shizzz...this is what liberal arts colleges figured out years ago

Yeah, that's right. Do some good in the world with what you learn.

It has begun...

We knew it would happen sooner or later. Apparently, Hejabis aren't very good for Obama's political image. This happened in FREAKIN' Detroit too. (Wow, did I learn a lot about demographics from the NCAA Tournament.) I've provided a link to the Politico article that first reported the incident. Here's the NYT article about the Obama campaign's efforts to tighten image control in anticipation of Republican slander.

First the AIPAC appearance, now this. (Sidenote: Mejin and I were discussing the AIPAC appearance a few days ago - she needs to share some of her views with us sometime.) I know that this is just the nature of politics and I've come up with enough justifications that trade a bit of "unpleasantness" for Obama's victory in the November, but I can't help but feel outraged and let-down by this latest incident. Obama's reactions to the speculation about his religion aren't really helping either. It seems that no politician will ever address the real issue of Islamophobia.

This makes me feel even more disgruntled for getting herded into that oh-so-very colorful podium crowd during the Obama rally at Davidson with the Governor of Kansas. I was literally pulled onto that platform because of my brown skin and, more importantly I think, my Davidson t-shirt. Not only did I look severely constipated in the pictures (it was blazing hot!), I was actually kind of troubled because I was wondering about the potential for this type of incident. And then I laughed my butt off a few days ago when I noticed the Kappa Alpha delegation right behind Obama's head in Minnesota. Ask me and I will explain if it is not evident why this should be funny.


Ah, well. And that's as much as I can rant before I return to packing for my big move to NY tomorrow. I hope someone else posts something soon. ;)

Where my daal and chawal at?

Really long NYT article on Mukesh Ambani entitled "Indian to the Core, and an Oligarch."

Though I'm always dubious about the ethics of really really rich people, I find his adherence to his own culture and values to be very heartening. Another sign that we're finally leaving the post-colonial framework and definition of "high class."

A few of my favorite excerpts:

His idea of entertainment is not ballet but Bollywood; he watches as many as three films a week at home in a private theater. “You need some amount of escapism in life,” he says. “Those two or three hours give you relief.”

...

He has a legendary appetite, but mostly for the food of the bustling Mumbai streets. He has been known to walk out of fancy restaurants in search of dosas, south Indian crepes sold by the roadside. And he carries those preferences with him when he travels.

One evening, when Mr. Ambani and a former Stanford classmate, Akhil Gupta, were in New York, they dined at Nobu, the popular Japanese restaurant. Mr. Ambani, a vegetarian, picked at the fare, finding it bland. At the end of the meal, Mr. Gupta recalls him saying: “That was nice. Now should we go have dinner?”

For Mr. Ambani, it’s all a matter of comfort food.

“Personally, I still have to eat my dal, roti, chaval,” he says, using the Hindi words for lentil soup, flatbread and rice. “I just have not developed those tastes.”

Yes, this is one oligarch I think I would have fun with.

Main pal do pal ka shayar hoon....

I found a translation! And couldn't resist...

'I am a poet only for a few moments, / My tale will be over in a few moments, / My laughter lasts only for a few moments, / My youth will end in a few moments. / I am a poet only for a few moments, / Many poets came and went before me / Some left sighing, / And some left singing, / Their story only lasted a few moments / I too will only live a few moments. / Tomorrow I will be taken from you, / But for today, I am yours. / I am a poet only for a few moments, / Tomorrow new tunes will arrive / like freshly bloomed flowers to be plucked. / There will be better storytellers than me, / and better listeners than you. / Tomorrow, someone might remember me... / But why should anyone remember me? / For my sake, why should this busy world / Waste its time? / I am a poet only for a few moments...'