Talking of indios - oh, Santa Maria, what a far-reaching misunderstanding of race when dear old Cristobal Colon decided he had landed in India!
Talking of Indians! Like it or not - their influence on the world is unfolding yet. After Mandarin Chinese (14.8%), Bengali & Hindi (the 2 most prominent languges in the Indian subcontinent) combined is most spoken in the world (6.2 %). Spanish (5.5%) is more widely spoken than English (5.4%). The economic power and the man power of India & China are undeniable and unstoppable.This is beyond out sourcing! In London, New York, and other metroplitan cities, there is a generation of cab drivers and 7-11s and grocery stores run by Indians - good for them! It's a hard-earned living and nothing to be ashamed of. At the same time, there are very few institutions of higher learning and corporations that do not sport brainy superstars of Indian origin. They are all contributing gainfully to the economy of the foreign land. Same goes for the Chinese.
Here is an article from TIME/CNN - almost arguing that being India's friend is a good idea beacause it is the "un-China". At one time India (the world's largest democracy) had aligned with the former Soviet Union - while the communist China was hardly in the good graces of the western world. Now, there is a new world order developing (excuse the pun). Good for some people, threatening for others.In the end, it does not do to underestimate or undermine people - the world belongs to all.
24 comments:
Nazli, very interesting article!! We always forget the people who actually contribute to the economy and the Indians - especially in London - contribute A LOT. We should never forget that.
I completely support the uprise of countries like China and India because I believe (naively perhaps) that the developing countries will then begin to show their stregnth, which they have not been able to do yet.
On another note (reflecting on your mention that the world belongs to all), I read a quote from Lao Tzu, saying - "Whoever loves the world as his self may be entrusted to care for the world." There are few people nowadays that can be entrusted with the world...
Thanks Cris!;-)! To be fair & balanced - the people from the Indian sub-continent should also be open to the traditions, the people and culture of the country they inhabit - and make the effort to assimilate and integrate themselves. There is a handful of miscreants who cause harm to the foreign land - and they are a delplorable blemish.
What a special quote by Lao Tzu! It's inspiring. Thank you for bringing that.
And yes developing countries - those in South America and Asia and Africa - are making their marks on the world economic map. This is good for the whole world - they should not be seen a threat but as contributories to a stronger world.
Yes, any race that inhabit a foreign country should be open to the country's culture. However, I have been noticing that is usually not the case - here in NYC, there is a large hispanic community, some of the people don't even learn how to speak english, same with the Chinese and Koreans... That is something I have never understood - yes, they should preserve their own cultures, but also respect and become part of the culture of the country they choose to live in.
Yes, interesting post. As far as I understand, India will soon surpass China in amount of population - pretty freaking unbelievable!
I like the diversity of cultures on this globe, but I side with Sunrise's last comment.
Togo-Switzerland 0-2
and the stunner of the day - Tunisia-Spain 1-0
Muy interestante!
I will write a post about this, but in the short form......
I'm INCA indian by default. My great great great (x10) was the Last Inca Emperor (El Inca Atahualpa).
I remember back in my day with long hair men would make fun of me and call me pocahontas, while the women gave me their phone numbers. LOL
Funny how perceptions works. If you called someone a "indio" in Ecuador you'd be looking for a fight. Ironic as that is, I would think they would be proud of such heritage.
I know I am.
...Dr Nazli, is indígena the word used for both, masculine and femenine...
A slight variation on you "american" theme - Australians are often surprised when people refer to Indians as Asians. Perhaps it comes from actually being situated in SE Asia but we tend to identify Asian with Oriental (for want of a better word). We see people from the sub-continent as Indian or Pakistani rather than Asian - we forget that you are actually part of the Asian continent.
And speaking of debts owed - my hearing was saved by an Indian doctor so I am a big fan of the Indian diaspora.
Gracias Fernando - so indígena is used for both masculine and feminine - and indígenas is the plural, verdad?
Frenando - I am very sincere about learning Spanish and I am now spending 4 hours a day learning the basics. I plan to explore the South American continent and thus want to ensure I respect the culture and the language, por supuesto!
Jeff y Fernando, por eso, I am happy to report that for the first exam I scored 99.5% - my mistakes being I did not place an exclamation mark at the begining of a sentence and did not have un acento in Martinez!
Gracia, me gusta leer your comments very much!
Updates:
Tunisia: Spain 3-1
Ghana apologized for Paintsil's Israel flag celebration (I will blog on the ploitics of sports - so interesting)
Saudia Arabia - Ukraine: 0-4. The Saudi coach Marcos Paqueta said steady rain and a slippery pitch hurt his team (being that there is no rain in SA).
Between Spanish and the World Cup Soccer - I feel complete! :-) So nice to see you!
Zee - yes, I agree with Before Sunrise claro u si! When in Rome ... mutual respect is essential - that ccontributes to the cultural progress of a nation.
Switzerland is doing very well - and it appears with move on to next round - I have you covered on the coverage!
Jeff - I know you are proud of your heritage - it is clear - and you are also very assimilated to the United States - so you take the best of both the worlds and are able to offer the same back to both worlds.
Anyone who is not proud of their own heritage is missing something valuable - yet anyone who does not embrace the progres of new cultures is also missing something valuable.
As for the women giving you their numbers - well now you just stating the obvious! :-) The long hair becomes you and those men were only jealous.
Hasta luego
Hi Cris!!! Let's go find Ronaldinho and give him our autographs! :-) His smile is contagious!
When I lived in NYC I also came across some people (usually older) who had lived in the states for many years and did not learn the language. They may argue that it is their right - but I think they are missing out on an essential part of life in the states by not being able to participate with others. It only benefits them to reach out to the Americans.
Mr Angry - same here in the US - people from the Far East are referred to as Asians while Indians/Pakistanis/ Bangladeshis are grouped under "Indians" or "South Indians"
"South Indian" parents like their children to be lawyers, doctors and engineers - since those are seen as the most prized and intelligent professions - so all over the world we will bump into those somewhere :-)
Couple of interesting asides: sometimes children of migrants not only learn English very well - they then pretend to FORGET their own native lanugage! Like a fashion statement.
When South Indian children "forget" their own language they are referred to as "ABCD" - American Born Confused Desis. Too funny!
Also in Africa - South Indians are referred to as "Asians" and people from the Far East are referred to as "Orientals".
Nazli, is the film you referred to Mostly Martha or Simply Martha? I saw one called Simply Martha about a bitter chef who then falls in love with an Italian chef and "rediscovers" life when her niece goes to live with her... Is it the same one? If so, very good!!
Yes, my final (midterm) is over... now I am back to my weekly quizzes LOL.
Dr Nazli: Have you ever seen the English comedy series "Goodness Gracious Me". Very funny sketch comedy by first generation Britons - children of Indian migrant. Very funny running jokes about their parents wanting them to be more English than the English.
...and to mislead more: in America (all), Europe, Australia, S Africa the people say OCCIDENTALS!! or they ve got an occidental culture, etc...
Before Sunrise! Yes yes - that's the one. My copy says "Mostly Martha" but she is the chef who has no life then Lina comes along as does the Italina chef - and voila! Recipe for love :-):-) Simply Martha!
And actually there are a few more movies that I was going to recommend on Wednesday Wanderings - like "Happenstance" - a movie about fate and coincidence - I know you will like it!
Good night for now - and good luck on the quizzes - ace them beautiful girl! :-)
Nazli
Mr Angry - yes I have seen it - it is ridiculously funny - and eerily borders the truth! Laughing!
On a similar note - because I grew up on British Comedy (and if you knew me you would laugh at my 'more English than thou' demeanor)- another funny old one is "Mind Your Language" - have you seen it? Classic
Cheers,
Ah Fernando - I had understood "occidental" to be of the Western/ European culture - as opposed to "oriental".
Is that right or is an "accidental" "disorientation" on my part? :-)
So many terms we have to define ourselves - when in reality we are not so different - as U2 says, "we are one but not the same, we get to carry each other"
Buenas Noches! I wish I could be awake all the time!
I love that movie - Simply or even Mostly Martha (lol)... My sister told me to watch it (said I would love it - and I did!!) Can't wait to read the recommendations tomorrow!!!
One more comment - I am running from lables nowadays, don't like to label people or things!! Love that U2 song (thanks for reminding me of it Nazli :-)).
Have a good day, am off to get ready for school... OH!! Congratulations on your Spanish exam!!!
Nazlıcımmm,merhaba,
I am back:)Was away for couple of days; ıt was planned but ı wasnt expecting to stay that long(5 days)
Gosh you have written a lot I donot how ı am going to catch up:)
I made melon salad so waiting for you, so hop in,
Kocaman kucak benim sevgili arkadaşıma
Candancimmm Merhaba benim sevgili arkadaşıma!!
So good to see. Melon salad is just what I needed on this hot sunny day! Shukran Shukran (is this thank you?)
It's been so busy - but I love it! It's hot here in the States. Drinking lots of water, working, watching some of the world cup games - and the day goes by like a minute!
I am trying to write a new blog -but ... the day is getting in the way :-)
How are you my sweet friend? Big hug and kisses to you. Kocaman kucak benim sevgili arkadaşıma.
Nazlicinnnnn
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