if you were a true guju.. you would've gotten your squishee for free :)

if you were a true guju.. you would've gotten your squishee for free :)

And risk them searching me and finding the hidden camera? :)

I hate the way the reporter in the second video likes to say, "Een-dee-an." If "Indiana" is not a problem, why "Indian"?

no, they were giving them out free today :) in honor of kwikemarts 80th birthday.. chutney flavor ;)

hey, whatcha drivng there, abhi? a prius?

hey, whatcha drivng there, abhi? a prius?

I'm not even sure but it wasn't a hybrid. I know shit about cars. I could be driving a Ferarri and I'd tell you it was a Camero because they both have horse logos (I think). This was a rental and I want to say Dodge. I've taken an auto repair class and I'm an engineer so I mostly know what's under the hood and all that, I'm just not in to cars beyond getting from point A to point B.

no, they were giving them out free today :) in honor of kwikemarts 80th birthday.. chutney flavor ;)

Chick Pea you are a sell-out brown for going in to one of those things. I just did it to educate the readers.

hey, whatcha drivng there, abhi? a prius?

I know zilch about cars, but doesn't the Prius have that fancy console showing when electricity is being used, and when gas is being used?

I think we should all boycott.

I am being very confused. Should I be canceling my holding up of the neighborhood 7-11 cash register planned for tonight?

I could be driving a Ferarri and I'd tell you it was a Camero because they both have horse logos (I think).

You did not, you just did not. :)

And I think you mean the Bustang. That has a horse logo. Ferrari- Prancing horse.

Plus I am sure that in certain countries, this could be grounds for divorce.

OMG My Tambram manual says I need to take a bath to get rid of this sin.

And I think you mean the Bustang.

You hateful furriner! Bustang? Why, just because it can't make turns? That's no reason to insult it so brutally...so what if it's only mediocre good on a straightaway! Does it matter that it is a lumbering piece of crap? Actually, yes. Yes it does. MINI uber alles, biznatches.

Squisherati, here's the rest of the CNN clip in a cammer version, including the panel discussion. Still working on getting a high-res version.

Acctually you were driving the Dodge Avenger with the 6 disk CD changer. Then again, most of these cars use the same parts, so there is a small chance that this could be another dodge.

And The Dodge logo is a Ram, not a horse but an animal nonetheless.

Karthik, what are the chances it was actually a Dodge Demon disguised as a Transformer?

Acctually you were driving the Dodge Avenger with the 6 disk CD changer.

Are you shoo-er it is not a '63 Pontiac Tempest?

Karthik, what are the chances it was actually a Dodge Demon disguised as a Transformer?

Manish, Not a big fan of the Demon. Its like a Honda S2000 front end fused to a Lamborghini Murcielago rear end with styling cues that the Nissan 350Z design group rejected.

Having said all that, it could've been a Demon in disguise.

This

I mean, the damn thing tasted like battery acid mixed with Mountain Dew.

might have lead it to not transform itself and had Abhi heard clearly it would have said effing kangaroos.

MINI uber alles, biznatches.

ANNA, could I pwetty pwease chase you in a MINI in Paris a la Ronin?

but doesn't the Prius have that fancy console showing when electricity is being used, and when gas is being used?

Oui monsieur.

Chick Pea you are a sell-out brown for going in to one of those things.

no... i hate squishees/slurpees... i only drink the polar bear icees.. :).. i wouldn't drink one even if it was for free..but you paid for yours.. and it sucked, right? haha.. my theory prevails..

I know zilch about cars, but doesn't the Prius have that fancy console showing when electricity is being used, and when gas is being used?

Abhi, why did tangerine-lemon sound like a good idea for a squishee to you? As much as I love tangerine, I don't think I could choke down a slurpee full, let alone one mixed with more citrus. I'm kidding. A little.

Yes, and the clutch is a funny little thing to the right of the console (near the ignition, to the left of the steering wheel).

Now that I went in to one of these things and satisfied your curiosities (and bought a Squishee) about what it is like, I think we should all boycott.

boycott the 7-elevens or boycott the show? i think the latter would make more sense and would create the backlash the marketers were apprehensive about before executing the campaign.

I know zilch about cars, but doesn't the Prius have that fancy console showing when electricity is being used, and when gas is being used?

Oui monsieur.

Yes

After all, without that display, what preening value does the Prius have? :)

Yes, and the clutch is a funny little thing to the right of the console (near the ignition, to the left of the steering wheel).

Wow, I have no directional sense. To the LEFT of the console and RIGHT of the steering wheel.

I just figured you were being a lefty Britain hugger.

ANNA, could I pwetty pwease chase you in a MINI in Paris a la Ronin?

Maybe she's planning (go to 01:53 minutes into the clip) a heist.

I really wanted to get a Mini after seeing the Italian Job (I'm easily impressionable) but then I read an NyTimes article that told me that cars are statements about my sexuality and about myself, and I was scared (I'm impressionable remember) That Subaru -> Lesbaru, Mini -> feminist, and presumably Prius -> tree-hugger.
I won't tell you guys what car I drive now.

I really wanted to get a Mini after seeing the Italian Job (I'm easily impressionable) but then I read an NyTimes article that told me that cars are statements about my sexuality and about myself, and I was scared (I'm impressionable remember) That Subaru -> Lesbaru, Mini -> feminist, and presumably Prius -> tree-hugger. I won't tell you guys what car I drive now.

Humvee? Sorry, couldn't resist :)

Humvee? Sorry, couldn't resist :)

to that end, I drive a smart car.

apu caused me to take a lot of $hit in my formative years. second only to indiana jones and the temple of doom...

to that end, I drive a smart car.

So, you're not Peter? When I was in Italy last year, I played an ugly American tourist to the hilt taking a gazillion photographs of smart cars.

hey, whatcha drivng there, abhi? a prius?

Manju: Go test drive a prius. That car is incredible. I dont think I am going to buy it but test driving it was sure fun.

I hit up the Kwik-E-Mart in Chicago last weekend and considered the trip a pilgrimage. I grew up on "The Simpsons" (who didn't?) and though the past, uh, 9 seasons, sucked . . . I admit freely that Apu was my only example of an Indian in mainstream media, and thus played a very important role in my life.

Also -- only white dudes working in the Chicago branch.

damn thing tasted like battery acid mixed with Mountain Dew.

the only place that might charge you a higher surcharge is a strip club (not that I would know such things)

abhi, i am most impressed with your investigative skills. sorry to hear about the disappointing tangerine-lemon squishee - it sounded yummy (or as yummy as something called a squishee could be).

People will never change lanes to let a tailgaiting MINI pass them. PLEASEEEEEEEE

They don't need to. That's what the shoulder is for. Tailgating is so 90s. ;)

>boycott the 7-elevens or boycott the show? i think the latter would make more sense and would create the backlash the marketers were apprehensive about before executing the campaign.

Anybody else see this episode of South Park?

I don't buy this piece of edited video footage. There are loads of fudged errors in them, when I get the time I'll point them out. Clear use of props and candy.

Also -- only white dudes working in the Chicago branch.

I commented on the other thread about this as well...sad that I only comment occasionally and then on this Simpsons baquas(sp?)...but I visited on the Chicago location Saturday - only white dudes, one of whom is profiled in TimeOut Chicago this week, a guy who is a HUGE Simpsons fan and lobbied to have his way-out-of-the-way Southwest side store be the kwik-e-mart.

Puliogre in da USA, I hear you on having people ask me about monkey brains etc. when I was growing up. My parents owned a convenience store for a while and when I told people what they did, I quickly followed it with, "And don't make any Apu in the Kwik-E-Mart jokes." Sad that I even had to do that.

But shortly thereafter, my father got back his job at the nuclear power plant, and then people asked me if he was like Homer Simpson (seriously).

So maybe people just use cultural references to process that which they do not understand. Instead of asking questions about our cultural backgrond, they assume that THEIR only Indian cultural frame of reference - Apu - is representative of us. Cutting them off at the pass worked for me. It's not the same for everyone, thought, I know.

One could also argue that putting fake Apus in these Kwik-E-Marts perpetuates the stereotype that Indians run convenience stores. But these are mock-ups of Kwik-E-Marts for the promotion of a film. The Kwik-E-Mart has a character named Apu who says, "Thank you, come again" as customers leave the store. If the store told employees to say the catchphrase in an Indian accent, I'd have a problem. But I don't.

Why do I get the feeling I'm about to be scolded?

My parents owned a convenience store for a while and when I told people what they did, I quickly followed it with, "And don't make any Apu in the Kwik-E-Mart jokes." Sad that I even had to do that.

But shortly thereafter, my father got back his job at the nuclear power plant, and then people asked me if he was like Homer Simpson (seriously).

chicagodesidiva, I realize you meant this comment seriously, but I almost fell off my chair when I read this part. Especially because after the first part, I was actually thinking, "But what if he had been in a nuclear plant?" Sorry.

They don't need to. That's what the shoulder is for. Tailgating is so 90s. ;)

Welcome to my world. :)

I dont tthink the makers of the simpsons would care if a small minortity boycots a show....

My parents owned a convenience store for a while and when I told people what they did, I quickly followed it with, "And don't make any Apu in the Kwik-E-Mart jokes." Sad that I even had to do that.
But shortly thereafter, my father got back his job at the nuclear power plant, and then people asked me if he was like Homer Simpson (seriously).

chicagodesidiva, I realize you meant this comment seriously, but I almost fell off my chair when I read this part. Especially because after the first part, I was actually thinking, "But what if he had been in a nuclear plant?" Sorry.

Oh god, Rahul I had the same reaction. Thanks chicagodesidiva for sharing, and please don't take offense.

Probably OT, but
Since you guys know so much about cars:
What's this "paddle shifter" i keep hearing in ads for some chota Mitsubishi.

My point was...people would rather drive faster rather than letting a MINI pass them. Beaten by a Mustang still sounds better

From Wikipedia: The Simpsons character Apu is named after the movie trilogy, which were among the favorite films of Simpsons creator Matt Groening.

To use the same Indian name that, for fifty years, has stood for India's artistic greatness, is nothing short of blasphemy. It would be like naming a British buffoon on television Eliot. Right, Rahul?

Manju: Go test drive a prius. That car is incredible. I dont think I am going to buy it but test driving it was sure fun.

chicagodesidiva, I prefer "bakwas," but I think we all understood what you meant :) I'm kind of giggling at the nuclear power plant statement -- I used to hear this in AZ often, also (my dad did not work at the plant, but anyone's dad who did was asked, "like Homer Simpson?").

It would be like naming a British buffoon on television Eliot. Right, Rahul?

No, that would be if the character was named Satyajit. But whom are we kidding? That's never going to happen. And J. Alfred Prufrock really doesn't inspire that level of outrage in me. In fact, he is almost, at times, the Fool.

Camille, how come you weren't featured on the NY Times article? I really need to find another source for my one-sided news.

Actually, thinking about it, Prufrock would be a perfect Kwik-e-mart store owner. He is deferential, glad to be of use, politic, cautious, and meticulous. At times, indeed, almost ridiculous, too.

I can't beleew nobody has name checked this yet. Enjoy.

My parents owned a convenience store for a while and when I told people what they did, I quickly followed it with, "And don't make any Apu in the Kwik-E-Mart jokes." Sad that I even had to do that. But shortly thereafter, my father got back his job at the nuclear power plant, and then people asked me if he was like Homer Simpson (seriously).

chicagodesidiva, I realize you meant this comment seriously, but I almost fell off my chair when I read this part. Especially because after the first part, I was actually thinking, "But what if he had been in a nuclear plant?" Sorry.

Oh god, Rahul I had the same reaction. Thanks chicagodesidiva for sharing, and please don't take offense.

None taken! The best part is that he is a safety engineer. He never watches "The Simpsons", but if he did, I think he'd be apalled by how Homer reps for safety engineers.

#38 - "I dont think the makers of the simpsons would care if a small minortity boycots a show...."

Actually, I think the marketing campaign is loving this controversy - and maybe even hoped for a controversy in the first place. Free ads for the simpsons movie in the form of a 'CNN panel' ... This controversy is perhaps as lucrative for the makers as the investigations of M.Moore's trip to Cuba was for publicizing 'Sicko'.

If anything, I suspect that even the limited publicity this controversy was given, has overall improved its visibility rather than hurt it... Even us offended desis might at the most stay away from the kwik-e-marts - but we love the franchise too much to stay away from the movie.

Actually, I have never been offended by the cartoon, but I do find the promo and 7-11's participation in it distasteful (or "pushing the envelope" as that guy on CNN called it).

Of course, I don't know if I am just being hot and othered by reading too much SM recently.

The best part is that he is a safety engineer.

Wow! Are you, by any chance, an overachieving sax player, is your mother named Maragatham, and do you have a brother named Bharat?

Also, hot off the press, Bush believes we can succeed in Iraq. Rest easy, people. Everything's fine.

-------Of course, I don't know if I am just being hot and othered by reading too much SM recently

Thank god you realized it:)

I thought it might be worth linking this previous SM post by Siddhartha from back in February, especially for SM newbies. One of the things we discussed there was whether the desi franchisees might get together to pressure the makers of The Simpsons to modify or "morph" the 'Apu' character into a more realistic one with 'positive' attributes.

Instead, what this whole 'promotion' thing indicates is the exact opposite, where the franchisees have been pressured by the store chain into acting the 'Apu' character in their real lives. So it's a case of Art imitates Life imitates Art - but with a racist, stereotype-ridden, offensive subtext. It's also a sobering lesson of who really has how much market power, and in this case, those with the market power are telling desis who they are and how they should look and speak - to conform to and reinforce an existing stereotype. Disgusting.

Camille, how come you weren't featured on the NY Times article? I really need to find another source for my one-sided news.

I would love for there to be a character named J. Alfred Prufrock on TV precisely because it would remind me of Eliot (this is one of his poems that I enjoy the most).

The cartoon isn't so bad, it's blurring the lines of reality and TV by applying a cartoon to real life in this way. I wonder how many stores, aside from the Chi-town guys, are non-desi? I really liked the sections that CNN quoted from that message board where a storeowner said that this was as racist as the Sambo.

Are you shoo-er it is not a '63 Pontiac Tempest?

Besides the fact that the tire mark on the sidewalk not being consistent, there are only 4 cars he could have been driving that could possibly match that interior.

Well that and the fact that the Aluminum trim was not an upgrade option available on the 63 Tempest.

@Rahul #50 - "Actually, I have never been offended by the cartoon, but I do find the promo and 7-11's participation in it distasteful (or "pushing the envelope" as that guy on CNN called it)."

Yup, the cartoon has always been in great taste, which is why their marketing campaign surprised me... I'm assuming that since this is the first time they're going wide screen, they hired some marketing folk who were not as culturally sensitive as the writers of the Simpsons episodes. Either way, the disconnect is unacceptable.

Beaten by a Mustang still sounds better

I don't drag race, my friend. What ever would we do once the mu-stank had to take a curve? Horrors! :D

Beaten by a BMustang still sounds better

Replace T-Bird in this story with Bustang and you will get the picture.

Yup, the cartoon has always been in great taste

If by great taste and culturally sensitive, you mean equal opportunity insulting, yes :) I don't know what boycotting 7-11 means, it is not as if it is a regular shopping destination for me.

Besides the fact that the tire mark on the sidewalk not being consistent, there are only 4 cars he could have been driving that could possibly match that interior.

Well that and the fact that the Aluminum trim was not an upgrade option available on the 63 Tempest.

Karthik, you and I need to mutter sweet nothings to each other in a motel room by a train stop tonight.

I don't know why you guys are going on and on about cars. I prefer bikes.

Ooh here is another one for all your Mustang Vs Mini trash talkers (have to subscribe to view article)

After driving the 350Z and the Mustang back to back, you naturally wonder if you couldn’t have agility and connectedness in one car. Enter BMW and the Mini Cooper S. On our test loop there is a downhill left hander followed quickly by an uphill right sweeper. With the mildly bumpy surface so beloved of the Texas DOT, most cars get upset somewhere in the middle of this section – weight transfer, rapid suspension movements, and accel/decel not being the recipe for a very palatable soup. In contrast with the other cars, the Mini generates lots of smiles on this section because it just goes. It isn’t easily upset, it just seems eager to go into the next curve or dip. And beyond that, you have a great feeling of what the car is doing.

What's making me laugh is that the mag is called winding road. Does that not automatically disqualify Mustangs?

I can keep em coming all day long

me and my freind just came back from a party tonight (4:43am) and we stopped at a light on the way. he has his dad's copper S manual and i have a v6 manual with dual flowmasters and x-pipe. off the line i raped him, but he started gaing on my towards the end of 2nd gear (~60mph), but once into 3rd i destroyed him. i thought he would have done better, but if we were on a road course with turns, he would have r---d me.

Smile and wave boys, Smile and Wave.

I'm from one of the many Springfields, and I've been living in Argentina since February. Argentines are obsessed with The Simpsons. It seems to be more popular here than back in the States. Anyway, when I tell them I'm from Springfield, they always start chuckling and then say, "¿Cómo Los Simpson?" ("Like The Simpsons?"). And because I'm desi, several Argentines I know call me Apu on a regular basis. I'm not offended, but it just gets annoying. This is what happens when you're from Springfield and desi.

What I find offensive about this Kwik E Mart thing is how overtly commercialized and consumerist it is.

America will stop at nothing, and has no shame when it comes to being tacky and corny in order to make $$$$.

Could never picture this happening in France, Italy or Switzerland - just to pimp a stupid movie.

No class whatsoever. And no embarrassement over the lack of class, that's what gets me.

It would be interesting if a significant amount of desi 7-11 employees banded together to sue The Simpsons for defamation or something like that. Would love to see the profits of that movie go into the hands of working class people.

On the other hand, this might serve as good PR for desi Americans and help them in the long run, who knows? At a time when brown people are being profiled and stereotyped as "terrorists", this might be a blessing in disguise to aid their reputation as ordinary, hard-working, friendly, harmless Americans.

Rahul, not all of us live in public/bike-transit friendly areas :( If I lived in/near a city, I would not need a car, but since it's needed, I would rather have a prius :)

While I can understand taking offense at the marketing of the movie (aside from the Kwik-E-Mart component, I'm offended at the sheer ubiquity of the campaign), I do have to defend "The Simpsons" (again, the earliest episodes) as amazingly astute social satire.

I liken the character of Apu to that of Jim in "Huckleberry Finn" -- the kneejerk reaction of some is to interpret the portrayal as offensive, when he is in fact portrayed consistently as intelligent and sensitive, often more so than the white characters. The best example I can give is of the episode in which he struggles with maintaining his Indian heritage while trying to become a citizen when the Springfield mayor decides to use illegal immigrants as scapegoats.

"Apu" is now an insult, but that has to do more with the narrow-mindedness of viewers taking the character at face value, rather than the intent of the creators. And yeah, at the end of the day, the creators are a bunch of white dudes, so they're not going to score 100% in the cultural sensitivity dept, even though they do indeed try.

I love the two parallel threads we are having on this post - car trash talking, and ethnic stereotyping! Which will win the, er, race?

Menaka, Jim was still a slave, and he was still abused and called the N-word by Huck (don't say it was more common then, it's still terrible). So I think that's the beef people have - Apu may have some intelligent things to say, but he's still a stereotype (see Ultrabrown's comversation about the "Indian" accent allotted to Apu).

That said, I completely agree with your last post.

I love the two parallel threads we are having on this post - car trash talking, and ethnic stereotyping! Which will win the, er, race?

My pitaji always says - slow and steady wins the race - so maybe the Gremlin?

@chicgodesidevia

Totally agree -- was not condoning slavery by any means :-)

And I understand the "beef" (heh heh) -- Apu is a stereotype, and I'm glad in the 18 years since his creation the trend is moving towards more visible, well-rounded, less stereotypical portrayals of Desis in the media. I mean, crowd scenes now demand a "token" Indian guy! I wouldn't have dreamt of that while watching "The Simpsons" as a kid!

But, of course, we're not there yet. No idea how long it will take to level the playing field -- considering the portrayal of women and all minorities are still shockingly offensive a good 95% of the time.

Lo Karthik of Carthage! you are appropriately named for this thread.

Karthik, you and I need to mutter sweet nothings to each other in a motel room by a train stop tonight.

Menaka, Jim was still a slave, and he was still abused and called the N-word by Huck (don't say it was more common then, it's still terrible).So I think that's the beef people have - Apu may have some intelligent things to say, but he's still a stereotype (see Ultrabrown's comversation about the "Indian" accent allotted to Apu).

But aren't both examples realistic portrayals of those stereotypes?

Don't any of us know an uncle who reminds us of Apu?

Comedy takes stereotypes, (and all stereotypes have a basis in something, however small), and then blows those stereotypes up to comedic proportions to get laughs. I can thinks of at least 3 men I know who remind me of Homer Simpson. And Apu's portrayal is not too far off the mark of some desi grocery store owners I have met.

Dumb blondes are a stereotype - yet there is Paris Hilton.

There's a basis somewhere for every stereotype.

I hope neither of you are sort of engaged, then.

No, portmanteau. Actually, I'm unemployed and live with my parents.

just to the join the prius love-fest, i'm learning to drive on like 8 cars (because where I live rookie drivers must have 60 hours on the road), but the prius has the best personality by far. i can't deny it - i have a big weakness for tree-hugging hippie attributes.

Bustangs and mu-stank, you people and your name calling, its disgusts me. And I wont, actually I cant insult a car named MINI.

No, portmanteau. Actually, I'm unemployed and live with my parents.

73 · Manjula on July 12, 2007 03:12 PM · Direct link
"Don't any of us know an uncle who reminds us of Apu?"

Sure you do, and here's the irony. Apu is as humorous to us uncle types as he is to the rest of America, and that raises a question about self-deprecating humor in general. It is funny only when directed at oneself, politically incorrect and cruel if coming from others.

I have heard many different races crack the same tired joke about their carefree attitude towards punctuality - Indian Standard Time, Cuban Time, Black People's Time. But who in their right mind would tell an African American that their race is incapable of being on time, and which African American would smilingly accept this joke if it comes from "others," a white person, for example?

That's why one needs to differentiate between the personal and public when it comes to humor that profiles a race or group. One has to take a public stand against it even if one enjoys it privately. Here is a scenario. Apu mercilessly gouges his customers. The Jewish people have been unjustly accused of the same trait since the days of Merchant of Venice. But have you ever seen a Jewish gouger on TV? Doting Jewish moms YES, shallow status consciousness such as "my son, the doctor," YES, but gouging is a NO-NO. I can only imagine how many Jewish groups the producer of such a show would have to fend off if he created a modern-day Shylock. I think the network President will be fired first, and class action suits filed next.

We need forums such as SM, if not to fight back but at least to take a polite but firm stand. The future of our children depends on it.

But have you ever seen a Jewish gouger on TV? Doting Jewish moms YES, shallow status consciousness such as "my son, the doctor," YES, but gouging is a NO-NO. I can only imagine how many Jewish groups the producer of such a show would have to fend off if he created a modern-day Shylock. I think the network President will be fired first, and class action suits filed next.

It's because the JEWS control Hollywood.

As for a serious response to the content of your post, I am not at all comfortable with the political correctness related to intra-ethnic monopoly on certain kinds of humor. I feel like humor should be judged as being acceptable or not in context, not these blanket rules about Jewish jokes only being cracked by Jews, gay jokes only allowed for gays, and so on. I like equal opportunity mockery :)

The fact that racist people can use these jokes as an excuse is not a reason to (self-)censor the humor.

#79 Rahul " I like equal opportunity mockery :)
The fact that racist people can use these jokes as an excuse is not a reason to (self-)censor the humor."

My question still stands. Why isn't a Jewish person shown as a gouger, even in jest? I don't believe it's because the Jewish people are policing the media in any way, but certain racial stereotypes are considered off limits and too cruel for humor. Why isn't Apu, and Indians, worthy of the same consideration?

Hey Rahul, with your command of the internet, can you dig up something on Islamic comics? I saw a show recently about Muslim stand-up comics who are using pretty edgy, self-deprecating humor to create an awareness about Islam. It is somehow related to the post.

Floridian, are you talking about something like this?

About the question about the Jewish gouger stereotype, I think it is because of a general belief that it is considered off-limits. And maybe I am looking too hard, but is it an accident that Mr. Burns, the miserly, extremely wealthy businessman in the Simpsons has a hook nose?

in that case, you and karthik should be careful not to leave any prophylactic wrappers on their bed after you're done;)

As long as Rahul promises to not visit meat packing plants with my photograph...

And not to worry Rahul, my parents do not care for Rye.

As long as Rahul promises to not visit meat packing plants with my photograph...

And not to worry Rahul, my parents do not care for Rye.

Thanks, Karthik. If I'm not being forward though, you will need to prepare the invitations for the wedding. I'll buy the envelopes though.

i have to ask, did they hire desis to run the ones chosen if they weren't run by desis already?

Chick Pea - you should be studying for your boards not drinking slurpees jk :)

As for the cars, "Let me tell you what Melba Toast is packing"

Al-right al-right al-right. You just gotta keep on livin' L-I-V-I-N

Floridan # 78

OK, I see your point. But then what would there be to make us laugh?

If the white producers of The Simpsons, created a show stereotying only white people from their own religions and class, then?

No African Americans, no Indians, no other religions, then they might be accused of not representing America correctly.

I think it's going way overboard to say you can only write comedic material about the people from your own background and geared towards those very same people.

Talk about boring!

Dude, I OWN Art Vandelay.

Thanks, Karthik. If I'm not being forward though, you will need to prepare the invitations for the wedding. I'll buy the envelopes though.

With this entire discussion, it seems like you can conduct an entire Indian wedding based on Seinfeld.

All this angst about "Thank You. Come Again!" is ridiculous. I for one will take great pride in it. Especially when I tattoo it across the lower back of the next person who expects me to do an Apu impression.

Maybe we should celebrate this campaign as a step in the right direction - instead of portraying Apu as a strange Indian foreigner who doesn't exactly fit into Springfield, this campaign makes all kinds of people Apu.

"We are all Apu," anyone?

chicagodesidiva, I had the exact situation happen with me (parents owned a convenience store and dad was a nuclear safety engineer). Thing is, these were good friends and it was tongue-in-cheek so I didn't take offense, they weren't trying to offend me, it was just too many coincidences at once. Actually they would poke fun at themselves and say hey, we're just ignorant Americans with no cultural-sensitivity. Then I'd pick on them about their pick-up trucks and hick mentalities and we'd all share a good laugh.

Guys, watch this, it's an old short film I saw maybe 8 years ago, but here's the answer to 'Apu'.

http://www.atomfilms.com/film/twenty_four_seven.jsp