Thus, the typical modern headline in American papers: Indian Communisty Burgeoning in America. Of course, the article has to do with Hindus, not American Indian. And recently there appeared this entry on the blog, aboutbloginfo.com: "Fact about India." It is a strange collection of information about American Indians (Seminole), and it has my name and a name of one of my articles (It's the Casinos, Stupid). It has nothing to do with India, or Hindu people. Yet, is listed as "Fact about India."
October 27, 2006
Calling Indians "Indians" offends "Indian"
People from India are HINDU, not "Indian."I am offended by this confusion in modern day America, confusion which is created by the abundant presence of Hindu people referred to as "Indians." This, in effect, is yet another and very serious assault on the identity of the American Indian.
Thus, the typical modern headline in American papers: Indian Communisty Burgeoning in America. Of course, the article has to do with Hindus, not American Indian. And recently there appeared this entry on the blog, aboutbloginfo.com: "Fact about India." It is a strange collection of information about American Indians (Seminole), and it has my name and a name of one of my articles (It's the Casinos, Stupid). It has nothing to do with India, or Hindu people. Yet, is listed as "Fact about India."
Thus, the typical modern headline in American papers: Indian Communisty Burgeoning in America. Of course, the article has to do with Hindus, not American Indian. And recently there appeared this entry on the blog, aboutbloginfo.com: "Fact about India." It is a strange collection of information about American Indians (Seminole), and it has my name and a name of one of my articles (It's the Casinos, Stupid). It has nothing to do with India, or Hindu people. Yet, is listed as "Fact about India."
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8 comments:
If the context is clear, you can just say "Indian." If it isn't clear, you can say "Asian Indian" or "American Indian." There you go...problem solved.
Russ, do you have an association with Eastern Michigan U? That's smack-dab in the middle of my neck of the woods...
An interesting footnote to that controversy NAS...After the Eastern team switched their name from the "Hurons" to the "Eagles" the chief of the nearest Huron tribe expressed his dismay and said he and his tribe were never consulted about the change, and that they felt flattered by the team name.
Goes to show the varied viewpoints even within the Native community on this issue.
Just do what they do on the rez when there is some confusion about Indians. The American Indians are called Feather Indians and the India Indians are called Dot Indians. Get it, tee hee.
You know, it does sound an internet site in writing. I was up on my reservation last year for a powwow and overheard my teenage cousin telling his friends how to tell the difference between an American Indian and an Indian from India. He explained when people are confused you just tell them that American Indians are called Feather Indians; he took his hand and put it behind his head and put two fingers up signifying feathers. He then said if you are talking about Indians from India they are called Dot Indians; he took his index finger and pressed it against his forehead between his eyebrows demonstrating where the Bindi marking is or as he put a "dot."
I thought that was kind of cute.
"Not a Sioux" said ...
Indeed, many years ago I had a client and Indian Arrorney who did work with/for the Navaho. When she answered their question as to where she was from; her "India" totally bewildered them.
They expressed great enjoyment and honour at finally getting to meet a "real" Indian.
As to Hindu's - this too is a misnomer as the Indus River became the demarcation point from one section of the continent to the other. People who lived beyond the Indus River became labeled as Indus - later to evolve into Hindu's - nothing to do with Vedanta at all.
Then again - almost everything written about Native Americans had been bastardised - convoluted to suit the whims of ignorant/arrogant Historians, novelists and Hollywood - all for gain.
One day - hopefully somone will have the guts and where-with-all to correct many of the erroneous myths written about this continent's Native Cultures ...
Growing up amongst millions of Indians with many differing languages, cultures and religions, viz. Brahman, Muslim, Punjabi, Sikh, Bengali, Hindi& Urdu, Gujarati, Jain, Tamil, Telagu, Malaylam, Kannada, Kerala, Marathi, et al - I have always known of only two Indian Geographic classifications: Indians - of all aforementiond groups - from India and West Indians who hail from the Carribean (also originated from India) - many of the latter of whom have other influences.
Indians of Indonesia and neighbouring regions are still connected to the Indo/Pak sub-continent as are Indians of Africa - who are clearly very closely connected to the motherland ...
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