Immigrants All

scouty,

#1

sis, that was one of your all-time classics!

scout (#1) - I think you answered your own question: ``.... if only more of us would diffuse and assimilate like the jews`` with what would be the likely result when in the next line you ask:

``and what`s this recent trend of desis becoming more `gora` and goras becoming more `desi` in terms of culture and morality.``

To me this is one of the reasons we should avoid ``assimilation and diffusion`` - you will become indistinguishable from the rest of the bland mixture. We Pakistanis are even worse than the Indians in some respects: The Indian movies slavishly copy dance numbers, bare skin, the heros and heroines are no longer the charming originals of the older indian movies. They`re just imitations of the Hollywood types. But the Indian movies/actors/actresses are just bad copies. We on the other hand are bad copies of bad copies!!! We`re actually imitating imitations!! Pathetic.

Given this, why the interest in actually paying MONEY to study Indian movies??! Or am I missing something?

Rehan,

Hasbe ma`amool, you get the good, the bad and the ugly reviews. I thought this was quite descriptive of two different scenarios, and NOT smacking of jealousy. I, however am! All the best with your class, and remember the advice you gave me about mine? I just know you`re going to do the same!!! a.

Nice write up Rehan.

Trying to show the callousness of the gora-fied desis who throw their wealth lavishly (really, what is the need to transport elephants from the zoo - that`s just barbaric animal cruelty) and the helplessnes of desis who are struggling to make ends meet whatever way they possibly can, legal or illegal immigrants, does it really matter if they work and live honestly?

It`s a pity that the rich don`t even make an effort to help their poor brethen. The 2,000+ souls - Pakistanis, Arabs, Sikhs, even some Hindus - that are languishing in US jails without any reason or representation, just on the basis of American hatemongering tactics after 911 - can be helped by those who have influence, who have ``made it`` in the US, and who can give afford to give them some assistance. But why should they?

Showing off dancing horses at a wedding is more important than saving human lives. Disgusting.

Re: Scout, #2

Good one!!!

There is the connection of the surrealism between the have and have nots. Some fine juxtapositions and sobering ironies here; NYC can be exhilariatingly democratic at time (the subway car, jury duty) and as rigidly stratified as a feudal fiefdom. But the multitude of strands; i.e. Mr. Clinton (viz his encoded speeches to the Dem. Party in elbowing out Jesse Jackson during the late 90`s primaries) seems a perfect character as does the mystery of the blue eyed Ayub, and of course the round ups and interrogations of Pakistani Muslims.

While I am aware of some of the more eggregious breaches of the Constitution affecting some Pakistanis who have been imprisoned, I`d like to know more about the newspapers referenced. Does anyone know if they can be accessed online, or if not, what are some of these papers?

yes, I read someplace that the indians and pakistanis actually get along pretty well in NY and other places. maybe someone can correct me on this.

a number of well known indians in show biz (aamir khan, kamal haasan and others) were also subject to various indignities on US trips.

--

The level of fitness was low, men with paunches, heavy jowls and unimaginative haircuts. My sister, who is in advertising, tells me that these days it is all about the body. The

gora rich know it and look it and I was disheartened our very own were not up to date.

--

I don`t see the point of having millions or billions of dollars when one does not look after the most precious gift we have.. the trillion dollar body. In most cases its as simple as having an aerobic workout for 20 minutes a day. it wont prevent aging or death but at least we can live life a little more fully, more gracefully.

Rehan

From the first para, I thought you were going to contrast the life of the desis, who have made it in the USA and those who are struggling to find their feet. This would have been an interesting and useful article.

However, all you rest of the article smacked of jealousy of the rich sardarji and usual complaints about the heavy handedness of the FBI. On the first a lot of immigrents have made through hard work and business acumen. More power to them. On the second if the FBI and other government agencies are paranoid about Pakistani immigrants, they have good reason. Every terrorist act performed in US had a Pakistani connection. So yes, many innocent Pakistanis are paying for the sins of their compatriots. But that is the way of the world.

Rehan

From the first para, I thought you were going to contrast the life of the desis, who have made it in the USA and those who are struggling to find their feet. This would have been an interesting and useful article.

However, all you rest of the article smacked of jealousy of the rich sardarji and usual complaints about the heavy handedness of the FBI. On the first a lot of immigrents have made through hard work and business acumen. More power to them. On the second if the FBI and other government agencies are paranoid about Pakistani immigrants, they have good reason. Every terrorist act performed in US had a Pakistani connection. So yes, many innocent Pakistanis are paying for the sins of their compatriots. But that is the way of the world.

Rehan, you are going to teach on Indian cinema? But that`s a HUUUUGE subject!!! Are you going to teach about movies in all Indian languages, or only on the standard Bollywood fare? Will you include the so-called parallel cinema of Kerala and Bengal in your syllabus? Lots of foreigners know nothing about Indian movies other than the silly song and dance hero-heroine-villain Bollywood movies. I hope you are not going to reinforce those silly stereotypes of Indian cinema.

u know, i was dying, absolutely dyinggggg to take a course on Indian Cinema since i adore the subject so much and would eventually like to write a thousand page thesis on it, but the registration fee is toooooooo steep.

oh well. long live free IFC

it`s unfortunate that innocent Muslim families fall under the tarnish of fundamental Islam and thus are humiliated in this manner, and Muslims are stupid enough to retaliate with anger and violence instead of intelligence and introspection.... if only more of us would diffuse and assimilate like the jews....not the zionist freaks, but the intelligent, powerful Jewish community that rules NY, and much of the US.

and what`s this recent trend of desis becoming more `gora` and goras becoming more `desi` in terms of culture and morality.

izzat bech khai humnay.