Stories from the Store

As I've mentioned before, my parents own convenient stores. What I've failed to mention is that they happen to own them in some the whitest suburban towns in the Bay Area. Interestingly enough, my parents' (and the employees') presence has caused somewhat of an intrigue with "Indian culture".

Exotification #1:

Customer: I just saw this wonderful movie about your people.

Mom: Really, which one? "The Kamasutra"?

Customer: No. It was called "The Nama-sake" (the "sake" pronounced as our favorite Japanese drink)

Mom: You mean "The Namesake"?

Customer turns bright red.

Exoticfication #2

Mom: Where did you get all of this food? Chawal, daal, sabzee?

Tony (our manager): From that crazy gori that wears a sari all the time.

Mom: Why did she bring you food?

Tony: She thinks that all Indians are vegetarians. I didn't have the heart to tell her that I only like meat dishes.

Tell KABC Radio Host Al Rantel to Apologize for Calling the Turban a Diaper

From: http://www.saldef.org/


Al Rantel of KABC Compares Turban to Diaper

Radio Commentator, Al Rantel, host of a daily program on Los Angeles radio station KABC 790AM, was discussing airport security on September 10, 2007, when he said:
If my 80-year-old mother has to take off her shoes during a security screening "then why shouldn’t a Sikh be required to take off the hat that looks like a diaper they wear on their heads?”

SALDEF urges you to show your support in asking Mr. Rantel to issue an on-air public apology to the Sikh American community. Add your name to the petition, demanding Mr. Rantel apologize for his comments comparing a religious article to shoes and diaper.

Will Things Ever Get Better (Part 2)

So, I would consider myself to be one of the biggest Bollywood fans out there, so I was excited when Perez Hilton posted things about the "abhiash" wedding this past weekend. Nevertheless, the comments are getting out of hand here...

http://perezhilton.com/topics/aishwarya_rai/catching_up_with_the_newlyweds_20070422.php

Perez has yet to respond...

Will Things Ever Get Better?

Note: I just noticed ANNA posted this on Sepiamutiny. Check out the discussion on there but you're welcomed to comment here, too...

Just got this off the SALDEF listserve. Thought I needed to share it...

Sikh American Veteran Assaulted by Police Officer in Illinois
SALDEF calls for immediate probe into assault and the xenophobic, anti-immigrant statements by police officer against bronze star recipient

Washington D.C., April 11, 2007 -- The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the oldest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization in the country, today called upon the Joliet Police Department to investigate the actions of one of its officers when patrolling a local neighborhood.

On Friday March 30, 2007 at around 3:00pm, Mr. Kuldip Singh Nag, a Sikh American who was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in the U.S. Navy during the first Gulf War, was at his home in Joliet, IL when a local police officer noticed that a van parked on Mr. Nag’s private property had expired registration tags. Upon being confronted with this, Mr. Nag’s wife, Vera Kaur Nag, informed the officer that the van is parked on their driveway and was inoperable.

Mr. Nag then came outside to answer the officer’s questions regarding the van. The Joliet police officer then demanded that Mr. Nag park the van inside his garage and not on the driveway, to which Mr. Nag responded to the officer that it was not possible and that regardless, the van is parked on his private property and he has a right to park it on his driveway.

At this moment, the officer pulled out his pepper spray and attacked Mr. Nag. As Mr. Nag screamed in agony, the officer removed his baton and violently struck Mr. Nag numerous times until he fell to the ground. While the assault ensued, the officer was reported by both Mr. and Mrs. Nag as saying, “You f****** Arab! You f***** immigrant, go back to you f****** country before I kill you!”

Mr. Nag's wife and six year-old child both witnessed the violent assault, which resulted in Mr. Nag immediately being admitted to the hospital where he stayed for five days due to complaints of intense pain and head trauma. Mr. Nag also received numerous bruises and a serious head injury which have caused him to go blind for several minutes at a time

“This case seems to be a clear incident of police misconduct in Illinois,” said SALDEF Managing Director Kavneet Singh. “We are horrified at the anti-immigrant sentiment the officer allegedly used as he violently accosted Mr. Nag, and further that his six year old son was a witness to this violent assault. We call upon both Joliet and Illinois officials to investigate this incident and for the Illinois community to stand in solidarity with Mr. Nag.”

SALDEF has garnered the strong support of the Illinois Sikh American community and is currently working with The Chawla Group Ltd to represent Mr. Nag in a criminal case brought on by the City of Joliet.

About SALDEF:
SALDEF is a national non-profit civil rights and educational organization. SALDEF’s mission is to create a fostering environment in the United States for Sikh Americans. SALDEF protects and promotes the civil rights of Sikh Americans through legal aid, advocacy and educational outreach.

***********************

Also, a great documentary on Sikh Americans post 9-11 is A Dream in Doubt. I got a chance to catch it at the SF Asian American Film Festival and would recommend it if it's playing in your area. It might also be airing on PBS soon.

Don't Know What to Think About This...

I saw this on ultrabrown.com.

Already talked to my Mom and she's not gonna have it in her stores...


Real Kwik-E-Marts? Woo-Hoo!
7-Eleven may convert some stores to coincide with 'Simpsons Movie'
BY JEFFREY KELLEY
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Friday, March 23, 2007


At the Greater Richmond Convention Center, 7-Eleven field consultant Gary Groves told store workers about the chain's top-selling items.
It appears as though the world's largest convenience store will get Simpsonized, though 7-Eleven Inc. said the deal isn't done yet.
But at a company event yesterday in Richmond, officials showcased their planned promotional ef- forts with major upcoming films, including "The Simpsons Movie."
If all goes as planned, the convenience store chain plans to refit 11 stores across the U.S. -- Richmond is an unlikely choice -- to resemble the front of the Kwik-E-Mart, the convenience store that Homer and other characters frequent in the classic cartoon TV series.
Customers also will be able to buy products inspired by the nearly two-decades-old show, including KrustyO's cereal, Buzz Cola and iced Squishees (the cup says Squishee, but the contents will be Slurpee).
The chain also will use pictures of Simpsons characters to promote 7-Eleven's line of fresh foods, such as placing the face of Homer and his classic "Mmmm . . . sandwich" quip on sandwich wrappers.
Details of 7-Eleven's plans were showed to employees in a booth at a company event at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. It was unclear yesterday which 11 stores of the more than 4,700 nationwide would receive a cartoony facelift or sell inventory of the Simpsons-inspired products.
The movie hits theaters July 27.
7-Eleven also is lining up deals with the "Spider-Man" franchise in advance of the third installment in May. The promotion will feature Black Cherry Lemonade Slurpees and collectible Slurpee cups with three-dimensional graphics on the side.
Finally, the retailer plans to use the June sequel to "Fantastic Four" to promote the Slurpee energy drink it launched last year, called Full Throttle.
Spokeswoman Margaret Chabris said contracts on the promotions have not been signed with movie studios. She didn't give any further details, saying the company will release more information in coming weeks.
"We've done research, and research shows us that our customers like . . . movies, so we're getting involved with some major studios on some of their properties this summer," she said.

Article Link: http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173350362478&path=!business&s=1045855934855

Doing Her Part

My parents own convenient stores. While I used to be ashamed of it when I was younger (Apu didn't help), over the years, I've become proud of the work they do.

This past weekend, my mom shared some of her stories from the store. It just goes to show that this world still has a long way to go.

Incident 1:

Customer hands a $100 bill to purchase a pack of cigarettes. Mom holds the bill to the light to make sure it's real.

Customer: Don't worry, it's not from your country.

Mom: Excuse me? You think that just because India is considered a 3rd world country that all counterfeit money comes from there? Take your money and never come to my store again! Please leave!


Incident 2:

Customer standing off to the side, scratching away at a lottery ticket.

Customer: So tell me, why do you only hire Indians? They don't even speak English properly.

Mom: Do you know how hard it is to immigrate to a new country? This store is a stepping stone for them. Think about it, say you, as an American, went to India to find work, where would you feel most comfortable working? Admit it, you would feel more comfortable working with Americans, right? Same thing here. I'm proud to give those opportunities to people who want to work hard than those relying on a lottery ticket to change things.


I love my Mom!

Multiple What???

You gotta love the aunties... ;-)

http://www.abcdlady.com/2007-03/chaiNoon.php


Thinking about making a Punjabi version of this-watch out Gurinder Chadha!!!

The Brown Sugar Project

Now, I'm no writer (and certainly not a poet), but while I was at my parents' house a couple of weekends ago, I came across this old journal I had back in NYC. In there, I would write my reflections about my clients, among other things, while I was taking the R from Queens back into Manhattan. I found this musing scrawled on a wrinkled page with my attempt to draw an eye right next to it. I don't remember what compelled me to write this then, but I thought I would post it anyway.

I guess sharing this is a way to help me refocus the original intent of the blog, which was to deal with my own "bicultrual strain" (or, to be more clinically appropriate, bicultural identity integration-lord, I'm such a therapist) along with connect with others who are also Desi through the blogsphere. Also, I would contribute it to watching "The Grace Lee Project" on Sundance this past Friday.

Don't fret, though, I will keep the boy stories coming, too ;-).

At least you'll get a laugh at this below for now :-P


The Desi Stare

There you are standing there, looking at me,
across the subway platform, a fellow desi

are you trying to unravel who I am with your stare,
size me up, look me down, figure me out,

are you trying to catch a glimpse of my inner soul, my karma, my chances of nirvana,

are you trying to find a bond, a connection in this land,

are you expecting me to approach you, to greet you, to embrace you

or are you expecting me to look at the ground when our eyes meet

are you wondering what the two of us are doing here in the same place, two people, same background at the same time?

Funny thing is, I'm wondering the same thing about you...