http://desicritics.org/ Superior South Asian bloggers on Culture, Media, Politics, Sport, Business, and Technology. en Copyright 2006 by the authors Mon, 9 Mar 2009 16:01:01 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss BC custom software http://desicritics.org/2008/07/05/035205.php#comment-359336 Dies ist ein großer Ort. Ich möchte hier noch einmal. 359336@desicritics.org Mon, 9 Mar 2009 16:01:01 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/05/035205.php#comment-359335 Dies ist ein großer Ort. Ich möchte hier noch einmal. 359335@desicritics.org Mon, 9 Mar 2009 16:00:24 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/05/035205.php#comment-336509 of course racism exists... but the best antidote for it is self-confidence. i've been living in the USA for fifteen years and i've traveled to most of europe. from time to time i've experienced racism... like the time i was in the supermarket and some white-skinned russian shoved me roughly and told me in his very gutteral accent and broken english to go back to my country. instead of shying and running from the situation, i stood my ground and told him off in a voice loud enough for everyone around to hear. i wanted the bully to think twice the next time he thought of bullying me or any other indian/brown woman. on the other hand, like vijay i've also had experienced kindness and support from ppl of other races. so i've learnt to take it in stride and not let it prejudice me with its boomerang effect. speaking abt perceptions... after 9/11, i've noticed many of my muslim friends have been apprehensive abt racism. one of my friends who wears a head scarf was reluctant to apply for a job because she was afraid of the perceptions she would be greeted with. anyhow i pushed her to go to the interview and she ended up getting the job. i think our biggest enemy is in our head, and that is Fear. lastly, from what i've experienced during my numerous visits to the homeland.. indians are always wary of racism and stereotyping... but to date i have not seen a society more racist than the indian society. it is something deeply rooted within the indian subconconscious. and yet i wonder how has this country of a billion ppl managed to stay intact despite it? it's truly a wonder.. 336509@desicritics.org Sun, 6 Jul 2008 02:04:02 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/05/035205.php#comment-336502 yep ss, as somebody who revels in it, the whole notion of "inter-racial" relationship is way to "exotized"!! (there we agree on here, if not exactly on the issue of counterfeit goods or counterfeit relationships). The problem: if inter-cultural relationships go bust, "culture" is blamed. ("I told you so! Firangees are always self-centred, arrogant, Eurocentric, want to exoticise us browns, yada yada yada...) If so-called non-inter-cultural relationships go bust, nobody gives a shit. 336502@desicritics.org Sun, 6 Jul 2008 00:29:53 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/05/035205.php#comment-336487 but you know what.. having an interracial relationship is actually only as difficult as you make it. when you stop giving a crap about what others think, it becomes very easy. neither my husband or I really think about it at all. we discussed the possible issues in the beginning, then went on to live our lives. when you obsess and worry what others think, that is when the problems come. 336487@desicritics.org Sat, 5 Jul 2008 21:17:07 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/05/035205.php#comment-336486 Well written article indeed. Inter-racial relationship is a very tricky subject. At one end are the genuine racists who oppose to this kind of marriage. At the other end are those concerned about culture clash and the fear that one of the partner will not be able to adjust to the other's tradition etc which may eventually ruin the marriage. Trust me, inter-racial marriages are no walk in the park, but then again, a marriage in itself is not easy either. In between those two groups are those who oppose to inter-racial relationships simply because they fear the diminution of their blood-line. It kinda sounds like Hitler's "pure race" theory, but here in India, wherever we go, we all carry our identity tag with us. And it is the mindset of other people that let us carry such a card. Hence everyone wants to have an identity. Being "Indian" is not enough. We become insecure about our existence and some of us fiercely guard people from our community from marrying those from other community. That is why I've always wondered, can this insecurity be really termed under racism? I read your earlier well written article about xenophobia and I was about to comment there when I saw this new post of yours which is quite related. Would love to hear your opinion on my question. 336486@desicritics.org Sat, 5 Jul 2008 21:06:48 EDT http://desicritics.org/2008/07/05/035205.php#comment-336483 sorry but this book itself sounds like one big stereotype!!! 336483@desicritics.org Sat, 5 Jul 2008 20:35:56 EDT