From: pras0005@student.tc.umn.edu ()
Subject: Re: Democrats are Indian, Republicans are Pakistani :-)
Organization: University of Minnesota
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 03:28:49 GMT

Note to late-comers: Vijay Pai accused republican-voting Indo-americans of
being Pakistani sympathizers.  The discussion then turned to democrat vs
republican issues of "cultural diversity."  The India-Pakistan topic is
recapitualted towards the end of the article.

In article <C1Gwvv.3Dn@rice.edu> vijaypai@owlnet.rice.edu (Vijay Sadananda Pai) writes:
>
>While it may have been politically of little significance, it
>was probably meaningful economically. After all, most Southern
>states are constantly trying to upgrade their images. They're

Image-conscious Southerners could do better that to constantly re-elect
Jesse Helms (make that image-conscious N Carolinans).  Helms is an advocate
for the tobacco industry which is contrary to what you say (see below) about
their fatigue with their agricultural image.  Except for the pretentious,
pseudo-intellectual, semi-educated people, Southerners are proud of the
agriculture associated with their  regions (make that some Southerners as
someone will complain about cutting a broad swath through the alfalfa).  I'm
Floridian and I respect that state's excellence in the citrus, beef-cattle,
and dairy industries.  Those who are embarrassed by their states'
agricultural reputations should try not eating for a lifetime.

>sick of being considered agricultural and backward and would
>rather be known as progressive, urban centers of technology.

>|> a tendency, IMO, to show their liberalism by making distinct efforts to include
>|> minorities.  Using minorities ifor political gain in that way is quite racist.
>
>As a side note, I believe this thread started by someone saying
>that we need to have pride in our culture, recognize our
>cultural and social identity. I couldn't agree more. This is
>something we need to do, and it most certainly is not racist.
>Why, then, is it that when politicians recognize our cultural
>identity, you consider it racist?? 
>
Well, there you go again (apologies to Rakesh Patel for quoting someone).
Celebrating our Cultural Diversity.  An over-used and utterly meaningless
catch phrase of the Democratic party.  The fruits of this effort begin and
end with fashion shows, exotic food, and unusual music.  When Clinton applied
this phrase to his cabinet, he meant "I'm going to have x number of African-
Americans, y Hispanics, and z women.  Hey !!!  Where are the Asians??
What are we, potted plants? (sorry Rakesh).
I don't care how much the cabinet "looks like America."  I only care that
they do their jobs in a competent, unbiased manner.  This is independent of
race and gender.

>Well, which one is it? Is the mark of a fiscally responsible
>person one who is responsible with his own money, or one who
>is irresponsible with his own money?

Now this is very prejudicial of you.  You divide everyone into two groups
and ask which one is better at a task.  Don't judge by stereotypes, judge
by individual abilities.  
>
>And if anyone took my earlier remarks to be derogatory
>to Pakistanis, they have misunderstood the ideas.
>I said all along that the Pakistanis have a better organized
>lobbying effort than Indians, and this could lead to
>UN/US resolutions or world pressure condemning India, specifically
>
Here's what you said about Pakistan:


>> Any Indian who would support Republicans is a Pakistani in disguise.
>> The Republicans have been overwhelmingly pro-Pak and anti-Indian
>> in their terms in government...[more politics, deleted]...
>
>> So, if you want to support bigots and Pakistanis, that's fine by me,
>> but you'll be responsible when some Christian fanatic wins the
>> Presidency here or when Kashmir and Punjab are taken away from
>> the motherland.
>

Not really insulting, but highly inflammatory. Let me know if I deleted
anything important, but there's nothing here about the better organization
of the Pakistan lobby.  Infact you leave it quite open to the interpretation
that Republicans will arm Pakistan who will then swarm across the border,
crumpling India's lesser defenses in the process.


Shiv Prasad
pras0005@student.tc.umn.edu

Newsgroups: alt.culture.us.asian-indian