My Own Private India- Racist or No?

[kyle is hk]

As someone who actually lives in the town this article talks about (Edison, NJ) I'm curious as to what the Politics Forums thinks about this article:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1999416,00.html

The article drew a shitstorm of backlash from the Indian community and Stein was subsequently released from Time.

Huffington Post article on reaction to article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/01/indians-shocked-offended_n_632483.html?ref=twitter



A quick background on my town: Its about 30% White, 30% Asian (Non-Indian Asian that is), 30% Indian and 10% Black/Hispanic. It has the largest Indian population in the world outside of India.

[Republicanman]

It just seems to come up short in the humor department. Reading it one time through, the article doesn't appear to be very humorous, and honestly doesn't seem to have a place in Time Magazine anyways.

That being said, the piece doesn't seem inherently racist, per say. Certainly racial, but not racist.

[BlowinBubbles]

Seemed to be poorly written to me which makes me wonder how it was published by time in the first place, but i dont believe it to be racist. everything is racist these days anyway so im probably wrong. someone on a.p please prove me wrong

[kyle is hk]

Yeah agreed with the first two posters. There was obviously no malicious racism intended- but in the end what was the point the article was trying to make and why did Time publish it? Its something that would obviously be controversial but had no real payoff, point, and minimal laughs. Most of what is in the article is fairly true however.

[EchoPark]

Most Indian Americans would not be bothered in the least by this.

[Republicanman]

Most black people probably aren't bothered by the tea parties. It only takes a small fringe of people to cause up uproar.

[zachff]

I saw something about this on Slate the other day. I think that this guy had good intentions but he just wasn't a good enough writer to get his point across effectively.

[kyle is hk]

Most Indian Americans would not be bothered in the least by this.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kal-penn/the-hilarious-xenophobia_b_634264.html

There was enough Indian backlash to get the guy fired. But its likely the case where the minority of Indians who minded were far louder than the majority of Indians who didnt mind.

[nicwtor]

"There is an entire generation of white children in Edison who have nowhere to learn crime."

I thought this was humorous.

[kyle is hk]

For the record I don't mind my Pizza Hut is now an Indian Resturaunt with an innapropriate roof, Pizza Hut sucks anyways.

However I do kinda wish my Dairy Queen was not "India Palace."

[awwgereee]

"There is an entire generation of white children in Edison who have nowhere to learn crime."

I thought this was humorous.

Same. But like earlier posters said, I don't really get the point he's trying to make.

[nicwtor]

Same. But like earlier posters said, I don't really get the point he's trying to make.

To me it just seems like a rant with humorous comments thrown in. If it wasn't for the brief comedy, I wouldn't have gotten past 1/4 of the article.

[Zeran]

the article was poorly written and i didn't really find much humor in it. i sort of see where he's coming from, but not really. i don't think such a poor piece of writing should really have been allowed to be in time, in any case.

[Zeran]

Pizza Hut sucks anyways.

heresy!

[xcloud66x]

How did this shit get put out? I hope every time he goes to a restaurant where an Indian works, his food gets spit in. :)

[showmethefever]

Pizza Hut is delicious.

[kyle is hk]

The taste of Pizza Hut is wayyyyy more offensive than this article.

[showmethefever]

Pepperoni stuffed crust or pan pizza at Pizza Hut is fucking delicious, I don't care what anybody says.

[VoiceoffCamera]

I'm Indian and hate Edison.

[Steiny29]

How did this shit get put out? I hope every time he goes to a restaurant where an Indian works, his food gets spit in. :)

Yes because a writer who failed to effectively get his point across and offended a few people as a result he deserves to have his food spit in for the rest of his life.

[ReadyForAction]

How did this shit get put out? I hope every time he goes to a restaurant where an Indian works, his food gets spit in. :)

Why is that reaction warranted? He didn't say anything offensive about Indians or their culture

[xcloud66x]

Why is that reaction warranted? He didn't say anything offensive about Indians or their culture

Yes because a writer who failed to effectively get his point across and offended a few people as a result he deserves to have his food spit in for the rest of his life.

Yes he does. And that's easy for you to say, not to mention absolute bullshit. I can cite multiple points in the article that are highly racist and more than uncalled for if you desire (and were too myopic too see them originally).

[kyle is hk]

Yes he does. And that's easy for you to say, not to mention absolute bullshit. I can cite multiple points in the article that are highly racist and more than uncalled for if you desire (and were too myopic too see them originally).

Do it!

[ReadyForAction]

Yes he does. And that's easy for you to say, not to mention absolute bullshit. I can cite multiple points in the article that are highly racist and more than uncalled for if you desire (and were too myopic too see them originally).

LOL go ahead and keep that race card to yourself, the article may not have been the best idea but it certainly wasnt racist.

[Theseventhson]

Dumb.

[JordanBuell]

anyone who is getting pizza from a national chain pizza place doing it wrong.

[Mitch]

Not sure why he thought the article would be a good idea.

[GuitarR0cker1]

Pizza Hut is damn good.