What is this nonsense about Sunita Willaims?
Jump to Page:
< Previous [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] [ 9 ]
Quote:
If you ask , its questions , if I ask it is meaningless rant
Prime example that you're either not reading posts or having difficulty understanding them. My question was at the very end of my post.
Allow me to simplify.
Scenario :
Sunita Williams, an accomplished female astronaut who is of Indian lineage from her father's side and wishes to connect to that heritage in some way lands in India.
1) In the India in Fido's mind, what happens next?
2) Some Indians would like to welcome her. What does Fido do about this?
And btw, PM meeting Pak leader to PM inviting Sunita is a ludicrous comparison, you can do better than that....
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Are you there?
Location: British Columbia
Posted on: 29-09-07 10:04:38
Have you ever heard the phrase 'the person is political' ?
This phase means that the experiences of our personal lives are not just a matter of personal choices but are also defined by a broader political and social setting. Therefore our personal lives also involve political relationships and structures. (I took this particular definition from the internet but we were taught this in uni)...
Sunita Williams may be american by nationality but when the world looks at her face she is brown - and has an Indian father. The political here is that race is a very hot issue. Therefore she is a minority woman who has accomplished what most of us will not do in our lifetime. That is seen as a political issue for WOMEN as well who have traditionally be oppressed by both north american/european as well as south asian traditions. A woman in space is still a big deal...whatever race she may be. As I mention...she's a woman and a visible minority... its political.
secondly - culture. Culture is defined as the following ( reference: google):
1) The accumulated habits, attitudes, and beliefs of a group of people that define for them their general behavior and way of life; the total set of learned activities of a people
2) a set of learned beliefs, values and behaviors the way of life shared by the members of a society
3) The word culture comes from the Latin root colere (to inhabit, to cultivate, or to honor). In general, it refers to human activity; different definitions of culture reflect different theories for understanding, or criteria for valuing, human activity. Anthropologists use the term to refer to the universal human capacity to classify experiences, and to encode and communicate them symbolically. They regard this capacity as a defining feature of the genus Homo.
the basic concept of three different types of definition is that culture is the experience of a group of people - and it will evolve. Culture is not static. We may say "indian culture" but that is not technically correct. Within Indian culture you have regional and lingustic and religious 'cultures' as well.
In other words, I feel that my or your or Sunita William's definition of their own 'indian culture-ness' are all equally valid. If your arguement was that her nationality was in question...well that is obvious..she is not an indian by birth or residency. Those of you that live outside of india are now persons of indian origin...but may not be indian citizens either.
Only you can define what that really means for you..whether you feel guilt at leaving loved ones behind..or your country or whatever. However it does not relate to one's culturedness nor to their right to define themselves as such.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
~ Morning rain
Quote:
Originally posted by puttoo
You wont understand the concept of inspiration ...... for you " blood" is more important tehn anything ... I guess it would have been ok if she had married an Indian Gujju .... but to marry a " white" guy ... that really sets you off ....
On Bharat Ratna ...... we gave it to Nelson Mandela ..... why ..... he is not an Indian nor he has any Indian hertiage ........
Quote:
Originally posted by desi in ottawa
Quote:
Originally posted by puttoo
She may be recommended for Bharat Ratna. After all, her dad is from India.
DIO
oh yeah. See, DIO would likewise balk at a white American who came to him and told him "I've read a lot about Mahatma Gandhi and he's an inspiration". The response would be "WHAA...?? You must be a traitor to your country. Go find your own heroes to draw inspiration from!"
Or if some kids are beating up a kid in Australia and one kid comes up an says "Listen guys. After reading about Nelson Mandela, I've come to the conclusion that violence is not the answer", DIO would say "WHAT?? How dare you?"
or if Thomas Edison was the inspiration of an engineer at IIT, DIO would have a problem with that too.
INSPIRATION EITHER COMES FROM YOUR COUNTRY (NO HERITAGE / LINEAGE EXCEPTIONS) OR IT DOES NOT!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Are you there?
Quote:
Originally posted by Fido
If she does and I hope all these functions make her develop a bondage for India I will write as many apologies , as I have written posts in this thread .
She has already shown her desire to give lectures in IIMs and IITs if invited by govt. of India. This was published in a recent article of 'Gujarat Abroad' of this week on page no. 12. I think this was the first step to develop bondage for India in your words.
Quote:
Originally posted by BlueLobster
oh yeah. See, DIO would likewise balk at a white American who came to him and told him "I've read a lot about Mahatma Gandhi and he's an inspiration". The response would be "WHAA...?? You must be a traitor to your country. Go find your own heroes to draw inspiration from!"
Or if some kids are beating up a kid in Australia and one kid comes up an says "Listen guys. After reading about Nelson Mandela, I've come to the conclusion that violence is not the answer", DIO would say "WHAT?? How dare you?"
or if Thomas Edison was the inspiration of an engineer at IIT, DIO would have a problem with that too.
INSPIRATION EITHER COMES FROM YOUR COUNTRY (NO HERITAGE / LINEAGE EXCEPTIONS) OR IT DOES NOT!!
To get inspired is very good, I think no one including Fido and DIO is denying it. But celebration?? That's their question.
Taking the examples that you have given:
Bending backwards to celebrate Nelson Mandela or say the birthday of Thomas Edison by Indians is weird. But celebrating Gandhi Jayanti is not, since Gandhiji was a true Indian.
Quote:
Originally posted by cdn_dude
To get inspired is very good, I think no one including Fido and DIO is denying it. But celebration?? That's their question.
No one is denying inspiration? she was used with words like 'shame on her' and 'rocket drivers' on this forum.
Quote:
Taking the examples that you have given:
Bending backwards to celebrate Nelson Mandela or say the birthday of Thomas Edison by Indians is weird. But celebrating Gandhi Jayanti is not, since Gandhiji was a true Indian.
No one is celebrating the Sunita Jayanti in India is it ?
Quote:
To get inspired is very good, I think no one including Fido and DIO is denying it. But celebration?? That's their question.
Thanks for speaking for them but like I said before, its obvious you haven't read all the posts in this thread.
Quote:
Originally posted by cdn_dude
Bending backwards to celebrate Nelson Mandela or say the birthday of Thomas Edison by Indians is weird. But celebrating Gandhi Jayanti is not, since Gandhiji was a true Indian.
Bending backwards? Who's bending backwards?
Can you connect your example to the situation at hand here? Seems totally off to me. Nobody is celebrating her birthday.
The more appropriate example would be "If Mandela or the late Edison were to visit India, would it be wrong to give them a rousing reception"? And now, would it be wrong if the reception had a different flavor if either one of them had an Indian parent? Would you call the people giving them a rousing reception "crazy"?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Are you there?
Advertise Contact Us Privacy Policy and Terms of Usage FAQ Canadian Desi © 2001 Marg eSolutions Site designed, developed and maintained by Marg eSolutions Inc. |