Five years ago, I attended my first and last HOKANA FOKANA, the conference which is held every other year for Mallus who really want to marinate in Malayaleeosity. At the time, I was working for a non-profit and one of the organizers was interested in some of the post 9/11 stuff I was doing, so I was invited to speak at three of the week’s “Youth†panels.
Since they offered, and the woman who had contacted me was just wonderful to work with, I accepted. Thanks to her, I was treated to one of the strangest experiences I’ve ever had, once I arrived at the hotel in downtown Chicago, only to find myself among the most Malayalees I’ve ever seen in one place. It was a little bit bewildering, but it was edifying and fascinating, too.
There was so much to absorb: the regional cliques, the cousins from different coasts squealing as they spotted each other among the crowds, the Uncles strutting about, moustaches in full effect, declaring random things in voices so loud, the three or four white people who dared venture in to this quagmire jumped each time another Malayalee shout rang out. The energy (and scent of Drakkar mixed with Chivas) was potent. I’m glad I went. Everyone should, at some point.
I’ve often referenced my relatively “isolated†childhood– which so many of you share, according to what you confide via meetup and Gmail– and how unlike the other Malayalee Christian kids who grew up here, I never attended the Jacobite or MarThomite religious conferences which seemed to happen every few months, in different regions of the United States. Twenty years after my parents consciously blew off all of my Uncles’ recommendations that we attend that year’s FOKANA, my mother had a Eureka! moment in our kitchen, when during the one and only fight she and I ever had about my “settling downâ€, I shouted at her that if it were THAT important to her that I marry someone who was Malayalee and Orthodox, then perhaps they should have exposed me to actual Malayalee people while I was growing up.
“You never took me to FOKANA!â€, I snapped and there it was, the look of recognition and acceptance. “How was I supposed to find this elusive dream son-in-law of yours, Ma?†I had a solid point. Every wedding we had attended in the two years preceding that argument had one thing in common besides parents who were attempting to one-up the last event by inviting an additional 100 guests; the bride and groom had met at church, at one of the regional denomination-specific conferences or yes, FOKANA. My mother never broke it down like that again. Yindeed, instead of the now familiar barrage of “Is he Jacobite? Marthoma? CATHOLIC?? Ehm…Malayalee at least???â€, I was greeted with, “Found a nice boy yet?â€
So these strange mega conferences, they have their place in our imperfect, carefully negotiated lives lived in on the hyphen. Sometimes, they can be an opportunity for pure good, like when one of you coordinated a massive effort to “Get Out The Marrow†at the TANA convention which was held in DC this year. What better place to rep Sameer and Vinay’s cause, than at an event which had several thousand potential matches?From the news tab, a TOI story (“The dharma of diversity“), which I’ve included the majority of, here, so you don’t have to go there (thanks for the tip, Nanopolitan):
The United States and India both brag about their diversity — their respective diverse, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual societies. But what happens when you put 2.6 million Indians in the US? They bring their full range of plurality with them to a country that, much like India, allows full expression.
No Indian state or group or caste is too small or too big to form a representative association in America. So, we have everything here from NAMA (North American Manipuri Association) to BANA (Bhojpuri Association of North America), from the Bruhan Maharashtra Mandali to the Bangla Samaj.
Oh, how they multiply and divide. When one Andhra caste began to dominate TANA (Telugu Association of North America), the other went on to form ATA (Association of Telugus of America). GANA could not contain the forming of the Gujarati Leuva Patel Samaj and nor could KANA hold back the birth of the North America Nair Society. When Bihar split to make place for Jharkhand, folks here made sure everyone heard it by forming BAJANA (Bihar and Jharkhand Association of North America).
Sometimes, there are so many associations for a given state or community that they form an omnibus association of associations. Thus, we have JAINA (Federation of Jain Associations of North America) and FOKANA (Federation of Kerala Associations of North America). Conversely, a mere Tamil Sangam was not large enough to accommodate the voice of Chettiars (to which belongs our finance minister P Chidambaram) who formed the Nagarthar Chettiar Sangam of North America.
What would Aishwarya Join?
A majority of people from Karnataka express themselves linguistically through 33 Kannada Kootas across North America under the umbrella of AKKA, which stands for Association of Kannada Kootas of America. But that does not account for Karnataka’s Bunts, who speak Tulu (think Aishwarya Rai), or Kodavas speaking Coorgi (think Robin Uthappa).
So, we have a Bunt Association of North America (another BANA) and a Kodava Samaja of America (KoSA). Can Konkanasthas, who come from up and down the west coast of India, have their nose cut? They have their NAKA (North American Konkani Association).
I wouldn’t ever recommend cutting a Konk. They’ll mess you up. Confront one of them and the only person who will get cut is you. 😉 I have no idea what the next two groups mean:
Linguistic identity doesn’t fulfill caste affiliation. So, there is also a Vokkaliga Parishat of North America and a Veerashaiva Samaja of North America. And try this for size — a Bangalore geek in Boston is a member of both NEKK (New England Kannada Koota) and TIE (The Indus Entrepreneurs).
There are also professional bodies such as AAPI (Association of American Physicians of Indian-origin) and AAHOA, which is the Asian-American Hotel Owners Association, but might well be called PAHOA to account for the dominance of Patels. More recently, journalists and lawyers have opted for the larger South Asian identity with groups such as SAJA and SABA.
You know I love coffee, right? Well the best association ever is coming up, below:
Nothing holds a mirror better to our diversity and our penchant for forming groups than AIENA (Association of Indian Entomologists in North America). Think you’ve heard it all? Beat this. There’s even a Volleyball Association of Jats in America, called JAVA (because they meet over coffee), which is an offshoot of AJA (Association of Jats in America). Talk about boosting diversity in America.
Talk about boosting, indeed. If it weren’t for these groups, how would our Dads have an opportunity to puff out their chest and feel veddy important? When else would they get to wear the sort of “prize†ribbon I am more accustomed to seeing on elementary school Science projects or award-winning livestock, at the California State Fair?
I wonder if we’ll be like this in a few decades—lobbying for another office to be created within one of these orgs (“How about Vice-President of Online Outreach and Promotional Strategies?†) or splintering off to create a competing faction of Nairs of Northern California, so that we can be President of something too, since that bastard Sreedharan stole the election and shouldn’t be running things anyway. Goodness gracious me – no disrespect to all my Uncles—but…I sincerely hope not.
at SM meetups?? i presume you mean these larger national conferences – i don’t know about tnf, but fetna seems pretty scared to even mention ‘sri lanka’ – even though there is def. some sympathy for the movement itself. from what i’ve seen of the internal politics, any mention of the country – whether it be in relation to terrorism or separatism or otherwise – puts the conference people on edge, and some people have even been ‘black-listed’ (i.e. no re-invite) for certain mentions of the topic. part of it has to do with the fact that some of the organizers are actually unable to separate the two; but for others, it stems from just not wanting ‘trouble.’ to some extent, i can’t argue with that – one of the higher-level fetna members was recently arrested by the fbi for ‘supporting’ the ltte – don’t know how true that charge actually was, but it still involved the feds, who checked out many other tamilians who had contact with the guy, and for desis who usually try to stay below the radar, that’s not an issue they even want to get close to…
Damn you madrasis 😉
That “separatist/autonomy but no LTTE” population is certainly large but I’d think that no-one would put themselves out there as such in a forum (national conference) where many other community members (possible ‘true’ Tiger fans) could hear one say so. It’s safer to be considered agnostic on the issue.
Just from family experience (is there any other kind of anecdotal reference for SL Tams?) there’s a certain apathy about discussing current events and a feeling that not touching it with a 10-foot pole is the best course of action.
I doubt you could find a similar SL Tam event in Toronto that did not involve stumping for P-Raps, hence the sense of, “if it happened, it would be organized by open supporters of P-raps and exclude most Indians and SL Tams…”
“the Uncles strutting about, moustaches in full effect, declaring random things in voices so loud, “
Hey, watch it!
own it! I aspire to such strutting, while twirling my mustache, at some event in the future.
Aishwarya is South Indian???? It’s for these interesting tidbits that I keep reading SM.
Federation of Kerala Ass-ociations of North America
I always thought the whole National Conference gig was a way for parents so set their kids for up for marriage…I know a good friend of mine who’s marathi said so about their regional convention. Is that the case??
And to add to it…did you guys/gals know there is also a NASA ?
Yes, very weird. 🙂 My parents live in a little Kerala, I like to think that I bring diversity to it. 🙂
Umm… NALA?? There’s an organization named after me?? 😛
And I think we should point out that there’s a difference between spaces like Sepia Mutiny and a lot of other organizations that take on the ‘South Asian’ label, like a lot of college SASAs, which have their own stringent requirements.
I think there’s a class difference here… at least for people who came here for undergrad, I’m gonna assume that they come from higher class/more ‘Westernized’ families to begin with, and may therefore feel more comfortable away from home.
As anybody who’s been to a Sankethi wedding will know…;)
Thank you. Funnily enough I hate going in for Non Resident association meetings although I enjoy alumni (different hues)reunions.
To the ABD crowd – do you get laid when you land up in such conferences ? Often / Rarely / Never.
In short… yes. College age onwards, nothing like catching up with your childhood friends.
I think that one thing that these groups are really good for and that often gets overlooked with all the divisions we can come up with is support for the traditional arts and those who practice those arts. My parents hosted a classical musician during the last AKKA conference and it was a great experience. Both the artists and the communities here are enriched by the experience and we got to see and hear performances that we wouldn’t have gotten to see normally. Its actually the one part of the whole South Asian community including 2nd gens could really get excited about. I like Bollywood and Bhangra as much as the next girl, but I’d like to look beyond that and see if and how 2nd gens can build a more inclusive community and organizations that have the same passion for traditional South Asian arts, music and theater.
Anna, just because you are raised in India does not mean that you will not meet and interact with Indians from communities and religions different from your own. I went to school with Jains, Sikhs, Muslims, Christians, Hindus and Parsis. My parents were friends with all my classmates’ parents. I used to get invited to people’s homes for festivals like Christmas (still remember that lovely plum cake!) and my mum used to invite all my friends and their parents over for Deepavali. I don’t think that my parents went out of their way to make sure I was “integrated”; it was very natural to be “integrated” when you spent a lot of time with children who spoke so many different languages and practiced different religions.
Brij at #68. “So finally the choice of belonging to an organization will be based on which sub-division you give the highest priority and is harmless ? Once again a problem of making a choice.”
Like a good Bengali, I can fall back on Tagore. The third line of this poem is the litmus test I would apply (though of course, most organizations I belong to would probably fail the test and anyway I am too lazy to research their philosophies – but hey I can revel in my cultural stereotype of being an idealist dreamer):
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high; Where knowledge is free; Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls; Where words come out from the depth of truth; Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection; Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit; Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action– Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
I get what you’re saying…I think their point was, if you’re going to live in America and act like the only people who are “decent” enough to associate with are other Malayalees, why leave Kerala if you’re just going to ghettoize yourself in some Houston/Chicago/New York suburb, while shunning people who speak other languages or practice different faiths (sometimes, same faith, different denomination)? Does that make sense?
I think there is a socio-economic aspect to it, too. If you’re from a “bigger” city back home, you experience more linguistic/religious diversity…if you’re from the tiny ass town my mom is from, where everyone is Malayalee…not so much. 🙂 My dad’s best friend was an Iyer. My mom’s best friend was her (also Orthodox) cousin. Didn’t mean to offend, if it came off that way. It’s really hard to define and articulate these visceral feelings, the memories of which stretch all the way back to toddlerhood.
Is there a national UP association? Represent the birthplace of Hindu Mythology (Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Mahabharta, etc.); home to Mughal empire; inspirations of many literary geniuses; hub of modern politics; and largest population in subnational division.
I wonder how many of these desi organizations are an off-shoot of resistance against Bollywood,Bhangra and Hindi cultural generalizations ? One common thread amongst MOST of the organization/subdivsion listed in the TOI article is that they are all non-Hindi.
A couple of comments –
I think those of us who came over in the late 70s and early 80s as children have had a totally different experience compared to those coming over today. Back then, we really left behind the motherland. There was an ocean and then some separating us from India, and there was no going back. I left in 1982 at the age of 7 and didn’t go back for a visit till 1991. I remember visiting my best friend again and was shocked to find how different we had become. But then again, should I have expected any different? A whole extra lifetime had passed since I had last seen him.
When we left India, there was one black-and-white TV among the apartment families, and it only had one channel. You just turned it one and watched whatever was on. We didn’t have a ‘freeze’. I had never seen a blonde person, not IRL nor in pictures.
Given how few browns there were in the US back then, the parents wouldn’t be too choosy in who they invited for dinner ‘parties’ on the weekends. English was the common language at these parties, with periodic Gujarati or Telugu or Hindi breaking out in clusters. As a result, my two best friends growing up and to this day and I speak three different languages among us. When the sister of one of these best friends got married, other Hindi speaking families (supposedly) got very jealous when her parents called my Gujarati parents first for the ashirwad at the end of the ceremony.
I’m not sure things would’ve turned out like this had we come over 25 years later. I bet we’d be more ghettoized in the Gujarati community. There are a lot more Gujaratis around in 2007. The effect of the internet can’t be underestimated. A 7 year old coming over today can still keep up with his friends in India via Myspace and email. Heck, he can chat with them over IM every night. He’s probably seen the same TV shows his American counterparts have and probably knows a lot more English.
As an aside, I think that, counter-intuitively, the greater brown presence in America and easier ability to maintain ties through the internet, creates more alienation among immigrants. I was forced to sink or swim in my nearly completely white school. I suffered some pretty harsh embarrassments, from being made fun of for my ketchup-and-butter sandwich I brought for lunch to my accent to being called a nerd for simply wanting to do well in school. But I was also forced to make friends with Americans despite these initial experiences. I grew up with the belief that though there are a few idiots and racists everywhere, the vast, vast majority of Americans are not racists. When I dated white chicks in high school, my parents had a bigger problem with it than theirs. When the valedictorians and salutatorians each year were inevitably one of the two or three brown kids in the class, the community congratulated them and respected them. I’m shocked at the views of America more recent immigrants hold, and their sense of alienation. I think (though I admit I could be wrong) that this is because they have a very real choice to avoid American society if they want rather than be forced to immerse myself in it like I had to.
Regarding the comments from hillside –
One the missions for these subgroup associations is to celebrate local cultures. However, an inevitable consequence is that they make a statement of how these local cultures should be defined, and that those who are not within this definition are not welcomed. To the extent that Sepia Mutiny defines Indian-American culture, it’s similar to these subgroup associations.
SM has certain values that run through the content – leftism, feminism, ‘South Asian’ism, American society as unwelcoming, etc. I often visit the site and feel as I’m reading about a different culture. I’m a libertarian, free-market, free-trade, open-society advocate, atheist with Hindu values, critical rationalist, Anglosphere-chauvanist who thinks America has provided brown people with an incredible opportunity to show our talents to the world. I find it odd when I see posts implying that we suffer in a common struggle with blacks and Hispanics. I find the anti-market sentiment even odder as wherever in the world anti-market values have fluorished, Indians have suffered, and in most parts of the world, racism is an outgrowth of anti-market sentiment.
Despite what SM Intern implies with his cough above, SM does not represent a pan-Desi blog; it doesn’t represent me. I see it as you see one of these organizations. I’m very thankful that Vinod blogs on this site and wish there was another blog that focused on brown issues from my meta-context. (Yeah, I know, I know – “Well, why don’t you start one!” – I have no excuse.)
Yup I agree.
So am I. tis a pity that vinods does not post more.
Okay, libertarian boyyo, now it’s time to show that you’re a real, empirical lib and not just a glibertarian. Substantiate your claim. Every once in a while, a commenter comes out of the woodwork to accuse SM of trending towards humanity–that’s ok, we’re all human–but to make this accusation, you must substantiate your claim. Otherwise you’re just another Naomi Wolf, raging against the world as it is and praying fervently for the demise of something you can’t really grasp.
Really? Then why in Schumpeter’s name does Vinod blog here? Surely he doesn’t feel like coming in for the stick every time an econ-related post goes up? There must be some reason why he’s here…hmmm…now what could that be?
one doesnt have to go too far from my ‘hood (melange a sausage, muruku and momo) to tread the tiger tail. nothing wrong with their beliefs. they got pain i know. i just wish they’d left their war at home. bring your whole tubbar over, heck, if needed. why pee in my pool, machang. that’s the worst aspect of the so-called diversity groups. keep the joy. lose the anger.
No, genius, what you’re reading about are other people’s experiences–not a different society, not a different country and not a different world. Are you so uninformed about the great invisible hand which hath guided all since time immemorial that you cannot grasp the concept of different people, living in different places and…gasp!…having different reactions and experiences to similar stimuli?
That’s a lot to ask, considering the conflict is the only reason they’re here. MuraliMannered was right when he said you’re unlikely to find a tamil event here without some war focus, but again, it’s the sole reason the community is here in any substantial number. How long until that dissipates? God knows.
As for muralimannered’s responses to superbad – why so antagonistic? I often get a feeling of alienation when I read this blog too. Despite the efforts to appeal to a broad cross-section, you can never really do that, especially with a target group as diverse as us browns. Either way, you need to chill.
you’re right of course Neelan. I wasnt being realistic and hope i didnt come across as supercilious.
I think the associations did have a place in the previous generation. I think of my mom, moving away from 7 brothers and sisters (as well as their families) and feeling so alone when we first moved here. There were not many Indians and even the slightest connection (be it Bengali or Telugu or Punjabi) gave such warmth and comfort in a society that wasn’t too accepting of these newly immigrated brown folk. There was no internet and I still remember the blue aerograms that took weeks to travel over the ocean to India. Ah, I feel so sad and proud of what our parents went through.
However, the associations/association meetings as they exist today in a well wired world are really kind of disturbing. In my opinion, they are basically (1) meat markets for meeting suitable spouses or (2) mediums for espousing Shivaji and his greatness (okay, all due respect to him, but let’s keep some perspective). Then you’ve got the infamous Maharashtrian Mandal gatherings where the ripe, young singles (2nd geners) who are actually wading through the masses, classifying who is Maratha, Konkan Brahmin, Pune Brahmin, descendent of Shivaji, etc. etc.
I am the dreaded uncle-ji who not only organizes some of these cultural deja-vus but forces every young ABD to give up a perfectly fun night at the movies to attend these heritage fests because, like spinach, they are good for you, dammit.
But seriously, folks, I have amassed a huge amount of expertise in the woefully provincial and ultra micro-ethnic behavior of first-generation desis who, by virtue of their education and life experiences, should know better. But I am not critical. This, too, is me. I “lowe” it! Here is my take on this entire acronym infested phenomenon that is thriving in every American city.
As venues for matchmaking, they are worthless. You will have a better chance of finding your life partner in the produce section of your local supermarket or on e-harmony.com (not that I would know , married 35 years to the same auntie) than at a Gujarati or Bihari shindig. No ABD over the age of 18 goes to these things. And if a 24-year is found lurking at one of these places, he/she is either a mama’s boy or a daddy’s girl, neither a prize catch in my humble opinion.
The real beneficiaries of these events are: a)the children and teenagers for whom a night of hanging out with similarly colored friends with pretty much identical parental issues (you got 95, what about the other 5!!!) is quite a refreshing change from their multi-racial, multi-cultural boring school life; b)the uncles and aunties who love their little walks down memory lane, and THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT! So stop it.
Desi associations in America are organized along very parochial lines. Somebody asked if there was a UP association. Yes, Virginia, there are – one in every major city. There are also associations along caste lines. I have attended Chitragupta Samaj events for Kayasthas, because I am one by accident of birth. (Didn’t enjoy it. Caste is not culture. No commonality.) Then there are professional associations for motel owners, physicians, venture-capital seeking entrepreneurs (TIE), and so on. There are some real misnomers among them, such as Federation of Indian Associations. Everybody assumes they are some kind of an umbrella organization presiding over all desi groups. They are not. Some young desis work for associations that have lofty social agendas instead of cultural affiliations. Our association in Chicago used to promote an organization called ASHA, which is dedicated to establishing small village schools in India.
The desi associations that are nothing but a re-enactment of back-home ethnic affiliations are in serious danger of becoming extinct. I will cite the example of Bihar Cultural Association, which my friends and I did a lot for in Chicago. Our generation – the fifty-plus – identifies with a state. Heck, we can identify with a town given a chance! The younger generation coming out of India does not. These kids are like ABD’s. They may have parents who were from Bihar or UP or Andhra, but they grew up in Delhi or Mumbai and many of them married people from other ethnicities. Big time dilution! My feeling is that for the desi organizations to remain relevant, they need to identify agendas that are uniquely diasporic rather than mere regurgitation of old-world experiences.
Finally, these events are a lot of fun! At least for us uncles and aunties.
Before I sign off, I want to make a plea to all ABD’s. You don’t need to come to these events, but once in a while, if you have a little spare time, do what ANNA did. Go and speak to our kids. These children need to hear from older ABD’s who went through the same trials and tribulations. They might dismiss our youth experiences as inapplicable to America, but they will take you seriously. I don’t see enough ABD participation in associations and temples, the two major venues of desi culture.
i think geography may have much to do with the varying experiences, even in the same time period. my parents came here in the early- to mid-60s, and until 1971 or so, they didn’t meet many desis, much less anybody from their regional background, partly because immigration from south asia was just beginning, and partly because they lived in suburbs or rural areas. however, once they moved to pittsburgh, they met a lot of tamilians, and thereafter in ny. by the time my sister was born in 1975, they already had a substantial group of tamil friends in the ny area. and since then, the majority of theeir friends are tamil-speaking.
Because it was deserved? I was nodding along to superbad’s comment, agreeing with what they said and marveling at how I had some of the EXACT same experiences. I was feeling so much in common with them…and then he/she/it had to end it like that? It’s bullshit. Many of us are exactly like the first part of their comment and yet, we’re here on imperfect SM. So spare us the “I’m so different from you” schtick. Just because some of us might be feminist (since when is this a bad thing) or open to inclusive labeling, that makes this entire community tainted?
For all you libertarians who sniffle over Vinod’s relative absence here, know that he was a founding member– he puts his time in to the very blog you are so quick to dismiss as not representative of your…whatever. You can’t see yourself as part of this and yet, you claim to be kindred spirits with him.
I’m so sick of everyone wanting to separate themselves out and claim, “Oh, I’m not like all of you…I’m different because I am blind to the commonalities we might have with other ethnic groups. I love free markets!”
You think you’re the only one? You’re not. Whatever you claim to not find here IS here, you just don’t want to see it. And if you really did want to represent your holier than thou, superior viewpoint, you’d actually comment– everyone civil is free to do so, and by doing so they can change the tenor of the debate and by extension, the community. Feel free to fly your libertarian freak flag freely– if you can handle the crushing fact that really, you’re not the only one.
Actually, I am not sure that’s true. I think it depends on the demographics.
One fine day a few months ago, I found that my area has a local Tamil sangam that organized an event that was called “Pazhagalam Vaanga” (translated into “Come, let’s be friendly”), the name being a takeoff on a gag from the most recent Thalaivar flick. The events that day were all named after songs from the aforementioned “Thalaivar padam”. Sadly though, when I got there, I was misled by the choice of event names. It will suffice to say that it was no singles event. All the maamas and the maamis were doing random skits that reminded me more of Perambur than Parsippany.
Also another thing that made me uncomfortable (apart from the apparent lack of single women 😉 )was that the event had some religious slant. For someone who is not very religious, that slightly put me off.
If that is “postive” selling point of “uncles and aunties” to the “acronym infested phenomenon” then why not just have a single south-asian cultural center instead of all these denominations. And do all these cultural chest-beating and walk down the memory lanes in your own backyard barbeque ?
once the feminists stopped burning bras.
Entha petta machi ?
muralimannered,
I don’t like to debate from anger nor with angry people. In such environments, facts become secondary to fighting in the ‘social’ realm. My intention was certainly not to make you or anyone else angry. Also, if I make my case, I’ll have about 20 people respond, then I’ll have to respond to them, etc. I don’t want to hijack the thread. My only point was that there’s a parallel between how these niche associations form and the experience I have had on this blog. It was not to defend free market policies. I fully appreciate that people blog from their experiences; I was similarly commenting from mine. If that sounds like an evasion, so be it.
melbourne desi: T.Nagar ba!
Sorry, I meant in Toronto. I should clarify my point though – there are many tamil community groups here that have nothing to do with any part of the conflict – but its fingers can be ‘felt’ in the informal aspects of the organization…if that makes any sense at all.
I should clarify my post to Pondatti, too, even though you’re responding to Superbad. I meant from the posts here, obviously the comments are very diverse and you would be hard pressed not to find something analogous to your own situation even if you did choose not to contribute.
Your objectivity is overwhelming. In the meantime, i’ll be gracious enough to excuse your lack of evidence. What’s alarming about the declining ability to read and interpret prose, these days, is evident in your assessment of emotional content in my earlier comment.
Egads! people responding to others on a blog??!!! Has the sky fallen on our heads already, Vitalstatistix?
what, from reading it? I hate to sound all libby here but it was your personal choice to read this blog. If you feel alienated by a choice you made, then rue it with gusto!! It’s what the rest of us non-objective, emotional wrecks do when we make mistakes.
” 133 · Priya on December 10, 2007 10:19 PM · Direct link “then why not just have a single south-asian cultural center instead of all these denominations. And do all these cultural chest-beating and walk down the memory lanes in your own backyard barbeque ?”
Organizations need a coalescing factor, be it a shared past, shared profession, shared interest. Nebulous concepts don’t an association make. There is room for a South-Asian cultural center, too, but not as a replacement for the thousands of denominational organizations that hundreds of thousands of people are merrily flocking to because it is merely natural for them to do so.
Secondly, why should any cultural chest-beating be done in utter privacy? That is totalitarian thinking. Why do gays have parades? We do live in a free society.
sneaking a comment in edgeways – i agree with superbad on some terms – i enjoy the conversation on this forum, but in situations where my sentiment runs against the philosophical grain on culture/religion i avoid comment. its the same with one’s involvement in other desi gatherings such as TIE. it’s all like being a wegetarian in a clambake. at least the potatoes are hot and the company is fun yaar.
this thread is precisely one which i’d not wade in – but just wanted to state that the sporadic occurrence of a contrarian element isnt necessarily an aberration.
.
Because hundreds of denominations re-inforces the alientation of ever increasing number of people who will have to choose an identity or sub-division which they barely or with great difficulty fit into unless strictly enforced and tutored by uncles and aunties. Most of these organizations are for the folks who are neither Indians and nor ABDs and still don’t purpose they serve for either their narrow community of people or for their ABD children. For the former they can stick to their backyard barbeque and for the latter they can do something more universal, ecualr, pan-south asian.
true that… but the coalescing factor needs a critical mass. I suspect, this is a relative recent phenomenon that the ‘sub’-groups are sufficiently large to go solo. here’s an interesting take on the same issue, albeit with an evolutionary perspective.
To send a msg to the haters. Not the same thing.
you know one needs a break from brown when one reads that line and thinks… oo that’s a witty play on words! yes indeed… why do thegays need a parallel-des or para-des?
thonk
goa sausages? hmmmm. first time i’ve heard of this. another reason to live. first i goota try mangosteen, then fubu, then this sausage of which you speak.
fugu, not fubu….sorry, had too much absinthe tonight. Goes well with alligator.
Muralimannered, you are one of the rudest people this site has seen in a long time. You’re one of the reasons I comment less than I used to. You’re insulting, sarcastic, caustic, and just generally very unpleasant to interact with. As far as I’m concerned, you don’t enhance the discussion, instead you turn people (at least me and apparently a few others) off. If you disagree with someone you will try your best to humiliate them. You seem incapable of being civil to people you disagree with. You want all sorts of evidence, links, and sources for others’ claims but never hold yourself up to the same standard. Your arrogance and combativeness are astounding. I wasn’t going to say anything but enough is enough.
Which is not to say I agree with superbad.
What if … the society is so diverse that race/color/language/nation of origin cease to matter? In Information theory, this would be said to be a condition of maximum entropy. Is this why multiculturalism is succeeding in Canada? Because the only uniting factor among the maximally diverse inhabitants is the common nationality. Ergo, in forty years’ time we will have a greek uncle and a pakistani uncle joining the same moustache club to celebrate their common heritage in facial hair.
On that note, is this latebreaking an example of the same, a sign of success :-)? man shot, video taken, video taken away, story told The names in the story are a story in itself.
HEY! Don’t hate on Murlimannered! An opinion is just that. Antagonism, haterade, or any version of such is why I come back for him, and others. It doesn’t make hime right, just real.