An American Experience

<<< At the customs, it was only the dignified and no nonsense demeanour of the negro official which stopped me from repeating what Benjamin Franklin had said when asked if he had anything to declare at the customs, “nothing but my genius” >>>

You mean African American, Negro is considered quite derogatory, drop it.

Benjamin Franklin ? It was Oscar Wilde silly.

negro official.!!!!!! It is sad that all your exposure and education has not given you any sense of political correctness. Critics would say no matter the level of education, a paki would always remain feudal in his heart. be sensitive Tariq

Re: # 3
It is sad that we sometimes wrongly read other`s mind in light of our own prejudices. My exposure of forty days in america may not have been enough to determine what was politically correct, but I always found people of negroid race, American, Carribean, or African, nice and amicable people, some them were very beautiful too, for example the graceful ethiopans, proud of their amharic language.Frankly I was flattered about the jibe about paki feudal. Here I have been working all my life just to make ends meet, and somebody calls me a feudal
tariqz

Re: # 2
Thanks for correcting me. I thought it was Benjamin Franklin depending upon my memory of something I read forty years ago as a small kid. I had thought about checking it up, but could not remember my source. I suppose at fotynine one is a little silly, thanks for reminding. one should emphasize upon style, rather than factual correctnes. style becomes tedious and uninteresting if one overemphasizes upon details.
tariqz.

Re: # 1
I did not really really realize the sensitivities of the word Negro. I had thought that the Black Americans had long overcome the stigma attached with the word negro, and were now proud of their African heritage. I am sure that being called a negro is a nonissue now.
tariqz

Re: # 6
Dear fellow:

Instead of understanding the dark history behind the word ``Negro``, you seem tp put a spin and rationallize your own ideas. I am sure you were unaware of the true story because of lack of possession of good books on Black history. -Their history is one of great sadness, sorrow and tragedies not only in Africa but also in America.

The word nigger (derived from Negro) has been used to refer to Blacks with utter racist contempt by others. That is why it is disliked by Afro-Americans.

Let me ask you how do you feel if some one there calls, ``Hey You Paki or Sand-Nigger` ? Yes these words were used to refer to people from South Asia by racists. It is looked upon now fortunately.

So show lots of sensitivity to others and it is always better to play safe by using civillized words rather than using words the history of which you may not be aware. It is not your fault. Just call `that man` as that gentleman!

Kamath

Re: # 4 Tariq bhai.
There seems to be a gross misunderstanding, I have not accused you off any prejudices. I just pointed out an unacceptable reference in your otherwise well written article. I thought the very purpose of writing in an interactive forum like chowk is to get honest responses that would point out such flaws. It’s not a matter of spending how many days in America that determines political correctness. Calling some one a Negro is considered highly derogatory and humiliating by American Africans, just as calling a physically challenged, handicapped. Or a mentally a challenged crazy is unacceptable. This has nothing to do with them being proud of their heritage or being ashamed. I thought this fact is well understood by most educated people. Being feudal is a state of mind and has nothing to do with what we do to meet our ends meet. Lack of necessary refinement and political correctness are also attributes of a feudal, which I am sure you are not. hope to see your articles more often.

Re: # 8
meeting and excanging ideas on cowk has been an education to me. As I wrote life has been a long hard struggle since I came back home, and I was unable to keep up with my reading. I glad to find out that cowk has provided me an opportunity to to keep in touch with lots of social issues, since applied mechanics, my bread and butter gives me little opprtunity to do that. I hope you will understand better when you read my future correspondence at Chowk
tariqz

Re: # 9

That is a good outlook !

good luck tariq bhai, we will all enjoy reaing ur future post!!

This account suffers from some typos, archaic (and insensitive) expressions, and redundant trivial details. Other than that, it is okay.