American Born, British Born, Canadian Born but still Desi

Hassan:

The crowd you dealt with was actually quite reasonable. If you really want to see messed up desis dont look at the ones born here but look at the ones that have immigrated to the States or England, made their wealth (lots of it) and live `happily` in some suburb. Those are the true nightmares!

Also, dealing with other posts, the term ABCD is actually not only offensive but misleading. I find that American born desis have a focus which is very sincere and uncomplicated. Its us immigrants that are the truly confused ones!

Enjoy the land of plenty

Good write up!

I think, however, that this issue has been over

generalized. Human kind has so many shades of

people that it may be a bit problem for me to

accept that we can ever safely rule as to what

kind of American, British, Canadian born desi

people are...

My own understanding is that while many ``First``

generation immigrants face tons of hurdles in

terms of cultural and values shock, and their

inability to adjust instantly with new

performance requirements, etc., most south asians

tend to overstress the importance of education to

the incoming generation. As a result, incoming

generation is generally well educated, is not

under the fear of having to adjust with a totally

different culture, is not carrying the baggage

of old values, and is confident about its future.

It will be a nightmare for many people of first

generation to even think that the sarifices they

are making or have made for their offsprings is

not resulting in a substantial improvem

The rationale used to generalize desi society in the article borders on biases and pre-concieved notions. How can one judge the state of desi community by visiting a desi party of high school teenagers?

Dear Hasan Ahmed:

I commend you for putting your ideas on the internet, though I have some serious reservations about some of your observations.

Your thesis: ``. . . when two rich cultures were brought together, you would get synergies whereby the best qualities of both cultures would be seen in the person.``

Comment: Your thesis has some merit in an abstract sense. Realistically, combining the richness of two or more cultures is an extremely difficult job. Could you please identify some rich aspects of both Pakistani/Indian and American cultures? Now, tell us how these rich aspects could be combined effectively in the context of a society that is both rich and poor (good and bad). More specifically, how would you prepare your children such that they themselves combine the best of the two worlds?

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

There is something seriously missing in this article. And I find a lot of contradictions what the writer is saying and doing in this narrative.

``I always firmly believed that when two rich cultures were brought together, you would get synergies whereby the best qualities of both cultures would be seen in the person.``

Did you believe in having this idea applicable to all ? There are people from all kinds of backgrounds and have different mindsets. This was an unrealistic observation.

``Why is it so then that when you meet an average desi, born and brought up in America, you see a dress sense, taste in music, and general appearnace inspired by Afro Americans and regional hatred and arrogance, crookery, and deceit inspired seeking inspiration from the desi culture.``

I suggest that the author needs to thoroughly explore the City & its activities, only that way he will be a good judge of the people from the subcontinent. Oh, and changing venues may not be a bad idea.

Secondly, there is something unique about the AA culture and judging them by the Rap stuff is quite unfair. I personally feel that they are beautiful communicators. And I am not talking about the street-bums around the City or near the Subway Stations. I am talking about the intelligent, mature and well educated beings.

In short, no doubt the different scenarios tell some mindsets but they do not represent the whole community.

A very nice & short commentary of a particular situation.I`m very happy that you have not turned this into a philosophising or insight-seeking theories-laden essay.

This is just how things are,for better or for worse,and is as much Amer,Can, Or Brit as the real stuff(whatever that is;I think its meaningless).

Sometime ago a brownie(desi) was harassed and called a `Paki` by some white-trash goons.The poor guy tried to `teach` them some ettiquette about foreign relations by telling them that he was from India.

Another shove was their reply to him and words to this effect,``what`s the damn difference``.

So:You are what others think of you. This includes you,too.No matter how much good of an d actor you might become,you are still `them`.Jinnah was a glaring example.Know thyself first & always stick to your kind.You`ll win,when the going is good.

A bigoted Brit was looking for some address in downtown London.Nobody could tell him the street he sought.In desperation he asked a ``Sardarji`` who was heading in his direction.

Like all well informed immigrants the ``Sardarji`` very politely & confidenly directed him to the strreet.The bigoted Brit thanked him and after walking a few steps away but within the ``Sardarjis`` earshot,muttered,``Damn foreigners``.

``Saradarji`` turns to his friend an jubliantly said to his friend,`Look,what manners the Britishers have,he praised me by calling me a foreigner!!.`

I will have to agree with temporal.

If you are doing the nightclub scene, that is the kind you will run into.

As far as being prejudiced against African American culture, let me tell you the comments of a black Muslim friend.

Commenting on the kind of Desi crowd that to came to ISNA, he was alarmed at the evident influence of hiphop on desi kids. The chains and the `african walk`.

Surprised by his comment, I asked him ``and why is it wrong to be influenced by African American culture``?

``Any influence which makes you behave contrary to the influences of Islam is bad``.

This is not to mention however that there are ABCDs who are different, I know a few, and they are really nice people. Straightforward and simple!

Hi Farhaj, Zehra and Sikina .....

you know I would answer back to this article

-Yasser Hamdani

I have had the misfortune of havng been associated with Pakistanis of Jersey City .... My ex Girlfriend is from Jinnah Colony Jersey City ... and let me tell hypocricy is big on the characteristics atleast of ABCDs from Jersey City- Yasser Hamdani

Besides... I dont call them desis any more... my friends have given them a new identity.. we call them :`` yo-man`` :)

Chowkwala

Adnan.

who do you think is responsible for this...??? there parents? culture? or themselves?

Chowkwala

Adnan.