CindyBindy wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cindy
When my boss and I went on a work trip to India one of our Indian coworkers asked us if either of us were Jewish. He said he just wanted to warn us of antisemitism. So I don't think it's all roses and kittens.

Interesting. Where in India was this, who were you interacting with? Questions about anti-semitism are usually met with, "There are Jews in India?!" But seriously, they have a history of being accepted and protected. If anti-semitism exists in your experience, then I'm really curious about where this happened and in what context. A Deoband town or something? FYI, there are fringe groups of religious fundamentalists, and any anti-semitism is most likely going to come to from practitioners of another Abrahamic religion, because dharmic religions don't have the religious history with Judaism.

Indian Jews created the Bollywood film industry, and their synagogues have always been protected by local kings. There's a running joke about how Israelis routinely holiday in India in droves before/after fulfilling their military duties. There are also stories about Israelis being boorish when drunk, but they all pretty much come to India because they know they'll have a good time and it's cheap.

For your random reading pleasure, if you feel like it:

http://articles.latimes.com/1991-01-27/news/mn-324_1_jew-town

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/12312#.UhbjfH_5ExI

http://www.forbes.com/2007/08/05/india-jews-antisemitism-oped-cx_gw_0813jews.html

Anonymous wrote:Oh, and to echo a PP, do please drop the habit of calling those with whom you disagree "retarded." We don't use that word anymore--it's not nice to those of different mental abilities, and it's not nice to the target of your intended epithet.

"Indians are sometimes accused of being condescending toward Westerners, and of being excessively preachy in their attitude toward other nations. That accusation is sometimes correct."

Anonymous wrote:NP. Boy, you go away for vacation for a week and all fucking hell breaks loose.

Cindy, you make some great points. You sound nice and well-intentioned.

You also say you're troll-proof, yet you've been jousting valiantly with some of our most well-known trolls. Like the first one who welcomed you, our Italian-American friend who thinks it's racist for an Indian immigrant to inquire what neighborhoods have concentrations of Indian-Americans and Indian immigrants, to get an idea where her Indian parents and in-laws might be more comfortable visiting. Or the second one, who thinks AA's need to get over their sensitivity and stop worrying about how the rest of America perceives them or treats them. You're pretty much doing nothing but jumping in to battle trolls here.

Finally, despite sounding tolerant and enlightened in some ways, you also sound pretty superior, lecturing, tone-deaf, and a bit lacking in self-awareness. Welcome to DCUM. You're going to fit right in.

P.S. Anonymous commentary is the custom here. (I'd say dominant cultural more, but since I don't know how to type an accent over the e, I don't want to see what kind of angry accusations of ignorance and poor usage that expression would precipitate.) By creating a name, you've definitely put a target on your back. (And a pretty easily-mocked one at that.)

Anonymous wrote:CindyB, what should be obvious is that you are not an effective communicator. When what you say is being allegedly repeatedly misunderstood not only as it pertains to Indian culture but also Brazilian and African-American culture, rather than attack the comprehension ability of everyone else, perhaps it calls for a degree of introspection on your part.

To put it succinctly, the points you are trying to get across are not coming through and it does not help when you attack the lack of comprehension of others who read your posts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are so clueless you don't realize how insulting your comments -spoken as gospel- about AA are. You Cindy are the troll that needs to go back under your bridge.

You must be white. Many of her points were spot on.

No and they were not.

Anonymous wrote:Cindy, I think your posts are well thought out, clear and concise. You've provided rational discussion, but you are obviously new to DCUM because rational and well spoken "conversation" or dialogue is not what the great majority of the threads here are about.

People come on here 1) to vent or 2) share a thought or 3) ask a question or 4) stir the pot. It's almost entirely anonymous because anonymity gives the go ahead to speak the most darkest and ugliest thoughts.

They've already got their minds made up, it's like trying to reason with a hyena. Some threads like this one are draining and can make you lose faith in the human race.

Please do stick around though, it can sometimes be fun and lighthearted here too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CindyB, what should be obvious is that you are not an effective communicator. When what you say is being allegedly repeatedly misunderstood not only as it pertains to Indian culture but also Brazilian and African-American culture, rather than attack the comprehension ability of everyone else, perhaps it calls for a degree of introspection on your part.

To put it succinctly, the points you are trying to get across are not coming through and it does not help when you attack the lack of comprehension of others who read your posts.

I think Cindy makes herself perfectly clear. You, on the other hand, seem a trifle envious of her ability effectively communicate get arguments.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are so clueless you don't realize how insulting your comments -spoken as gospel- about AA are. You Cindy are the troll that needs to go back under your bridge.

You must be white. Many of her points were spot on.

No and they were not.

Yes they were.

Signed, a black woman

CindyBindy wrote:
Oh dear! Okay, just in case I am cast as the Ultimate Indian Defender, among people who know me in real life I'm actually India's worst and most unforgiving critic. There is so much wrong with India that it would take many threads for me to explain it all. However, the reason I felt I had to jump into this thread because, even though I am India's worst critic and have plenty to say about the country and Indian society that would burn your ears (and maybe I'll do that some time, in the right circumstances), I also do know when Indians don't deserve criticism. =)

Edit: however, I will watch my tone as I realize condescension, even if unintended, is hurtful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are so clueless you don't realize how insulting your comments -spoken as gospel- about AA are. You Cindy are the troll that needs to go back under your bridge.

You must be white. Many of her points were spot on.

No and they were not.

Yes they were.

Signed, a black woman

I also agree they were.

-another black woman

CindyBindy wrote:Thank you to everyone who has supported me in this thread.