can we all ever be colorblind ? February 18, 2008
Posted by 6mile in Uncategorized.Tags: colorblind, culture, racism
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People talk about being blind to color these days, it has become a very hot topic, which raises our passions, it effects each and every one of us directly or indirectly. I found colorblind cupid searching the phrase colorblind on GOOGLE. A friend of mine told me her dad was raised to dislike blacks. My Irish Family told me that people were embedded with an hatred for blacks, so that the few could exploit poor white folk to work on their farms for a thrifty amount. A lot of us see color because, the greedy few have divided us and conquered our fears, or exploited us for their selfish gain.
When I was growing up my mom always told me to be appreciative of different cultures. We never talked about race in our household. I was raised in a very orthodox traditional Indian family. Both my parents very religious, my mom and dad would celebrate our festivals in the most traditional ways, my mom would pick out auspicious dates to begins new things, they took utmost care to teach me and my brother all the traditions. She would read me folk tales that they had passed on for generations. To them our culture, language and customs mean a lot.
When I would go to my Sikh friends, I would get to eat the yummiest punjabi food ever. All of us would paint eggs for Easter. Singing Christmas carols from house to house. I still remember that Santa would come on a red fire truck and all of us would run behind him as he threw us candy and gifts. No one can beat the yummy taste of haleem during the month of Ramdan. Unconsciously, I craved for it all.
When we grow older, our parents unconsciously embed a sense of superiority, while trying to teach their kids they’re culture. Everyone, unknowingly sometimes develops a racist prejudice. No, one ever bothers to look at the negatives, which are silently swept under the carpet. How can society be so segregated on the name of caste, creed, religion and region. Why are people so afraid of losing their culture, when life provides am opportunity of enriching it. I find the concept of being friendly, but going your own way, very ironic.
When I went to school, we were taught, India is like a microcosm of the world in terms of its diversity, religion, climate, and race. The beauty and uniqueness of India is all the different unique looks and backgrounds. Indians have descended from so many different groups: White Huns, Aryans, Central Asiatics, Pathans, Mongols, Dravidians, Sumerians, Chinese, Asiatic Mongols, Greeks, Sycthians, IndoIranians, Arabs, Austaliods, and many many more. How in the world did all these people manage to mingle together ever, did they truly see the world in a way beyond what we do today. One look at the present day and you feel, like its a big farce.
The history taught to us at school has a very colonial legacy, We’re taught about Max Mueller’s Aryan Invasion Theory, about Dravidian’s and they’re highly evolved languages and culture.But, no references of the huge Persian influence on our country, the Mongol Invasions, the gradual Migration on Indo-Iranians into the country, the rich cultural intercourse with china, the kids in the north eastern states never get to learn they’re mixed Chinese heritage at school. The Indus Valley Civilization has a passing reverence. Caste and Creed are mentioned; as if they were some age old practiced ritual. Why can’t they dedicate more information about it, on how it has affected our society, these books have the power to make us ashamed of our past, at least make the precocious few rebel against what they think, is wrong. In a country where education reaches the precious few, a few pages might be all it takes.
All of us need to experience the uniqueness and beauty of different people around us. I don’t know if we and even our kids will grow to be colorblind. But, by crossing the imaginary boundaries people have created for us, we give our self’s a chance to live life, truly in color. Who wants to live in a black and white world these days, anyway.
Hey there. What I try and do is find out what matters to people. Some people may really identify with their ethnic background and feel great pride talking about their red hair and grandmother’s soda bread (maybe if they’re Irish) or someone else may revel in their beautiful, Greek curves
. Others might not care too much about where they came from. For me, I feel like kind of a boring European mutt and have always been a little envious of people who have a strong, rich ethnic heritage. I know with these strong ethnic linkages, there can also be problems (dating/marrying outside race, etc.). Perhaps some of my “muttness” has allowed me to fly like a Shaman over and into all sorts of ethnic borderlands. I will say that freedom has been a thrill.
I will say I think there tends to be a sense of smugness among many Americans (especially in the south) when encountering people from different cultures. Some Americans give off a sort of neo-colonial aire though they might be well-educated. But these superior notions are not obvious, they are more covert. I have found that this undercurrent of superiority is often surfaced when Americans travel or are transplanted from their isolated environments. To state the old cliche, many Americans look pretty ugly when they travel abraod.
NK, I have heard the same as well about when Americans travel abroad. It can’t just be a bad rumor to have heard it on soo many fronts.
I find burning red hair, very sexy
Ara, I have heard about that to from an Australian friend of mine. NK, most of the elder people I meet, seem to be more friendly. I sometimes think, guys at school perceive us to be completely diffrent from them, because I come from far far away.
I had a guy ask me, how I learned to speak fluent English, in 3 months. The moment I say im Indian people start asking, if I ride on elephants ( more than a few have asked me that)
Sometimes, its fun you get to user your own subtle humor.
Yeah, Tom Brokaw was on to something with his Greatest Generation claim (i.e. 6mile’s claim that older people are more friendly). People like my grandparents went through REALLY rough times during WW2 and the Depression! I think living through things like that changes you. Builds some character and humility I think. I actually find my guy’s attitude to be kind of stoic and humble just like my grandparents. Probably because he lived through some rough stuff in India…
NK, your so right. Many of them even happen to be WW2 immigrants. The great depression must have made them appreciate life more.
One guy told me, that most American kids get what ever they want from they’re parents or grandparents by the time they turn 18 ( I don’t think this is true ), thats why they careless. I think its just the way they are brought up. When I was growing up, I always thought America was a pro-Capitalistic country,and surprised to see the socialistic tendencies in government policy when i came here.
Yea I hear you. The sort or self-loathing, self-indulgent, and me-centered crap of many young Americans today frankly pisses me off. To boot, often a fierce stubborness to learn from others and break out of rigid ways of thinking accompanies this mentality. Only in America my friend, only in America. Just blowing off steam a bit…hehe
.
Honestly? I feel like the second generation Indians I have met here have attitudes like my grandparents. Hard working. Humble. Non-materialistic. Self-sacrificing. Family oriented. That’s just what I’ve found…I like it.
See this is why I encourage people to maintain their ethnic ties and be PROUD of it. It kind of makes my eye twitch when I see people renouncing their rich backgrounds all for “The American Way.”
NK and 6mile, you both are right. They went through some real times and tribulations that I cannot even imagine. Perhaps that is why I am so drawn to CS. He has touches of chilvary when it seems dead among most of the young men I have met.
You’re also right 6mile of our socialistic tendencies. Most people don’t see it unless that have taken a college level government class or lived somewhere other than the US. I have noticed that the kids that are given everything they want seem to come from homes where the parents had to work extremely hard to get where they are, and they use the excuse that they want to give their kids what they didn’t have growing up. That’s not a good excuse. Children today are losing their manners and respect for the community. I see kids everyday screaming and hitting their parents in the grocery store just to get their way. My mom on several occassions, tried to talk sense into us, and if that didn’t work with our showing out, then she took us to the bathroom and blistered our behinds. Plus, a LOT of people feel guilty because they don’t have the time they want to spend with their kids due to long work hours to meet financial obligations, so they shower their children with gifts to make themselves feel better. What they don’t realize is that what the child really needs is just for that parent to take an hour everyday to just spend WITH their child. Gifts are not a good substitute for the gift of love of a parent. The children at the time may not see it, but once their grown, they’ll thank their parents for it later. A lot of kids act out just to try and get the attention that they are missing at home from their parents.
When I was a kid, I wanted a Nitendo soooo very bad. My parents didn’t give us one, the original Nitendo, until the Nitendo 64 (3rd generation) was already out. They used to tell us to get outside and play with friends. They would sit outside with us while we played on our bicycles, baseball with ghost-runners, kick-ball, etc. They spent time with us while doing our homework, or sat and read stories to us to try and get us to sleep. My mom had to do the parenting of both mother and father for most of my childhood because my dad was a truck driver for the most part, and they were separated a couple of different times. But although she worked long hours, even picking us up after school and bringing us to work or to my aunt’s home, she always made that hour for us. We played board games or watched a tv program together, or just talked about our days. For a long while, my aunt (who was retired) picked us up from school everyday, took us to her home (down the street from mine), fixed us after school snacks and made us finish our homework, just SO my mom could have that extra time to spend with us. If people are going make the decision to have children, then they have an obligation that should be met, not shoved to the side.
Sorry for my soapbox!
I’m cool with your soapbox!! I’m guessing 6mile is too. Ara, we have to find 6mile a sweet, deserving girl!! He is just TOO kind and genuine!!!
I know some people would LOOOVE to argue how great young Americans are (and there are good things too) but I think on a whole spoiledness and self-absorbtion tend to dominate our cultural narrative. This sentiment is often masked when people TRY and be PC and expresses “kind” religious/personal views that are innately exclusive judgmental. Ick. Anyway, there’s my soapbox.
6mile I would LOOOOVE it if you would send me some Telugu recipes (please put ingredient measurements). I made some red lentil soup with like 10 spices to make my own garam masala. It was to DIE for. My guy has been in Andhra for the past 3 weeks and I want to have some home cookin’ for him! I’ve mostly been making Northie dishes, but would love to start cooking some real Andhra stuff!!!
My dream is that one day his mom will come to accept me and she will teach me to cook all her dishes!!!
Its nice to know more and more about you and NK
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Oh ! Boy !!!! it sure would be nice if you guys could find me some nice girl.
Most Andhra food tends to be more on the HOT side, do you know how to make Sambar ?
or maybe Andhra Chicken Curry.
I’m telling you 6mile, I’m working on it. I have match made couples who are together today.
I’m glad you like my thoughts…I hope they aren’t misconstrued as venomous, personal or anything…hehe. Just offering my two, feisty cents–that’s all.
I told my Andhra boy about you and he said, “6 mile sounds like I was !!!
” R is now 32. If you don’t mind me asking, where do you live again?? You can send a private message if you want. I can definitely give you some tips on approaching girls…and being prepared for what happens afterwards 
. I’m such a sucker for helping Indian boys!!! I’m at work now, but will definitely write you more later!!!
I’m waiting on you, miss cupid
. I’m in South Carolina, I sometimes get the feeling most girls want nothing to do with someone like me 
You know more about America, than me, You’ve seen me bitching about things in India haven’t you
. I like to talk about a lot of other things, but I find myself comparing and contrasting the two places.
I’m not the most traditional cooks, I like to experiment, hehe….this is how most people make chicken curry.
Chicken Curry :
1. Chicken 800 gms , cut into medium sized slices.
you could even use 5 chicken legs, just peel the fat off it.
2. Chopped onions – 2 large onions.
3. Curry leaves – 2 leaves
4. Red chilli powder – 1 spoon ( 1 1/2 if you like it hot)
5. Turmeric powder – 1 spoon
6. Oil – 3 spoons
7. Yogurt – 3/4 th of the yogurt box
8. Salt – to taste, be a little generous though.
9. Water – about 300- ml
10. Finely chopped coriander leaves for garnishing
11. Lemon Juice – 1 spoon
12. Chicken Masala – 2 spoons.
and Ginger Garlic paste – 1 spoon
Step 1 : Mix salt. red chilly powder, turmeric, ginger garlic paste and chicken masala with the yogurt in a bowl and leave chicken to marinate in it for a few hours.
Step 2 : Fry the onions medium brown with the curry leaves in oil
Step 3 : Empty the marinated chicken with all the spiced up yogurt into the frying onions.
Step 4: Add water and let the chicken cook for a while, after a while the gravy will begin to thicken.
Step 5 : let it cool and garnish it with finely chopped coriander and lemon juice.
Step 6 : Mix in rice and enjoy
Hmm. I don’t know if you’d like this or not, but have you ever tried goulash? I think you might like it. I told CS about it one time and he really liked the sound of it.
I use a pound of ground beef, but you could substitute ground turkey or even ground chicken if you wanted. Brown the meat in a sauce pan. If there is excess oil from the meat, drain most of it off. Salt and pepper to taste. Add at least 2 tablespoons of chili powder to the meat while it’s browning. Add about 1/4-1/2 cup diced onion. Continue to simmer.
Boil about 1/2 cup of elbow macaroni until soft. Drain well. Add 16oz (approx.) can of diced tomatoes to the meat. Stir well. Add the drained elbow macaroni to the mixture. I also like to add just a little bit of velveeta cheese to it. The cheese is optional. If the mixture still doesn’t have enough chili powder to your taste, feel free to add more.
Ohh thanks so much V (6mile). I’m going to make it!!! Is that the “Telugu” version??
I think 6mile should try the goulash too!!!!!!!!!!
I know, I find myself comparing and contrasting simply because my life will be (and is) pretty surrounded by “Indian stuff.” As much as I’m trying to foresee “Indian stuff” problems I honestly see just as many from the American side.
Will write more later, going out tonight, just wanted to thank you for your response.
If I have one piece of advice 6mile is to not change who you are!! I will explain more later, again my Telugu guy says you remind him of himself at 22–and he’s like, the best catch EVER. Took us a while to find each other, but it was WORTH THE WAIT!!!
Your welcome NK. The andhra version is more soupy, with some extra water. Some people like using cinnamon as well.
We’ll there are a lot of things about me, I would like to change
. I’m full of flaws. But, I’m not going to change the person who I am. R sounds like a fine catch, I relate a lot to CS , from the little Ara has told me about him.
Ara, I’m going to try goulash, the next few days are going to be really crammed for me
though, so sometime in the near future 
Okie dokie
I just thought it sounded like something you’d like. I am sure your Irish mom would probably like it too 
Don’t stress too much 6mile. I am working overtime this week myself, so I am not getting a day off of work. I may not be online much this week though because I’ll probably be worn out LOL. At least the other store I’m doing my overtime at is slow. I use the time to study for the pharmacy test 
6mile, don’t fret, you’re only 22, and you’re time will come. I don’t talk about things like this much, but I was a V until last fall. I waited until I was 27. Why you may ask. Well, just personal choice. I felt I needed to be more grown-up and mature. I was afraid of becoming too attached to someone, which seems to happen a lot anyway. I swore up and down for the longest that I just didn’t want to do anything until I was married, but, ya know, when the opportunity came about, my mind was changed. What changed? Well, I simply don’t want to go through life not experiencing certain things at least once. To be honest, I am afraid of turning into what they call a crazy cat lady. Because of me being shy, I have always tended to be a bit of a loner. I was popular in school, but not because I wanted to be, I just was really accepting of all people, so was in turn accepted by most everyone. I AM afraid of getting hurt..but if I don’t experience life now..what kind of memories will I have for later when I’m old and grey? You’re time will come, but only when it’s right. Like NK said, don’t change for anyone. If you have a flaw you yourself want changed, that’s okay, but you shouldn’t have to change yourself to fit someone else’s ideals. I’m not saying there’s not compromises, but changing to fit other’s ideals will only make YOU sad in the end. Keep smiling mi amigo!
I hope you do we’ll in the test. I’m most prob. not going to be on until mid week too…….ummmm….we’ll maybe i might peek
Its not a marriage thing for me, the thing is i still feel a lot like a little kid
,most people I meet say say i’m immature. Then again I feel at the cusp of adulthood. I always wanted to live in one of those fairy tales where I find my princess.
There are things I would try without thinking twice, then at other times, I exercise caution.I dont want to be 30’something throwing the best days of my life.
I’m shy but I tend to be outgoing and usually end up making a lot of acquaintances, if not friends. I’ve grown third of people making use of my politeness and making use of my personal space. I’m still learning to say NO. You guys think im a nice guy, but you dont know all about me, hehe.
Uh oh, maybe you should share hehehe
im too embarassed to tell over things on here, someone else might read you know, lol.
…there are things like, i tend to isolate myself into an ivory tower sometimes, cutting my self from the entire world, its not like i dont care about others,most people take it the wrong way.
6mile, you are a pure idealist…. just like my R. I swear….
OMG sorry 6mile! I’m logged into a school computer so i have no idea who Chiara is!! But it is me
I for a moment thought R’s must be in flavor:,hehe. don’t be sorry, it was just a casual mistake.
Me, used to be an puritan, but I’ve just about given up, i’m comming down to the real world NK
OK 6mile, I wrote some posts for you! Let me know what you think…