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Indian-Americans Must Realize That Their Complacency Will Not Save Them From Hate In America Any More

They must push back against divisive forces now.

24/02/2017 3:34 PM IST | Updated 10 hours ago

It is not fair to lay the blame for the death of Srinivas Kuchibhotla at Donald Trump's door.

The Indian American engineer in Kansas city was enjoying his Jameson whisky with his colleague Alok Madasani when alleged attacker Adam Purinton fired at them yelling "get out of my country". Ian Grillot, also a white American, was injured trying to protect them. Purinton was nabbed later having a drink at another bar to unwind from the shooting. He is a navy veteran with an inactive pilot license and an air traffic controller certificate. He lives alone and had once worked for the Federal Aviation Administration.

 

It might emerge that the man had mental problems. There are reports that he was alcoholic. There's no direct line connecting him with the ascension of Trump or his rhetoric. But there is a dotted line.

 

In the name of making America great again, Trump has enabled the bullies. The fulminations about terrorists, rapists, murderers, all brown, all the other, leave no one in doubt that this election was about white America taking back the country, taking a stand against the browning of America. Thankfully not everyone subscribed to this as Grillot's courage showed.

 

 

Clinton Missouri Police Department

 

Kuchibhotla paid with his life but there have been many incidents of garden variety bullying and "go back to your country"-type harassment. And Trump's response has been tepid, delayed and deliberately measured. He takes his time to condemn anti-Semitic hate crime threats and bristles when asked about it at a press conference.Trump will no doubt condemn Kuchibhotla's death. Republican senator from Kansas, Jerry Moran, has already said "I strongly condemn violence of any kind especially if it is motivated by prejudice and xenophobia." Trump will surely echo him as well.

This violence is not isolated, no matter how much authorities will try to "lone wolf" it. It exists in a continuum. It exists within the racial anxiety of the US which is projected to become a "majority-minority" nation by 2043, which means that no one ethnic group will be the majority anymore.

There are reports that Purinton thought Kuchibhotla and Madasani were Middle Eastern. Indian Americans would do well not to think that this was a freak case of mistaken identity. After 9/11 the first casualty was Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh gas station owner "mistaken" as an Arab because of his beard and turban. In 2012 a peaceful gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, became the scene of a bloodbath when Wade Michael Page opened his semiautomatic on its congregation.

This violence was not freak or unprecedented. Page was involved with a white supremacist group and was an active member of a skinhead group called the Northern Hammerskins.

As Deepa Iyer writes in her timely book We Too Sing America: South Asian, Arab, Muslim and Sikh Immigrants Shape our Multiracial Future, "America is a racial state. We are the inheritors of systems and institutions that enable the denial of basic human rights to indigenous and Black and Brown communities, from colonization to slavery, from Jim Crow segregation to the Japanese American internment. The post-9/11 treatment of South Asian, Arab and Muslim communities by the US government continues this shameful legacy."

The vulnerability of a minority will only increase as it is perceived as a threat to some idea of America, as we found in Kansas City.

This violence is not isolated, no matter how much authorities will try to "lone wolf" it. It exists in a continuum. It exists within the racial anxiety of the US which is projected to become a "majority-minority" nation by 2043 which means that no one ethnic group will be the majority any more. Many of those who voted for Trump did so believing that Trump would reverse or at least slow the demographic march towards that date. The wall, the extreme vetting, the employment visa rules are all part of that project even if they are presented as measures against crime and terrorism.

Iyer writes that it's more accurate to think of America transforming into a multiracial nation with no single racial group occupying a majority, but conservative forces will see more potency in the term "majority-minority" which carries with it a sense of an old white majority under siege in their own homeland. As Iyer writes, majority-minority does not mean minority populations "will gain power and influence due to their numbers", that sheer numbers will "drive racial equality, economic equity, or political power."

The vulnerability of the minority will only increase as it is perceived as a threat to some people's idea of America, as we found in Kansas City.

What will happen now is predictable. There will be condemnation. There will be an attempt to frame this story as a lone wolf story. There will be promises of strict action. The Indian government will rush to render all assistance to the affected families. There might be a marked slowness, even reluctance to call this a hate crime in sharp contrast to the alacrity with which an attack that never happened in Sweden will be described as terror. All of that is utterly predictable.

What Indian-Americans will do well to take away from the Kansas city attack is that their complacency about being the model minority will not save them from the hate. Trump may personally bear no ill-will against them, he may have even made ads saying "Ab ki baar, Trump sarkar" and his daughter-in-law might wear a bindi and go to a temple, but for many of his angry buzzing supporters, Indian-Americans are just part of the browning of America that they resent.

Indian Americans would do well to realise that they occupy no special place despite their median income.

All the money that the Republican Hindu Coalition raised for Trump will not be able to protect the likes of Kuchibhotla from that hate when it spills over onto Main Street America. The hate graffiti on the wall does not check visa status.

Indian Americans would do well to realise that they occupy no special place despite their median income. In fact Trump's campaign against "illegal immigrants" will also singe South Asian Americans though no one thinks of desis when they think about immigrants slipping across the US-Mexico border. But the fact is, thanks to visa overstays, South Asian Americans are one of the fastest growing "illegal" groups in the US.

The Times of India reports that some 300,000 Indians could be affected by the administration's plans to deport first and ask questions later. A Pew Center report says there were nearly half a million unauthorised Indian immigrants in the US in 2014, a 43% spike since 2009.

It just goes to show that Indian Americans do not exist in a vacuum. They are part of the immigrant story, and when the backlash happens, they will be part of that story too, as the Kansas incident tragically illustrates. Indian-Americans must be a part of the movement to resist the forces unleashed in America today, they cannot set themselves apart from it.

The tragedy in Kansas City was a reality check towards that end.

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"All the money that the Republican Hindu Coalition raised for Trump will not be able to protect the likes of Kuchibhotla from that hate when it spills over onto Main Street America. The hate graffiti on the wall does not check visa status.

The Times of India reports that some 300,000 Indians could be affected by the administration's plans to deport first and ask questions later. A Pew Center report says there were nearly half a million unauthorised Indian immigrants in the US in 2014, a 43% spike since 2009.

Pointblank

The reality is not to blame or shame white ppl, but live within the confines of a race of ppl who were betrayed by Presidents, since Clinton. Trump speaks for Americans, they have no other home. Jews have Israel, Muslims have the Middle_East, Mexicans have Mexico, East Indians, no matter how far removed will never deny Sindh. Generally, ppl of color will always look towards another Continent. Assimilation is not in their blood. And I doan blame dem, bcz white ppl is uncommon to them.

I doan blame the white man for wanting to preserve his country. I do not see immigrants sustaining America or even be civil to white ppl if they were to become the minority.

Just imagine the anarchy that lies waiting. Which ethnic group will dominate the lives of the ppl who will be living in 2043. I do hope White ppl are dominant, for the last 600 years they have demonstatred the will for the whole world to rise from backwardness. 

S
Pointblank posted:

"All the money that the Republican Hindu Coalition raised for Trump will not be able to protect the likes of Kuchibhotla from that hate when it spills over onto Main Street America. The hate graffiti on the wall does not check visa status.

The Times of India reports that some 300,000 Indians could be affected by the administration's plans to deport first and ask questions later. A Pew Center report says there were nearly half a million unauthorised Indian immigrants in the US in 2014, a 43% spike since 2009.

Imam, you should be ashamed of yourself for creating racial division everywhere.  If it's not hatred for the PPP, or whites, or Hindus, it will be someone else.  Next time you go to Mecca, please buy a one way ticket.  You are only comfortable among your own kind.

Bibi Haniffa
Last edited by Bibi Haniffa
seignet posted:

The reality is not to blame or shame white ppl, but live within the confines of a race of ppl who were betrayed by Presidents, since Clinton. Trump speaks for Americans, they have no other home. Jews have Israel, Muslims have the Middle_East, Mexicans have Mexico, East Indians, no matter how far removed will never deny Sindh. Generally, ppl of color will always look towards another Continent. Assimilation is not in their blood. And I doan blame dem, bcz white ppl is uncommon to them.

I doan blame the white man for wanting to preserve his country. I do not see immigrants sustaining America or even be civil to white ppl if they were to become the minority.

Just imagine the anarchy that lies waiting. Which ethnic group will dominate the lives of the ppl who will be living in 2043. I do hope White ppl are dominant, for the last 600 years they have demonstatred the will for the whole world to rise from backwardness. 

All of them cussing the white man, yet they are running to the white man country for a better life.  Bunch of hypocrites.

Bibi Haniffa

Pointblank, why suddenly  you taking Indian problem as your own? This is an isolated incident by an idiot who don't know any better. From Muslim raising money to rebuild Jewish cemetery to a white killing an Indian is very strange. Before, you would post anything to degrade India, Indians and Jews. Get real with yourself here and don't shit people off.

FM
Chief posted:
Cobra posted:

Perhaps they took him for a Muslim?

They wil also can make a mistake with one of your siblings.

I am warning you again not to bring in my family and siblings into any discussion, but you continue with your old habit. But since you're at it, my kids are safer among white people than any Muslim. 

FM
Last edited by Former Member

It just goes to show that Indian Americans do not exist in a vacuum. They are part of the immigrant story, and when the backlash happens, they will be part of that story too, as the Kansas incident tragically illustrates. Indian-Americans must be a part of the movement to resist the forces unleashed in America today, they cannot set themselves apart from it."

Pointblank

I think the issue is that many of those who perpetuate violence against immigrants are not wise to know that there is a difference between a brown skinned Muslim and a brown skinned Hindu and brown skinned Christian. For many of them, we are all painted with the same brush. 

Please do not get me wrong. I an not advocating the generalization of attributes such as hate, violence, etc to any one group.

Z
Chief posted:

So the Indian who was murdered fell from a tree?

YOU low life swine ,  that Indian brother parents who are grieving.

 

 

I have said before, all brown people can be stopped an asked to show they are here legally, regardless if they are citizens or not. Similarly, ignorant and inbred rednecks will use the same excuse and think that all dark haired, brown skinned people are Jihadists.

FM
Last edited by Former Member

So I had a discussion with my Indian colleagues at work regarding this incident.  Their outlook was pretty surprising. The first question that was raised was not about why the White man killed the Indian, but rather what the hell the Indian was doing in a bar drinking in red neck country.

One Indian guy even blamed the Indian for aggravating the situation by arguing with the drunk white man.

They are very cognizant about the fact that they are taking away the jobs of the Whites and feel empathy in this regard. In fact one of them even mentioned that in India he has seen foreigners ill treated by Indians for the least of reasons and fell that they are relatively well treated in US by comparison.    

FM
Last edited by Former Member
Pointblank posted:

It just goes to show that Indian Americans do not exist in a vacuum. They are part of the immigrant story, and when the backlash happens, they will be part of that story too, as the Kansas incident tragically illustrates. Indian-Americans must be a part of the movement to resist the forces unleashed in America today, they cannot set themselves apart from it."

You dream on.

Dem men, currently in the White House will not be deterred, even it means shaking every pillar of their civilization or pulling it down. It is a fight for White supremacy. That does not mean enslaving immigrants or marginalizing them. Simply, it is will be that immigrants live in America with their pleasure. Doan freaking treat them as they have no say, imposing all sort of alien beliefs and practices in their society. Do whatever you want in the confnes of the home.

The trend is to muzzle the press, force judges to consider American values, FIRST.  Civil Rights of immigrants must NEVER be at the expense of the White Society. 

O'Bannion's Agenda.

Immigrants escaped from their natural borders BECAUSE civil rights were not awarded to them by their race of people. And now, they, being a bully wanting impose their will which they NEVER had until coming to the land of the free. Created by White People.

America is in a Civil War.

The casualities will be those fools who believes that White People will lie down their basic rights.

Alyuh think straight. Trump and his boys has four years to massage alyuh egos. And they will. Either immigrants leave by boat loads or they shut their mouths and be AMERICANS, instead of being IMMIGRANTS.

America first.

S
Drugb posted:

So I had a discussion with my Indian colleagues at work regarding this incident.  Their outlook was pretty surprising. The first question that was raised was not about why the White man killed the Indian, but rather what the hell the Indian was doing in a bar drinking in red neck country.

One Indian guy even blamed the Indian for aggravating the situation by arguing with the drunk white man.

They are very cognizant about the fact thatthey are taking away the jobs of the Whites and feel empathy in this regard. In fact one of them even mentioned that in India he has seen foreigners ill treated by Indians for the least of reasons and fell that they are relatively well treated in US by comparison.    

Drug, I agree with you. However, this redneck took an innocent life. I have seen Indians argue with other people telling them how great India is. I experienced my job shipping out to India once and another time to the Philippines. Blame corporate greed.

FM
Drugb posted:

So I had a discussion with my Indian colleagues at work regarding this incident.  Their outlook was pretty surprising. The first question that was raised was not about why the White man killed the Indian, but rather what the hell the Indian was doing in a bar drinking in red neck country.

One Indian guy even blamed the Indian for aggravating the situation by arguing with the drunk white man.

They are very cognizant about the fact that they are taking away the jobs of the Whites and feel empathy in this regard. In fact one of them even mentioned that in India he has seen foreigners ill treated by Indians for the least of reasons and fell that they are relatively well treated in US by comparison.    

I find that some Indians are very subservient...you can beat the shit out of them and they still want more

FM
Last edited by Former Member
RiffRaff posted:

I find that some Indians are very subservient...you can beat the shit out of them and they still want more

I don't think it is about subservient so much. 

Their outlook is founded on the realization that they are taking jobs and they themselves treat foreigners in India with threats and disdain.  They basically find it more productive to keep a low profile while they slowly take over. Unlike the blacks who are more in your face and aggressive. 

FM
Drugb posted:
RiffRaff posted:

I find that some Indians are very subservient...you can beat the shit out of them and they still want more

I don't think it is about subservient so much. 

Their outlook is founded on the realization that they are taking jobs and they themselves treat foreigners in India with threats and disdain.  They basically find it more productive to keep a low profile while they slowly take over. Unlike the blacks who are more in your face and aggressive. 

Taking what jobs?

WHy do you think tech companies hire the best and brightest who mostly come from overseas...I sure it's not because there is an overabundance of talent in the US

FM
RiffRaff posted:

Taking what jobs?

WHy do you think tech companies hire the best and brightest who mostly come from overseas...I sure it's not because there is an overabundance of talent in the US

Nonsense, stick to printing.  I have been in the industry for 30 years and seen how the jobs in IT have been outsourced for the cheaper Indian labor to the point where US IT professionals dissuaded their children from entering the field.   The Indian IT outsourced H1 visa holders were brought in specifically for cheaper labor.  You don't really believe that it was the Indians who revolutionized the IT industry do you?

FM
Drugb posted:
RiffRaff posted:

I find that some Indians are very subservient...you can beat the shit out of them and they still want more

I don't think it is about subservient so much. 

Their outlook is founded on the realization that they are taking jobs and they themselves treat foreigners in India with threats and disdain.  They basically find it more productive to keep a low profile while they slowly take over. Unlike the blacks who are more in your face and aggressive. 

Low profile and slowly take over is my approach at the workplace. However, yesterday a Sikh PhD from Mt. Sinai Hospital, NY came to DC to give a presentation. He wore a turban and had the beard, the whole works. I was taken back. Under that turban they have long hair. In my town, the foreigners try to blend in. These Sikhs are inviting trouble.

FM
Leonora posted:
Drugb posted:
RiffRaff posted:

I find that some Indians are very subservient...you can beat the shit out of them and they still want more

I don't think it is about subservient so much. 

Their outlook is founded on the realization that they are taking jobs and they themselves treat foreigners in India with threats and disdain.  They basically find it more productive to keep a low profile while they slowly take over. Unlike the blacks who are more in your face and aggressive. 

Low profile and slowly take over is my approach at the workplace. However, yesterday a Sikh PhD from Mt. Sinai Hospital, NY came to DC to give a presentation. He wore a turban and had the beard, the whole works. I was taken back. Under that turban they have long hair. In my town, the foreigners try to blend in. These Sikhs are inviting trouble.

Of course there are exceptions, you have to play a lot of politics to move ahead after attaining a certain level. This includes hobnobbing with the right people, golf course, smoke breaks and putting yourself in positions where your name gains attention. Some folks skillfully create problems and then rush in like the savior and resolve them, bring positive attention and exposure to to themselves.  Others ride on the backs of their direct reports to glory, taking all the credit for themselves.  This particular Skih must be brilliant to to move ahead despite not fitting the profile of the upward mobile white and right gentleman.  I have seen it all in my 30 years in corporate America. 

FM

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