November 11, 2006
The Macaca Speaks
The Washington Post carries an op-ed this morning by none other than the Macaca himself. Shekar Ramanuja (S.R.) Sidarth speaks:
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So What’cha What’cha What’cha Want? |
…on Aug. 11, my experience took a strange — and now famous — turn. On that day in Breaks Interstate Park, located on the Kentucky border, Allen acknowledged my presence for the first time in one of his stump speeches. I was singled out at a GOP picnic, identified as “macaca or whatever his name is” — despite the fact that Allen knew my name, as we had been traveling the same route for five days — and then “welcome[d] to America and the real world of Virginia.”Allen’s actions that day stood out because they were not representative of how I was treated while traveling around the state. Everywhere I went, though I was identifiably working on behalf of Allen’s opponent, people treated me with dignity, respect and kindness. I cannot recall one event where food was served and I was not invited to join in the meal. In southwest Virginia, hospitality toward me was at a high point. [Link]
Heaping praise upon the state and people of Virginia? Hmmm. Sounds like something that a politician would do. Maybe he will run in 20 years. Also, at long last Sidarth reveals the one crucial piece of information that we’ve been waiting months to hear:
After Allen’s remarks, my heritage suddenly became a matter of widespread interest. I am proud to be a second-generation Indian American and a practicing Hindu. My parents were born and raised in India and immigrated here more than 25 years ago; I have known no home other than Northern Virginia. The hairstyle inflicted upon me by two friends late one night also became newsworthy; for the record, it was intended to be a mullet and has since grown out to nearly the appropriate length. [Link]
And finally, Sidarth notes something about the “Real Virginia:”
The politics of division just don’t work anymore. Nothing made me happier on election night than finding out the results from Dickenson County, where Allen and I had our encounter. Webb won there, in what I can only hope was a vote to deal the race card out of American politics once and for all. [Link]
abhi on November 11, 2006 01:11 PM in · T·r·a·c·k·b·a·c·k address · Direct link · Email post
BEASTIE REF!!!!!!
*suh-woooon*
Yep :)
there's been too much emphasis on the 'macaca' bit - were it an expletive in the vein of 'nigger'. which probably explains why it is bandied around with such candor. the macaca bit - the bite doesnt come close to (i presume) the rage of a black man accumulated over generations - ..., and i have received racial slurs of all kind and straight armed mock salutes in and around northam - but ...
what really stings is the idle allusion that somehow i do not belong here, or my knowledge and experiences are secondary to those who 'look' like they know more. incidentally Abeer posted a rather pungent travelog for his paris trip a little while back and the same point was echoed there. do look it up.
so i am glad to read sidarth's narrative. and good lord man... a mullet!! what were you thinkging.
ok. enough. me go run.
I too am very happy that Webb won: but for different reasons altogether. He's a fiscal conservative, pro-gun, pro-Iraq war, decent novelist, Kerry critic, Reagan Democrat, bi-lingual(in Vietnamese)... the list goes on. (I don't think he's a misogynist - a good novelist should be free to use his/her imagination.)
>>I can only hope was a vote to deal the race card out of American politics once and for all.
Nonsense. The race card in being played mostly by racial minorities in America - not by whites. I don't want Indian-Americans to be hyper-sensitive to racial issues (like most blacks) - which is why I do not give too much importance to Allen's use of "macaca". I'd take the likes of Allen anyday who actually say what they think (and make complete idiots out of themselves) rather than people who hold such racism within their mind but outwardly celebrate Kwanzaa, make dosas, attend Iftar dinners etc.
M. Nam
continuing with the beastie boyzzzz ref
Sabotage!
I have made respect for this kid. He was just trying to make a difference in any way possible, and as a result may have ended up swaying the whole race. I'm sure he's got a bright political future.
Common now! But really?
Also from the article: By 2050, according to most projections, the United States will be a minority-majority nation.
Si! Macaca for president'40!
I'm glad mullet/macaca was treated well in Virginia by the natives, but I still loathe the state that boasts the most vanity license plates I've ever seen.
FYI: Webb was against the war.
eh...for those of us who didn't get it, can someone point out the allusion to Beastie Boys?
Yeah, there's no doubt Webb is anti-Iraq war.
>>FYI: Webb was against the war
My bad.
M. Nam
I too am very happy that Webb won: but for different reasons altogether. He's a fiscal conservative,..., Reagan Democrat
And yet here he is talking to Lou Dobbs about fairness,corporate profits at record high and wages at record low in terms of national income, low share of corporate tax etc.. Here are the charts he was referring to.
I hope you are still happy that he won.
What's with all the anti-Virginia sentiment? Virginians are, for the most part, nice people. It's a breathtakingly beautiful state (especially right now, in the fall). I hate the way people just assume everyone in the south is racist and backward. Hicks can be perfectly pleasant and open minded people who are okay with interracial marriage,having an Indian doctor, and people with accents. I used to think Abraham Verghese was full of shit when he painted a rosy picture of life on the Tennesee-Virginia border but now I know better.
I'm glad mullet/macaca was treated well in Virginia by the natives, but I still loathe the state that boasts the most vanity license plates I've ever seen.
Vanity plates are only ten dollars extra (last I checked), that's why so many folks get them. I was thinking of getting one myself. It'll say my boxing name- Terrorist.
Why do you loathe Virginia? Did you live here at some point or get caught in the infamous Richmond/95 speedtrap? Just wondering...
Cuts both ways really-- its successful because lots of people will interpret racism/bias against the right/(wrong) group as the candidate being FOR their interest. Law and order, hard work and all that is good in America comes down to black and white.
Uh...if you're in VA, then you should come to the DC Meetup tomorrow-- brunch at Heritage. I'd LOVE to meet you and other mutinous Virginians.
where'd u get ur infomation from huhhh?
had to do it:-)
I would lurv to come tomorrow. But my team is fighting in Silver Gloves (Richmond) next month and we have training camp that I can't miss or I shall be ridiculed and then defenestrated at next practice...Next time, definitely...
coach diesal are you a boxer?
Nice succint piece by S.R.
Excpt for this:
But the fact that Allen believed I was an immigrant, when in fact I am a native Virginian, underlines the problems our society still faces.
So, if he wasn't a native Virginian would Allen's comment any less incendiary? Putting it the way S.R has, above, slightly softens it. How it felt from the perspective as a brown person is more important than his being a native Virginian. Sometimes you gottta say it like it really is.
Yep. Just registered with my current team two months ago. ( USA Olympic boxing, not pro. Did you see the fights in Alexandria last weekend? I'll be winning the ILA invitational title in Summer '07 ;) If I can get my weight down a bit, I'll try for GG as well.
wonder if folks know of the other well-known natives of kazakhstan ... the name of klitschko.
Sorry about the threadjack...
Because I'm from Maryland. Its just in-born to have a natural hatred (that may be to strong a word, but its mainly their driving skills). We're natural opposites, like cats and dogs, or sour cream and chutney.
I'm not anti-VA the state, I actually have been camping in the Blue Ridge mountains since I was a kid, and its totally beautiful. I also have a lot of Virginian friends that are poor drivers, but I don't hold it against them. Another VA pro: I hear Sonic burger is coming to Richmond!
I was a boxer at UMich. Someday we will have a sepia boxing league. :)
segue.
wonder if folks know of the other well-known natives of kazakhstan ... the name of klitschko
Oh man, don't get me started on Klitschko! USA is just not producing heavyweight pros anymore- so boxers from former Soviet states are tying it up. Rightfully so...
Incidentally, our Jay 'Irish' Dinguss fought a Kazahk fighter last Saturday in Alexandria. That fight is being contested because 'Irish' is novice division and the other fighter is open division fighting as novice. That is some promoter bullshit.
This is very true; it's also true that DC hates both of you. ;)
Personally, I'm forced to be neutral; my family lives in MD, I spent the last two years living in Arlington and now I'm back in DC, which is basically where I've lived since '99.
Wait a pavaka-picking second....suddenly EVERYONE is from MD and VA...y'all best be at Heritage India on the morrow, unless you're doing something bad-assed, like BOXING. :D
Ahbi:
You should so do that! Boxing is going to make a comeback! Some of my girls at Headsup High are training...
How long has it been since you trained?
Abhi, love the Beastie bit in the caption. I had to sing-song it to myself as I read it. Also, were you really a boxer at Michigan? Interesting. Email me--have to ask you some questions about that.
Dude, 8 years :(. But I'm in good shape and I've vowed that starting in January (when I'm out of grad school hell) I am going to train harder than Rocky did in Siberia (and I own Survivor's greatest hits!).
Sorry for threadjacking my own post everyone.
Don't I have the Georgetown parking tickets to prove it! (and fyi, I was always from MD!)
Awright Abhi,
I saw the site for your old club and you have had some damn fine training from certified coaches! Will you get back with them? Why do the men and women have separate clubs? Was it that way when you were there?
Don't mess with Abhi!
So Virginians have something in common with desis.
MD represent! F the Confederates, jk
MD represent! F the Confederates, jk
there's a robert e lee park just north of bmore.
Gotta say, I'm a little bit of a 'south of B-more' snob. That part of MD just feels like a different state altogether.
Mountain-out-of-a-mole-hill, much? Allen is human after all. Just acknowledge that he's an asshole and move on. Meh, I guess it's hard to pass up so much publicity, even when you didn't want it in the first place.
Love it! Go Macaca! (I personally love the term now since it's a sign of victory... time to appropriate it for the mutiny, I say...)
So we thought from the begining :)
Meenbeen, what's with all the walls and divisions? Virginia this, south of B-more that, north of B-more something else altogether...I hope you're being tongue-in-cheek! Otherwise a trip to NY/NJ will make your head explode.
SR sounds like a class act, mullet and all.
Wait until we have our first Mutiny Potluck, when I introduce you to my amazing murgh makhani...sour cream and chutney, natch.
So does anyone feel like celebrating the blueing of VA tonight? It's a bit late, but email me if you want to meet up somewhere. I am in more-or-less constant contact via my umbilic...er, cell phone.
oh, almost forgot. *ahem*
...because, you know. You gotta fight. For your right. To parrrrrrrrrty!
"Wait a pavaka-picking second...."
I love this phrase! And I like pavaka.
Thank you. I love that phrase b/c i loved watching the pavaka mature on the vines in our backyard when I was younger. :) And I LOVE eating pavaka (that's karela for you northies). Totally miss it, too...whether pickled, in thiel, in pachadi or merukuparatti...sigh.
Word I've never met any one that loves eating Karla (that's Marathi) because I absolutely love it. My grandma used to stuff it with homemade Maharashtrian masala and pan fry it. Yummmm. I miss it too. :-(
hmmm...pavaka is a son of Agni in hindu myth...
does pavaka mean anything else in malayalam/tamil?
Seeker seeks pavaka, voh bhi neem-chadha! Me loves karela - the kadva the better. I think I could take anyone in a kadva karela eating contest. My last high is 13 full-bodied karelas stuffed with their own super-kadva green-top. One after another. without break. And can do it EX TEMPORE!!
So, where were we with the original, the first mulleted macaca who perhaps tipped the scale possibly the first time in US history on a brownz issue? :)
Tongue-in-cheek, naturally! My boyfriend is from Jersey, and my head has yet to explode.
Given the nature of Allen's comments, the reaction, and the election results...what do you think the future holds?
Is there an expectation that East Indian and South Asian cultures in the U.S. will link up with African-Americans to move the Democratic Party away from centrist politics to more progressive stances?
Up until now, these cultures (especially 2nd gen, college educated) were largely silent on issues of civil rights and race as long as they were enjoying a prosperous lifestyle. Yes?
Is this likely to change not that macaca has been dismissively applied to anyone without a caucasoid appearance?
...macaca.
...brown.
...black.
...saffron.
Amitabh - I thought the exact same thing about the southern hospitality about food - it's very desi! Why shouldn't Sidarth acknowledge those who were kind to him, why does it have to be about playing politics or "betraying" the side? A lot of southerners are very nice, and very desi in many ways (including in their prejudices - so many desi aunties and uncles I know in the States make not-so-kind remarks about those of different skin colours too). At least Sidarth is being honest, and realizes he became a symbol for something, and that the macaca incident helped in the larger cause of fighting prejudice even though it wasn't such a big part of his campaign experience at the end of the day, instead of trying to play the injured hero.
And come on - he's only a kid! Still in college.
Isn't it pronounced more like paavakya??
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Anyone who actually enjoys eating karelas is a pervert and a perpetrator of a heinous, unnatural act -- like refusing to acknowledge that Angelina Jolie is insanely foxy, or believing that "throwing Gujjus down the well" is acceptable conduct for civilised people.
Jai beta,
Either karela aur Safi but it might give you the cancer or the gas like karela tablets so gal katham! Eat your karela and you'll poop jellybeans.
xoxo,
Mum
mmmmmmmmm...karela. Miss it so much!
I wish that race were not an issue in the races this year but Corker used it to great effect in his Tennessee race against Harold Ford. It's a shame, but race is always going to play some part in political races. And if it's not race it will be religion, or class status, whatever. Politics is a game of division.
When did this become unacceptable?
In the WORLD there is a problem
and that problem is the gujju
:-)
Maurice,
I read Tennessee is only ~20% African American, and Ford got about 48 of the vote, so a lot of people did vote for him for whom race didn't matter. And of those who were under 30 who were swayed by that "playboy" ad, I think that number was much lower.
And as a tangent,
I really think race as we think about it is losing its power as the generations change, but classism remains a big problem. I think, for example, a place like the UTexas system need to up there level of Latino representation (just to pick one example) otherwise there's going to be a permanent underclass in places like South Texas that is poor, and happens to be Latino. But on the level of individuals I think its going to matter much less your race and more your class. In Latin America, from what I know, a person's color tells you something about their lives, but their class tells you much more. I think we are headed for a similiar scenario here.
And that includes possibly a break-down in social services, infrastructure, health care, public education. I think this is a worrying trend that takes us away from the European model of government and more to the Latin American model, or the Indian model for that matter. Places in the Third World are often those that, if you have money you can buy the things a functioning society needs, but in European countries its more taken for granted that those services are provided to all.
I think we are worryingly headed for a different model and the reduction in our middle class portends this.
And I'd like to apologize to Nina P for that arguement a long time ago on race and class!
also I think the crystal meth epidemic in the rural US is part of a reaction to this gradual decline in the social support network
Last one,
So as a corrolary to the AA debate we had, the current racial disparities (in education and then after) may convert into class disparities with a racial legacy behind them. Some of us here will be in the upper class by then, and some will be in what the Third World might be called the middle class. We won't be shitted upon but we're not going to be up on that Mansion on the Hill either (a song by the poor white hero Hank Williams Sr.)
I hope no one is insulted, or offended even. Maff keejia
Check, check & check...cats out of the bag!
Heinous, I tell you, heinous. In the name of everything that is holy about Amitabh Bachchan, thank Big B I am safe on this side of the Atlantic, safe from the increasingly-obvious American desi tendency towards unbridled debauched depravity and monomaniacal obsessions with macacas and whatnot.
I think some of you laydeez just have a thing about knobbly vegetables. There's probably something Freudian about that. Not quite sure what.
Z'bad.
That Allen is a A-hole! I'm glad he lost, the stupid jerk!
yes the abcd sluts and pimps have finally found their identity... they did flirt with mujahid for a while...
maratha:
what is a classy guy like you doing in a joint like this?
Sahej, you are absolutely right about the way America is heading...so make sure you (and your future kids) get the kind of education that will be vital to ensuring a comfortable life in the decades to come (the education by itself will not ensure a comfy life but it will be a necessary precondition). As for preventing the scenario you describe, I'm not sure it can be done, realistically. Lastly, keep your ties to India(and I say this as a 2nd gen)...you never know when you may want/need to move back there one day...the global scene will be pretty different in three decades.
Amitabh,
Bas sadaai theeno kam ne, naam jaapna, vend chukna, kirat karna. Hor kush, raab thou.
(five rivers never far from the heart)
Gotta say, I'm a little bit of a 'south of B-more' snob. That part of MD just feels like a different state altogether.
meenbeen how so?
"Nothing made me happier on election night than finding out the results from Dickenson County, where Allen and I had our encounter. Webb won there"
That's awesome. I went to school in southwest Virginia before working in northern Virginia, and I was really worried that Allen was judging voters in the area correctly in thinking that the politics of insider vs. outsider would work there.
I totally agree with hairy_d that "there's been too much emphasis on the 'macaca' bit - were it an expletive in the vein of 'nigger'. which probably explains why it is bandied around with such candor. the macaca bit - the bite doesnt come close to (i presume) the rage of a black man accumulated over generations - ..., and i have received racial slurs of all kind and straight armed mock salutes in and around northam - but ...
what really stings is the idle allusion that somehow i do not belong here, or my knowledge and experiences are secondary to those who 'look' like they know more."
We can all argue back and forth over whether Allen was intentionally making a specific racial slur, but we KNOW that he was trying to point out the one brown guy in the crowd as an outsider, someone who wasn't a "real" American, someone who didn't belong in Virginia. That pissed me off much more than the nonsensical "macaca."
What about the male hoochies ? People always forget about us.
I was just joking in my previous post, just in case that needed any clarification.
I hate to break it to folks, but if you're south of Charm City, you're south of the Mason-Dixon. Welcome to the Dirty. Now please start pronouncing your "ar"s as "ur"s. Thanks.
Also, did anyone else notice what a horrible job Mesire Sidarth's friends did giving him a mullet? And here I went and gave myself a mohawk on some macacca solidarity ish...