Bobby Jindal wins, as reported in The New York Times article: “Indian-American Congressman Elected Louisiana’s Governor“:
“Bobby Jindal, a conservative Republican congressman from the New Orleans suburbs and the son of immigrants from India, was elected Louisiana’s
governor Saturday…Mr. Jindal, 36, defeated three main challengers in an open primary, becoming this state’s first nonwhite governor since a Reconstruction-era figure briefly held the office 130 years ago. With more than 90 percent of the vote counted, Mr. Jindal received 53 percent, above the 50 percent-plus-one threshold needed to avoid a runoff in November. He will be the nation’s first Indian-American governor when he takes office in January.”
Although I don’t agree with Jindal’s politics at all, Jindal definitely is breaking down racial barriers in Louisiana and in the United States. Hopefully Jindal is just the beginning for Asian-Americans reached elected office! As I have noted previously, Asian-Americans are alarmingly apathetic to being involved in the public service, politics, let alone exercising the basic fundamental right in a democracy - voting.
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Eugene wrote:
It would be nice to see a more ethical, socially progressive Asian American get in as Governor. Even Gary Locke wasn’t good enough for me. But hey, Mr. Jindal got elected in the deep south Louisiana! So, baby steps right?
Oh and is it Asian American or is it Asian-American. In Ronald Takaki’s world, it is the former, because the second is the noun and the first is the adjective. But, some immigrants think they are both equally.
Posted on 21-Oct-07 at 9:30 am | Permalink
John wrote:
I understand where you are coming from, but yeah, you have to start somewhere and it’s not like a progressive candidate would get elected in the deep South (at least I don’t think so).
I’ve seen Asian-American more often than Asian American in print, so I try to use Asian-American more often unless something I am quoting has the term written as Asian American.
Posted on 21-Oct-07 at 10:15 am | Permalink
Gino wrote:
John, I too disagree with his politics, but, I agree with your implication that he’s too smart to really actually be giving them much shrift, or rather, he does, but he has to say what he has to say.
The one thing that’s bothering me about this all is that Bobby Jindal was elected cos the people of LA considered him to be the best qualified candidate of all the sad sacks on that political stage, and not because he was an Indian American. So I’m saddened to see Bobby Jindal’s pile of, well, what I would frankly call model-minority-like achievements reduced to a mere “Indian American becomes governor of Louisiana.”
I think it still emphasizes the priority that race and ethnicity has in our world, and in our media, which is quick to reduce our humanity and achievements into a soundbyte, sharing more with the views of the David Dukes of the world than say the kinds of reporting that would better serve the public. We shouldn’t to deny or bury Jindal’s racial or ethnic attributes, but they aren’t the be-all end-all, which is ultimately what this reductionist headline tells us sadly. “Conservative Jindal sweeps Louisiana,” would have served us much better, perhaps.
Posted on 21-Oct-07 at 7:20 pm | Permalink
akrypti wrote:
Ah, yes, and an American beats Kwan.
John, as you know, I agree with Jindal’s politics. ;-D Hehe.
Posted on 21-Oct-07 at 8:25 pm | Permalink
Eugene wrote:
Hmm… referring to Gino’s comment. Yes, it interesting that the headlines emphasize his ethnicity over his actual political values which probably got him elected. He’s a born again Christian with very traditional social values… e.g. anti-choice.
And John, I don’t want to belabor the point, but “Asian-American” is what the media might use, but the media’s use of language hasn’t always been in the best interests of Asians in America. It is a subtle difference if you think about. Yeah, call me anal.
I do want to say that this is the first time I’ve commented on your blog. It’s good. I like the more interactive nature of your blog vs. angry asian man, which is pretty much just a news feed. Extra kudos for using Wordpress.
Posted on 22-Oct-07 at 7:55 am | Permalink
Jesse! wrote:
Academia has dropped the hyphen, and I think some of the latest editions of the AP style guide also drop the hyphen. I do think Bobby’s race is important in the scheme of things, but of course his politics will be the deciding factor. I find it amazingly ironic that the conservatives have been leading the diversity of political offices, of course not without a huge payment to the RIGHT. E.g., the now shamed and ostracized Gonzales and of course, the first black woman Sec. of State! Oh, shit, it’s Condi. Damn.
And then there is always the risk of not criticizing a minority because you just want to increase the diversity… No one makes that argument better than Cornell West in his Race Matters regarding the rather lack-luster judicial career or one Clarence Thomas…
Posted on 22-Oct-07 at 9:56 am | Permalink
Bertie wrote:
On the issues:
http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Bobby_Jindal.htm
* Voted NO on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Jan 2007)
* Voted NO on allowing human embryonic stem cell research. (May 2005)
* Voted YES on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions. (Apr 2005)
* Voted YES on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. (Jul 2006)
* Voted YES on making the PATRIOT Act permanent. (Dec 2005)
You know, I can’t even scroll down that page anymore, because I am thoroughly disgusted by his anti-science, anti-freedom and anti-civil rights platform. He’s so young, yet his views are so retrograde. Sorry, but I’m getting chills. I can’t believe that someone so young continues to support hair brained ideas, like say… inserting a ban on same sex marriage in the fracking U.S. Constitution. What a scary big government “conservative.” Wow, now I am depressed.
Vote him out! I don’t care who his parents are.
Anyway, I would second what Gino said in his final sentence. Something like “Evangelical-Courting Far Right Clone Jindal Wins Louisiana Governorship” would have sufficed.
Posted on 22-Oct-07 at 12:28 pm | Permalink
Gino wrote:
By the way, not to focus on the minority heaven that Louisiana has become in recent days but, I thought it was interesting that the late sheriff of Jefferson Parish, which was made notorious for turning away fleeing African Americans in the days after Katrina struck? A Chinese American of Toisan County origins, like most pre-65ers. He’d been in office there for 27 years. Go figure. Think that would happen in the North?
Posted on 22-Oct-07 at 8:56 pm | Permalink
nemrut wrote:
I wonder if Jindal considers himself ‘Asian American’ or just ‘Indian American?’ Many Indians, especially the recently arrived, dont understand nor relate to the Asian American experience/struggles.
In fact, i would go so far as to say, a lot of Indians dont seem to exhibit the same level of respect towards Chinese/Japanese et al, that they display towards whites, which often borders on obsequiousnous. It’s very similar to how a lot of Philipinos disassociate from being Asian while playing up their Spanish/European ancestry..
Posted on 23-Oct-07 at 2:01 pm | Permalink
8Asians.com » A McCain’s Surprise: VP ‘Bobby’ Jindal ?: An Asian American/Asian Canadian Blog wrote:
[...] running mate. Amongst the field of possible running mates, a surprising possible choice is recently elected, Indian-American, Governor Louisiana ‘Bobby’ Jindal of Louisiana, as reported in “McCain’s Surprise: Could GOP’s Bayou Gov. Get [...]
Posted on 31-Mar-08 at 11:06 pm | Permalink