just to be clear, there are some serious issues about pat roberton, but re: race, he broke with his father over civil rights in the 1960s.
I seem to change my opinion on Jindal every day. I never am enamored with him. But I seem to respect more of him depending on the mood I am in and w2hat I read about him that day. However, never ever can I see a question like this would even apply to Jindal. he is no Pat Robertson. He is definitely not a David Duke.
David Duke is a racist nut. Pat Robertson is a corrupt man who has no problem profiting through his association with the likes of Charles Taylor and has no problem spreading hate about other religions.
I feel Jindal’s victory has broken a glass ceiling. I may not agree with his strategy or policies, but he has achieved something remarkable at such a young age. For the moment, I think every desi should look past all the issues and at least give him credit for that. Save the criticism for another day.
I don’t mind people disagreeing with me at all. Camille, Shaad and Maitri did, for example. The difference is, they were fair and they actually RTFA as well as my comments.
RTFA?
Are we back on the “how Indian is Bobby Jindal?” train? Sooo tired. Also, maybe this is just my pet peeve, but an INDIAN did not win the Governorship. An INDIAN-AMERICAN did. I think that’s a significant difference.
I think nala has a point — Jindal’s “political formula” is not easily replicable for the average brown, nor for other POC.
I don’t think you can compare Jindal to David Duke. There’s a pretty big difference (hello Grand Wizard?). You can hate his politics, say that he used inflammatory language, etc., but let’s not make ourselves look stupid by calling him inaccurate names.
I don’t think his accent sounds fake — I think this is what sometimes happens to accents when you move around. My accent changes directly in proportion to the accents of people around me. I do it totally unconsciously. For the most part, they are all accents I have had at one point in my lifetime (which is also how I end up with strange slang holdovers, like “y’all” and “tony”). It happens. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a poser.
And lastly, if he ran today, I would sincerely hope that he is not a serious contender for the White House. Who knows what his track record will be in the future? Maybe I’ll change my mind.
razib, Asian=South Asian (and within that, simply “Indian”) in the U.K., so it’s about the same as saying “Indian” 🙂
::
Amy’s has no nutritional content, I fully concede 🙂 Tasty Bite DOES taste like preservatives. That said, if I were starving and had nothing at all in my fridge except a bag of TastyBite channamasala (which would prob be in my cupboard, not my shelf) or an Amy’s burrito, I’d eat it.
It’s such a misnomer for Amy’s to be right there next to the healthy foods in the frozen section. I was shocked when I read the nutrition label…that vegan pot pie will be sitting in my freezer for a while.
But I can’t be the only one who loves Trader Joe’s masala burgers…can I? They’re a nice middle ground between Morningstar Farms/Boca Burgers and frozen Indian food.
And there are some great creators and distributors of premade Indian food in Japan. There was this great company based in Osaka that totally trumped any of the really oily stuff by MTR or whoever it was.
Not happy that Jindal won at all, because I disagree strenously with his politics. However, I’ll admit that the only reason I payed as much attention to this election as I did was because one of the candidates was Indian-American. I was pulling for him to lose, though. I hope this serves as a wake up call to the Democrats. Bobby Jindal was groomed by the Republicans from an early age. The Democrats need to find some hot-shot desi future Rhodes Scholar who is writing brilliant papers in college and groom him or her to be the second desi governor of an American state–that will make me happy.
Desishka
If a desi is truly brilliant, he would be a Republican….
rob:
try the long island branch. just as good, no matter what the luger authenticity brigade says. if you can’t get in, there’s at least 3-4 other steakhouses on that road (mortons, etc..)
That’s not the way to win one for your team, my friend. 🙂
If he is truly brilliant, he will form his own party that wins. Heh.
Yes, because Dinesh D’Souza is so smart Read this inane excuse of an argument.
I think/hope you’re kidding. But, of course, I personally respect the opinions and intellect of a lot of people whose politics I don’t endorse. Fareed Zakaria would be a desi who fits this description. I can’t say whether Jindal’s social conservatism is entirely “heartfelt,” or “opportunistic,” or a complex mixture of the two; it is distasteful to me. Zakaria is too smart to not be an operator – but I have to admit I like his style. More than anything, this probably reflects how a kid who grew up in post-liberalization India might define “accomplished” or “successful.” The brothers Zakaria are a 1990s desi parent’s dream (despite,, being muslim).
If a desi is truly brilliant, he would be a Republican….
In a warped way, this is true as far as US politics is concerned. A non-white has to do things like change his name to Bobby, convert to Christianity, basically sh*t red white and blue from his ass 24/7 in order to convince the majority voting block he/she is not a threat.
Any time Jindal is asked a question about his race playing an issue, it’s almost a knee-jerk “it doesnt matter, we’re all red white and blue” reponse that he hits back with.
this was meant to read – “despite,(gasp!), being muslim.” sorry, formatting gaffe.
The father was no slouch himself – one of India’s truly great public intellectuals
Tangentially- Hari: Rafiq Zakaria was certainly a well-respected public intellectual; I remember reading that politically he belonged firmly to the Nehruvian socialist camp (which was very cosmopolitan in its conception of international relations). Fareed Zakaria’s views on trade and foreign policy, then, could (in some degree) also be a response to the perceived failure of government-led economic development in India and India’s marginalization/irrelevance during the height of the Cold War.
It seems minorities in Republican parties seem to get the top position with actual power as compared to Democrats who dole out fluff positions for minorities…eg. Health and Human Services, HUD secretary…compared to secretary of State, Attorney general..etc etc.
Not Just the Zakaria brothers — the sister is pretty accomplished too
Fareed Zakaria — Foreign Policy Superstar
Arshad Zakaria — Merrill Lynch bigshot Mansoor Zakaria — Tech CEO (2Bridge) Tasneem Zakaria Mehta — Art Historian, Convenor for the Indian National Trust for Art in Mumbai
But Zakaria had all the advantaged a Desi parent could provide. I’m more impressed with a Desi who makes it big from a lower class background.
The brothers Zakaria are a 1990s desi parent’s dream (despite, , being muslim).
Think again. Many desi parents would be thrilled their children were Muslim.
Yeah, but does Condi Rice have any real power despite her position? Colin Powell was not listened to in the White House. But your points does have some validity that the Democrats do a lot more talking than acting on their convictions. The Jena 6 case is a great example. Blanco , Landrieu did virtually nothing for most of the time. And it’s only when Jena 6 became an issue, Blanco intervened a little. If she intervned earlier, there wouldn’t have been a tense atmosphere where 6 black kids kick a white kid.
If you go to DailyKos, it is interesting that the reaction is pretty mixed to Jindal’s victory. It was actually refreshing to see people actually put some of the blame on the Louisiana Democratic Party for the loss.
Many desi parents would be thrilled their children were Muslim.
Err, usually that would stem from they themselves being muslim.
If I recall, Rafiq Zakaria was to the left of even Nehru. Of course, at the time, Nehru’s economic policies (which were not nearly as bad as critics today will have one believe) were quite Centrist.
I have always wondered if it was a little bittersweet for a man like that who was such a staunch Indian nationalist to see a few his children reach the commanding heights of success outside of India. I’ve wondered that about a lot of people of my grandfather’s generation, who were young and so full of hope at independence.
I bet he’ll end up giving a big address at Republican National Convention next summer and he could become a very powerful Republican in the future. I wouldn’t be surprised to see his name come up as a possible VP candidate for Giuliani or Romney to give their ticket culturally conservative credentials (a whole lot of evangelicals are threatening to go for a third party candidate), maintain republican southern dominance, and also to get a few colored voters, including indian americans, to vote for the republican ticket.
Things could be espeically interesting if he were to have a good tenure as Governor and help that horror of a state. It would seem that that state has no place to go but up. I suspect he will attract capital and construction to New Orleans and re-build it in a manner that is impressive in some ways but leaves poor people out of the picture. He has good academic credentials and he also appears to be among the less personal profit motivated politicians out there. None of this ensures that he will be effective as a governor. Many of these nice guys are useless and I suspect Louisiana politics to be among the dirtier games out there. I think it could be very interesting to see his governorship, but that there’s a strong chance he’ll end up a non-entity, someone in over his head and without the political tools to actually do the job, please the various business and other constituenties and get any real things done other than help oil companies do lots of drilling.
Not to forget the mother – Fatma Zakaria.
i am only tangentially interested in this conversation – but your coment struck a chord. judging by that one comment I would bet my left testicle the zakarias are from a nawabi family from hyderabad and hence linked to the nizam a couple of cousins removed at most. i occasionally bump into sum such bluebloods now and then – and the unintentional name dropping is quite jawdropping – everyone from nehru to rushdie to dignitaries from wherever. so when you said
… i concur with your 2nd statement – but i have a strong feeling the network this guy was born with is beyond the reach of most
desiparents.