One Day in The Life of a (legal) Alien

Is it just me, or is there a upsurge in the number of ``south asians`` after 8/11? Amusing to hear that once on the INS office, ``pakistanis are sort of like indians``. Talk about expediency...


Amit #24

YOur sentiments are admirable. Many of us start from the point you have articulated. It takes only a small amount of research (and occassional reading of ``liberal`` papers like Dawn) to realize that such a viewpoint is not supported by history or facts. I suggest you make the investment of research in this space, rather than generate these vacuous feel-good statements.

There is an on-going effort to implicate all ``brown folks` into a knee-jerk anti-US posture. I think it is very important for indians to avoid this type of collectivism. It is a clever trick on part of islamist sympathizers and traditional anti-american activists to try to co-opt us.

Instead, we need to deepen and broaden awareness of the ``indian`` brand. It will not always be easy (e.g., some post 9/11 violence against sikhs and indians) but we need to educate people about the differences between indians and pakis/arabs. Fortunately, with increasing commercial ties, impact of yoga, indian film and food, knowledge of Mahatma Gandhi etc. this is a task that is getting easier.

amit #24

{If Pakistanis are being targeted today, what is the guarantee that India will not make the list tomorrow ?}

There is no guarantee - the future is indefinite, anything can happen. And in fact, Indians and other nationalities have already suffered and continue to suffer occasional indignities and worse for what is clearly not their doing. See for instance:

http://www.rediff.com/us/2003/feb/23ajit.htm

That said, there is an clear causal connection between jihadic policies chosen, with clear intent and due deliberation, by Pakistan`s rulers in the last quarter century, and the attention that Pakistanis have been getting today. Indians, including Indian Muslims, are not seen in the same way because they plainly are far, far, less likely to be part of the jihadic enterprise. Uncle Sam is often slow on the uptake but he does eventually figure out who has really been up to no good.

There is of course no perfect justice in this world. Clearly many hardworking honest Pakistanis are being made to pay for the sins of their delusional rulers. Nevertheless, it does seem that the current American policies have finally begun to extract a price from the elite class of Pakistan who as a group are most culpable for their country`s tribulations. It is time they learnt that their actions have consequences which they cannot escape indefinitely.

amit #24

{Imagine for a moment, if you had peace and prosperity in the subcontinent, with India and Pakistan as allies, not enemies. What a formidable combination that would be !! No one would dare look down upon us. We could open up trade and commerce between South Asia and Central Asia. We could even become a potential superpower combo.}

That will not happen with Pakistan as presently constituted simply because they are unwilling to play second fiddle to India. Further, the boons of a peace dividend for India are vastly overrated. There is no reason to believe that any of India`s social dysfunction would disappear rapidly even if Pakistan were to vanish from the map. As for Central Asia, Pakistan`s autocratic rulers would love nothing more than to get rich by levying tolls on trade, without becoming a productive country themselves, and without such inconveniences as democracy. India should never permit this to happen. As for becoming a superpower, India has a better chance by far without the Pakistani albatross.

Amit # 24

That is the silliest argument that I have seen on the chowk. People all over the world jump at the chance of moving to US, because it is an economic powerhouse. It has nothing to do with Indo-Pak enmity. Also there is nothing wrong with desi moving to us. Most of the advances made by India are because of the immigrents.

Even if India and Pak patched up today, it will make very little difference to India`s economy. If GOI keeps working diligently on raising the rate of literacy and improving the infrastructure and continues the open policy on business, India will do well. It may be a long way off but if Indian economy become comparable to Europe of even Australia, you will see reverse immigration to India.

Re:ana_dobarah #21
It is sad that Indians and Pakistanis always gloat at each other`s misfortune. No wonder, we were conquered by outside forces in the past and get kicked around by everybody today. A handful of turks or brits would thrash the entire subcontinent and we would just let that happen. Earlier individual kingdoms enjoyed each other`s misfortune, even encouraged it. Today, India and Pakistan are carrying on with the same tradition. What a shame !!
If Pakistanis are being targeted today, what is the guarantee that India will not make the list tomorrow ? A more fundamental question is why do our young and talented people try to leave at the slightest opportunity and subject themselves to such humiliation ? The reason is because we have made a mess in the subcontinent, our economies are terrible and people are desperate to get out. Every day you hear of young Indians and Pakistanis hiding in some container or being smuggled somewhere in Europe. Imagine for a moment, if you had peace and prosperity in the subcontinent, with India and Pakistan as allies, not enemies. What a formidable combination that would be !! No one would dare look down upon us. We could open up trade and commerce between South Asia and Central Asia. We could even become a potential superpower combo. Heck, once upon a time, it was the goras who were trying to come to India and not the other way round. Why can`t we see that we are in a zero sum game here ?

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Great factual report!

It is just a sign of these times but

I only expect things to get worse

before they get better.

Ras

{we are respected, but you are suspected}

---why don`t you tell that to the Sikh family in Arizona who lost a loved one, or Sikhs around the U.S. who have suffered because of the inability or ignorance of certain people in terms of ethnicity. Your triumphalism makes you just as much an ignoramus as some of these folks who supposedly respect you.

Sorry to break into this thread.

Latest news England beat Pakistan by 112 runs.

They called you ``Sir``? Impressive.

Dear Indian #17,
It is not time to score any points. We are also equally suspect in the eyes of average american. they don`t know and can`t recognize any ethnicity beyond their front-yard.

***************
Indian?`` Familiar question-in-a-word.


``No, I`m from Pakistan.`` Familiar answer-in-a-phrase.


``Pretty much the same actually,`` I add after a pause.

*********************************************

Pakis, Please do us a favor. At INS office dont malign our identity. We are different. We are respected you are suspected. US has ultimately done a justice to us Indians.

This article brought back flashbacks of the day I went for my registration.
I couldnot sleep the night before. I was in the line at 7:00am, and I finally got interviewed at 11:00am. Because the new computer system was down that day, no questiones were asked and the lady told me that I could go after collecting the form from me. Guess I was very lucky! But I have observed one thing. Because of the pressure of Pakistani government, the attitude of the INS officers with Pakistanis has been better than with the people of other countries. I don`t know this might just be my observation and might be wrong.But a good description, I must say.

I am simultaneously nostalgic and alarmed when i read your article. You bring back such memories of Boston. I took the T to Alewife every morning for work - my office was just down the street from the station. I lived off Govt. Centre for a bit too. You know what my favorite part of the T is? On the red line, going over the Charles, either early in the morning or late evening. It`s a beautiful view of the Boston skyline spread against the river.

But articles like yours remind me that Boston may not be the same as i remember it, even if the skyline (unlike NYC`s) still remains. Aside from your experience of INS registration, i`d be interested to know if your day to day experiences have changed any in the last few months. Have you felt any difference in attitudes towards you as a Paki or a Muslim, even in a city like Boston or Cambridge? I hope you say no. I don`t want to have lost the Boston i knew just two years ago.

jayjay 11,

That is really pathetic, what is needed is to change it. What really pi$$es me of is that no pakistani accepts that it is their support for jihad that has put them in this position. I had been calling for the iraquisation of pakistan for the last three years, now even mushy says that after iraq it could be pakistan. If there is another attack by al quida, it will defenitely be the turn of pakistan, and india will be in the proxy to do the task, the weatern alliance of afghanistan, the kurds of irq.

No pakistani seem to realise the sh$$it they are in, it is always the talk of zia did it, it is the poverty, it is the mullah. No sir it is the likes of you who has to speak out.

No doubt in the last few months there has been some change, dawn is publishing at least letters to editors about reviewing of kashmir, the need for kashmir day etc.

Even on the anonymity of chowk peple do not dare to say against jihadic killings. Jihad is quick sand, only hope to survive is to pi$$ on it.

#10 by hrrehman on February 22, 2003 0:32am PT

After readying hrrehman`s racist remarks, my shame on being a Paki has increased exponentially.