| Username |
Post |
| paramendra |
Posted
on 27-Aug-02 12:38 PM
"....sprinkled throughout the street are more flavors than you can get at Baskin-Robbins..."
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,340694,00.html
"....Of Land's 347 kids, 189 speak a language other than English at home..... "Personally, it doesn't matter what color you are," she says. "I am mixed, he is mixed, and most everybody is mixed." ........."
"...Non-Hispanic whites still account for 69% of the U.S. population and maintain a predominant share of the nation's fiscal and political power......But while the typical Asian kid has a 3.01 grade-point average, African-American kids score 1.85. What's going on? ...........teachers and administrators stereotype students on the basis of race...........Meadowview residents live together, but many pray separately.
........."
More than 30 years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. famously said that "the 11 o'clock hour on Sunday is the most segregated hour in American life." It's an indictment that still carries weight today, as an estimated 90% of Americans worship primarily with members of their race or ethnicity. Yet Sacramento's complex social tapestry challenges conventional notions that racial segregation in worship is a failure of America's national ideal of equality. Sometimes segregation is driven not by bigotry but by language barriers and cultural heritage.
........."Occasionally someone will tell me to go back to my own country," he says. "But for the most part, I don't think they see me as an Asian. They just see me as a police officer."
...2 of every 10 babies born here are multiracial...........
What has life been like for you as a Nepali in the US, wherever you might be? Where you at? How long have you been there? How are your neighbors? How many of your closest friends are non-Nepali/non-South-Asian? Do you have a non-Nepali in the family? What is the story?
Have you personally experienced racism/discrimination? Describe. Has anyone you know been a victim of hate crime? Discuss your life at school, at work in terms of your ethnic background.
Do you feel "equal?"
How has your life in the US challenged your ethnic prejudices in the Nepalese context?
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| paramendra |
Posted
on 27-Aug-02 09:21 PM
[VIEWED 68 TIMES] ... and still no comments!?
It is hard to discuss the Sadbhavana with the Teraiwasis, and hard to bring the Nepalis on board with a discussion like this one, I guess. People don't want to be pushing their comfort zones.
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| Desh_Bhakta_Bhattarai |
Posted
on 27-Aug-02 09:30 PM
Paramendra Jee, you should come to New York. NY has a Nepalese population of more than 10,000! If Nepalese population is that much, then other diversity of population is bound to be higher! Go to Jackson Heights, go to Flushing, you will see a lot of diversity!
~DBB
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| paramendra |
Posted
on 28-Aug-02 08:44 AM
[VIEWED 112 TIMES] ----- and still no attempts at the questions posed! I guess it is not much fun to be under the spotlight.
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| Logical Sense |
Posted
on 28-Aug-02 03:04 PM
Q. What has life been like for you as a Nepali in the US, wherever you might be?
A Life is busy, exciting, fulfilling and satisfying :-)
Q. Where you at?
A. Next best place on earth? Guess which one is best? Terai - in Nepal :-) Can you imagine, this place is most diversified, out of 8 million people in this area 40% were born in foreign countries
Q. How long have you been there?
A. 7 years in this area alone.
Q. How are your neighbors?
A. Superb. We peek at each other (literally) and pass along the 'Tarkari' and 'Salmon Fillet'. My front neighbor is chinese and she is always hanging around because her husband and father in-law is cook. Pam next door keeps her garage always open for neighborhood kids, and Stacey keeps her swimming pool open for all of us. We have block party at least twice a year.
Q. How many of your closest friends are non-Nepali/non-South-Asian?
A. Tons of them. In fact too many. Calling all of them in one party is nightmare, especially Nepalese likes to play 'Marriage', while Indians talk of 'Stock options', Chinese keep quite, and Americans watch football.
Q. Do you have a non-Nepali in the family? What is the story?
A. Hey, this is personal, and all of my friends will know who I am. Sort answer, my family is diversified.
Q. Have you personally experienced racism/discrimination? Describe. Has anyone you know been a victim of hate crime?
A. Sort answer, racism in US is 0.1% of Nepal and 0.01% of Sajha.com. This is one country where I can say 'this country is as much mine as is yours with a right. Dp you remember how much your 'Mahato Kaka' was humiliated even when he got Nepali Nagarikta after being a faithful Nepali for 40 years?
In fact in our group one time we had to do 'reverse descrimination' during hiring. I don't want to give away too much, you are intelligent enough to understand.
Q. Discuss your life at school, at work in terms of your ethnic background.
A. My school district (for my kids) have Dipawali as an official holiday, hanukah and x-mas are on back burners (not that I like it but it is a reality).
Teachers celebrate all these festivals with equal enthusiasm. Diversification / multi lingual is considered 'hep' in here.
At work sometimes we bring Nepali/Indian food and you will be surprised to see how much people enjoy eating. We 'bhate' only like bhat but these guys really like to try anything?
Q. Do you feel "equal?"
A. Oh definitely. I have experience of staying in other countries besides Nepal and India. I would never dream of any other countries. This is one place where your true ability shines.
Q. How has your life in the US challenged your ethnic prejudices in the Nepalese context?
A. Whiner will always whine. But, slowly people change and adapt. That is why Americans are not worried for minorities taking over because they know it is the foundation of this country and Minorities mix in main stream in no time.
So, over all you Whiner! here is my 2 cent for you.
Having said that, there are ups and downs, not everything is rosy. Some of the problems are balancing western and estern culture for the kids (my kids are doing great though - they can speak Nepali and English ),parents have to do extra work on that. Also, though I keep great contacts in Nepal, and I have lots of partnership going on (I hate the word - charity / help etc.) in Nepal, but I can't be there all the time when the loved ones are sick or ....
Got to go, lunch time is over now.....
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| paramendra |
Posted
on 28-Aug-02 04:15 PM
Logical Sense:
I hope your format is widely adopted in future responses.
And I hope there are many future responses.
Thanks a ton. You bring forth a colorful commentary.
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