| Username |
Post |
| namita |
Posted
on 10-Aug-01 10:01 AM
"If any restaurant workers or owners are concerned that some kind of lawsuit might come out of this discussion, let me assure you: YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. Most of the people who use/abuse this forum just yap! It seems this is a perfect outlet for them to kill some boring hours at work or at home by just finding some issues to yap about. In 2 weeks time, this subject will be history and they will be yapping about something new. Different topic, different time, but the same people, and still no action. Just words, words in this virtual world that could be deleted faster than they were written. So, no worries anyone.
Observer"
Forgive me for starting a new thread for the same subject. To me, it just seemed the right time to do it now.
I don't know why people log in to this site but for me it is to see what is happening in the world and in my community. This is a message board where anybody can come and post something that might be interesting to other readers. There are various kinds of postings as we have seen from the birth of this site to now. (Although I came to know the existence of this site only6-7 months ago.) Some of them are pretty good and informative and some plain outlandish and filthy. And some in between.
What is the role of this site? What is the responsibility of the people who "yap" as our observer has pointed out? San volunteered to serve the community by masterminding the site and keeping it alive. WE the posters, observers, commentators come here and exchange our ideas, views, and news. Do people have to *act* as soon as we see atrocities and/or injustice around us? I think many (or most) of us are not activist. But that should not preclude us from discussing. I think discussing is the first step to find out the deeper truth, the real meaning and if needed be what we could do about it. Or, what *must* be done in some cases. Does this site want everybody to be an activist? I don't think so. Like I said it is a message board and if people want to do something about some issues that is their prerogative. If I talk about Genoa and protest and death of the participant does that mean I want to go there and voice my own protest? If I have the time, energy and fund why should not I? Is it practical to participate in every issues I deem important? I don't think so. Sometimes writers main job is to shake the comfortable surroundings people are accustomed to. To instill a new way of thinking.
Coming back to the exploitation surrounding Indian/Nepali restaurants all I have to say is what is going on there is totally unacceptable. Like Rahul and Shushil pointed out this is a nobel thought but there is other side also. These illegal workers do send the money back home, they may not have any other choice, they may never be hired by other restaurants and so forth. That is why I suggested, maybe we should figure out if they really want to file a lawsuit. I think (now this is my, underline that my, please) we should focus only one restaurant at a time and go forward. If there is anybody out there who is interested in this cause we can get together and figure something out. This is unacceptable that this kind of exploitation goes on here in the “land of free.” From the cases I have read the workers have always won. And the issue about them not finding another job. That is not a valid point. It is not that all the restaurants have a dossier and a big network system of every illegal waiter. How would they find out that this particular person with others have filed a lawsuit? I think this kind of lawsuit will open the eyes of the owners (monetary punishment is a big eye opener) and things will change. Yes the suer will very likely be fired but then whom will they hire? Since they are already in the scrutiny of the law.
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| EastSideBoy |
Posted
on 10-Aug-01 11:11 AM
It has just occurred to me that you might actually be lacking in the 'brain' department, namita. It's just a thought, though. Your angry reply to this message will prove it.
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| PDK |
Posted
on 13-Aug-01 11:00 AM
I have been reading quite a bit about underpaid Nepali workers in Indian Restaurants. Thats true they are paid below the minimum. If it is illegal to pay under the minimum, isn't it illegal to work in those restaurants for those nepali kids? They do not want to be deported, they eventually get a green card. Not everyone marries an american. Indian restaurants are the only place they get hired without much paperwork, i believe. If they are found that they have been working illegaly, they may never come back from Nepal if they go there. Can Namita provide these kids with a higher paying job?
Enough about workers in US. How about child workers in Nepal? Do they get paid enough, if they get paid? Do they have an 8 hour schedule? Do they get any respect from their employers?
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| KDK |
Posted
on 13-Aug-01 11:23 AM
Can PDK read? Does one know what he/she is writing about? Is this the truth? What about the "ultimate" truth? Are we really alive? Is this all 'maya'? Do people know what brainstroming is? Can people only ask rhetoric question in order to not to think about acting? Do people even have some qualm how they treat others? Do people think? Do people have some guiding principles how they want to live their lives? Do people thrive on doing the mathmatics of "canceling out injustice plus injustice equals no action?" Do poeple gloat over their "impotence"? Are people just a sum of bouquet of stinking questions? This question is directed to PDK and the likes.
Sigsned
KDK
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| PDK |
Posted
on 13-Aug-01 12:41 PM
KDK.... (u copying my name)
What do you know about a foreigner trying to get a job in US and live and study with the money she/he earns? I have been there, done that and I know. All you do is just watch and judge. I bet you didnt have to go thru all that a Nepali citizen has to go thru in his/her student life.
Of course PDK can read. And what do YOU know about brainstorming? You could have written a reply to me, instead you chose to complain over one Nepali. What better are you?
All I am saying, for those you do not understand English from a Nepali, is that what good is it going to be to sue the Indian Restaurants? Where will all those workers go? They have all the rights to quit the job whenevr they want and get a better one. But they like it. You and I shouldn't be telling them that they are beeing fooled by those Indians unless we provide them with a better job. That is beyond my capabilities, but may be you can do that for them.
And about the principles of my life, that is my life the way I want it to be. Why do you need to question on it? If I want to be practical with my life, I will be, whether you or anyone likes it or not.
PDK
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| friend of namita |
Posted
on 13-Aug-01 04:20 PM
hi Namita,
your name is same with my girl friend and i surprised that if you could do something for her, it would be great. she works in a Japanese Restuarant. she always tells me about her hardship working in that Restuarant. she came to Texas for study but she could not affort for the school then she bacame illegal, i mean, out of status. she does not have other option to make money unless doing undertable job. if you can, help her to get PAPER marriage with an American Citizen. HOW WOULD YOU THINK? no, problem, she is ready for that.
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| Himani |
Posted
on 13-Aug-01 07:13 PM
There are few different types of exploited restaurant workers. Type one - who knows they are exploited and complains but keep on doing what they were doing because of fear of unknown. Type two - once they find out they are exploited either they quit and do something else or work in some other restaurants. Type three - who wants to make a difference and take action against their employers.
Most of the Nepali workers seems to falls into the first categories just because of the laid back nature. (Oh well these jerks are exploiting me but once I get that green card I will show them who I really am and what I can do). I know some one who has been waiting for green card through an Indian restaurant since 1989.
Seems like many Nepalese come to the US with dreams and high hopes but adequate information. Those individuals easily fall into the Indian Restaurant trap. Many restaurants do hire illegal or undocumented workers. If the INS started to deport all the illegal immigrants then most of the restaurant will close down, it will be hard to find a cab and the grocery will be twice as expensive. So get real guys the INS do turns its head the other way a lot.
And for the folks who is looking for easy green card access like marring an American and working in an Indian restaurants, there are many different ways to get the GC. If you can log into this site and post, chat, rip one another apart then you can definitely do some research and find out how. Not all the Nepali professionals in Silicon Alley (NY), Silicon Valley (CA), Silicon flat lands in Midwest and Silicon whatever in the south have married Americans. However, they may have worked in Indian restaurants once in a while to support themselves.
I completely agree with you Namita, finding out who wants to file a suit, and concentrate in one person and one restaurant at a time. Lets show our true Nepali ness and support for the people who needs help. Lets get our head together and form some kind of awareness program through Internet, pamplet whatever. Exploited people who don't want help and have too many ifs, buts, and ands we should just forget about them. However, if there is any one who wants to make a difference and stand up once for oneself then lets do something.
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| namita |
Posted
on 14-Aug-01 09:34 AM
Himani,
Do you live in Boston area?
"Friend of Namita" , I am ignoring your so called "cry for help." I would have left it alone but thought you may not get it so I had to spell it out. Again, for future referencedon't expect any answer from me to the question you posed here in your eye opening, truth revealing, nerve wrecking, mind boggling posting. But, being a nice person as I am I wish you and your green card seeking, paper marriage exploring, friend a humongous, monstrous luck.
namita
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| YANG |
Posted
on 14-Aug-01 10:16 AM
If yang can cook so can you. Hab a sum chicken fly lice ?
Yakati yak, Moo Moo, yap yap yap, oh huh, oh yeah ?
TIK TOK TIK TOK, blah blah blah, TICK TICK, la la la la la !
I be blastin those rats be yaping
Plan of action where u at ?
Moo shu's ma name, yaking's ma game.
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| Himani |
Posted
on 14-Aug-01 04:10 PM
No Namita, I don't live in Boston area. However, we can still talk, and figure out how to organize and unite people to persue this issue. I can extend my fundraising and development experience. Maybe there will be somemore volunteerss out there who would like to involve. If you are serious let me know I will contact you personally.
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