>Like the Houston desi-enclave ( I am not sure what it is called), or >Devon Street area of Chicago, or Jackson Heights in NY. Are they >particularly unkempt, with trash strewn around for example?
In Houston, we have the Harwin/Hilcroft area. The area (at one time) had a drap look. But today, modern shopping centers, and mini malls have been built (all by desis), and attracts shoppers from many parts of Texas (not just desis though). I remember, some years ago, there were several paan dukanis (paan shops) there, and desi paan chewers would spit (peek pelai) the paan crud around the shop. The city health dept. couldn't figure out all the 'blood' around the place... when they did, they gave a stiff warning to the paan dukani. It doesn't happen now. The Houston desi population is still small compared to Southhall (London) and so it has managed to keep clean even in areas where there are higher concentrations.. --Ram On 6/12/08, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > I was inquiring about heavily desi-immigrant populated neighborhoods > in the USA or Britain or such other western countries. > > Like the Houston desi-enclave ( I am not sure what it is called), or > Devon Street area of Chicago, or Jackson Heights in NY. Are they > particularly unkempt, with trash strewn around for example? > > > > > > > > > > > At 9:51 AM -0500 6/12/08, Ram Sarangapani wrote: > >C'da, > > > >>*** Is there any reason for such a perception among westerners or >is it > a > >case of racism? > > > >I don't think one can call it 'racism' but rather some sort of prejudice > >or perceived notion. > > > >If one were to visit certain parts of India, citizens are least bothered > >about throwing garbage out of the windows and on to the streets. Public > >sanitation and health is huge problem in India. > > > >Guwahati for instance, most will agree, that while homes are usually very > >clean, the streets outside are strewn with garbage & filth everywhere, and > >the Bharalu and the Brahmaputra are where everything winds up in the end. > > > >I understand there are many reasons for this, but public apathy and lack > of > >'ownership' of the surroundings must have contributed something to the > >plight of Guwahati. > > > >The 'racism' part comes from some Westerners when they probably relate to > >what they see on TV about India, Africa, the Sudan, and then see some > >Indians reiterating whats seen on TV. > > > >BTW: Yesterday, while listening to a 'right wing' talk radio, and they > were > >talking about Korean Restaurants feeding dog meat to customers (in the > US). > > > >Many callers were convinced that was the case (even though they had never > >visited or actually knew about Korea, and were sure that dog meat was was > >there (but of the menu). Now, that is a problem of perception > > > >--Ram > > > > > > > > > > > >On 6/12/08, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> > >> "----blaming Indian immigrants for littering." > >> > >> > >> *** Is there any reason for such a perception among westerners or is > >> it a case of racism? > >> > >> cm > >> > >> > >> > >> > > >>*********************************************************************************************************** > >> > >> > >> > >> > http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/British_councillor_apologises_for_racist_remarks_on_Indians/articleshow/3123690.cms > >> > >> > >> LONDON: A local authority councillor in London has been forced to > >> apologise after blaming Indian immigrants for littering. > >> > >> Lucy Ivimy of the Hammersmith and Fulham local authority in west > >> London was slammed after claiming in an email that Indians in an > >> apartment block were throwing rubbish out of the window. > >> > >> While such practice was "normal behaviour" in India, to do so in > >> Britain was "not acceptable behaviour", she said in the email. > >> > >> Residents said there was no evidence Indians were tossing rubbish out > >> of the window -- or indeed that there were any Indians at the > >> Woodford Court apartment block. > >> > >> In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ivimy said: "I am aware that some > >> ill-advised comments of mine in a private email have been interpreted > >> as something that I never meant and have given offence, for which I > >> unreservedly apologise. > >> > >> "I should stress that I have no idea who are the specific culprits, > >> or even if they are estate residents." > >> > >> "I never meant to imply that this sort of careless behaviour belongs > >> specifically to any one particular group." > >> > >> Stephen Cowan, leader of the Labour group in the Tory-run council, > >> said: "This shows her inherent prejudice." > >> > >> He said Ivimy, as a member of the council's cabinet looking after > >> housing, was responsible for 14,000 tenants' homes and over 4,000 > >> leaseholders' homes and all the housing association homes in the > >> borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. > >> > >> "Many of those people, like the whole of London, come from all sorts > >> of backgrounds." > >> > >> Dang Sakares, who has lived on the apartment block for eight years, > >> said: "I don't think I've seen any Indian people in this block." > >> _______________________________________________ > > > assam mailing list > >> assam@assamnet.org > >> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org > >> > >_______________________________________________ > >assam mailing list > >assam@assamnet.org > >http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org > > > _______________________________________________ > assam mailing list > assam@assamnet.org > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org > _______________________________________________ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
