South Asians For Kerry, why you should vote for kerry. Options

[Shamraz Khan]

http://www.southasiansforkerry.com/

As Bangladeshi, Indian, Nepali, Pakistani and Sri Lankan Americans strive to strengthen our political voice, we have the opportunity to enhance our efforts through the power of collective action under a South Asian umbrella. In its purest terms, this dilemma of political identity presents a choice between unity and division, the same fundamental question that all Americans have asked themselves throughout history. Faced with this decision, we, as so many successful groups before us have, choose inclusiveness over division and collective action over in-fighting, because we know that history and America's core values are on our side. As President Clinton stated to the Democratic National Convention in Boston, "At every turning point in our history, we the people have chosen unity over division, heeding our founders' call to America's eternal mission: to form a more perfect union, to widen the circle of opportunity, deepen the reach of freedom, and strengthen the bonds of community."

Though we are a community of diverse ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds, there is much that unites us. Shared histories, similar struggles as immigrants, and a multitude of common issues make the unified South Asian approach to political organizing the best path forward. We share a common colonial history. Whether we are Bangladeshi, Pakistani or Indian, most of our families come to the United States to leave behind economic hardship or a lack of educational or professional opportunity. We face similar immigration constraints in our quest to become Americans. Across lines of ethnicity and nationality, we all endeavor to achieve the American dream and create a comfortable life for our families. These experiences, along with a multitude of issues, including civil rights, immigration, religious freedom, education, health care, the global fight on AIDS, and the expansion of economic opportunity for all, lead us to band together as South Asians.

It is important to note that the South Asian approach to political organizing does not require us to abandon our specific ethnic identities. It is not an impossibly idealistic strategy based in a naive belief that there are no differences among us. South Asian coalitions do not seek to ignore the impressive diversity of our community, rather, they are motivated by a simple but powerful desire to build upon common issues, not to ignore what makes us unique.

Although a collective South Asian identity is rooted in a spirit of unity and hope for the future, it is also a response to the racial history of American politics. The immigration barriers to the United States that South Asians faced until 1965 did not differentiate between our specific national, ethnic or religious backgrounds. The U.S. Supreme Court was not concerned with our specific identities when it ruled in 1923 that those of South Asian origin were not eligible for citizenship. Most recently, the assault on our civil rights and civil liberties, and the backlash our community faced in the post 9/11 time period, has impacted us as South Asians equally. Essentially, unfair treatment of South Asians often ignores the very differences some in our community work to maintain. A more comprehensive, effective response to discrimination and unequal treatment would include the voices of all South Asians. We can take ownership over the way in which we have been viewed through the unfair treatment towards us and use our unity, numbers, and collective voices to bring about change.

Fundamentally, unity brings strength in numbers. There are over 2.5 million South Asians in the United States. In large urban centers such as New York, Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles, South Asians working together can create a critical mass of voices to speak out on shared issues. On concerns such as workers' rights, immigration, civil rights, and domestic violence, South Asian organizations such as Sakhi and the New York Taxi Workers' Alliance have already proven that unified advocacy is the most effective path to positive change. Successes achieved through the South Asian approach can be brought to local, state and national politics by employing collective action there as well. With the increased strength of our numbers, we can bring more attention to shared issues and speak out on behalf of those in our community whose concerns often go unheard.

A unified approach will also maximize the community's financial resources, an essential aspect of political participation. The fundraising potential of the South Asian community is evidenced by the unprecedented success of the July 9, 2004 South Asian Breakfast with John Kerry and John Edwards. The South Asian Breakfast represents the largest single constituency Democratic fundraiser in this election and the largest amount ever contributed by the South Asian community. Such large amounts can only be raised by Bangladeshis, Indians, Nepalis, Pakistanis, and Sri Lankans working together. The contributions to the South Asian Breakfast were not dominated by any one group. The inclusive South Asian approach of the fundraiser provided a structure to efficiently identify and recruit donors from all of these South Asian communities.

A collective South Asian identity is the future. Already, most of our community based organizations advocate on behalf of the collective South Asian community. Many of the leadings artists, writers and thinkers within our community identify themselves as South Asian in the context of their work. Additionally, and perhaps the most accurate gauge of the future, most young people within our community identify themselves as South Asians in many political and cultural contexts. By mirroring the coordinated South Asian strategy utilized by so many in our community, we can mobilize greater participation and cultivate new leaders by drawing on the forward thinking members of our community who believe in focusing on the many issues common to all South Asians, regardless of national or ethnic origin. A full embrace of an approach that both strengthens our efforts and represents the future of South Asian American political participation is the only way forward.

South Asians for Kerry

[Macho Kanjer]

John kerry is good for the world, poor people and also muslims.

Pakistani community should vote for JOhn Kerry. HOwever I am affraid attaturks who support dictatorship in pakland and supporting Bushy.


Mushy needs bushy to stay in power. When kerry comes then Mushy will go with Bushy toushy to lala land.



Power to the people
God bless Muslims
GOd bless America
God bless John Kerry


NO more neo-con invasions and world domination orgasms.

[dada]

why do u post this nonsense??

there is no such thing as a south asian idendity.

Pakistanis should support whatever candidate is more beneficial for pakistani interests, and that is BUsh and republicans

and let the urine-dians support who they want

BUT there can be no south asian political viewpoint. if south asian unity was really possible then there was no need to create Pakistan (IMG:http://forum.pakistanidefence.com//style_emoticons/PDFEmotionIconsv10/smile.gif)

i am strongly against any south asian alliance

[Kim Jong-il Hate...]

I agree, but Bush is better for the Motherland, hes gonna give a 3 billion dollar aid package next year, if hes reelected that is. Kerry will put embargos and sanctions on Pakistan whoch is bad, then look at the Pakistani americans, they'll regret it!

[Saqr]

Bush is a bastard and Kerry is mother kisser. Both of them are crap, but if you want to know whats good for Pakistan, its to leave the U.S and move on, thus I pick Kerry! but I'm a Canadian and not an American so I can't vote (IMG:http://forum.pakistanidefence.com//style_emoticons/PDFEmotionIconsv10/smile.gif)

BTW, I thought you all hated Bush for what he did to Muslims?

[Shah]

Bush is a bastard and Kerry is mother kisser.  Both of them are crap, but if you want to know whats good for Pakistan, its to leave the U.S and move on, thus I pick Kerry! but I'm a Canadian and not an American so I can't vote  (IMG:http://forum.pakistanidefence.com//style_emoticons/PDFEmotionIconsv10/smile.gif)

BTW, I thought you all hated Bush for what he did to Muslims?

FYI: Kerry was strongly in support for the wars in Iraq in Afghanistan...the only reason Kerry is different from Bush is because he is a democrat!

Decide for yourself who is better.......democrats who will go back to the policies of posing embargoes, or republicans who have their hand tied down after these wars but even so Kerry has a better policy on MidEast its not that it is guaranteed to work. (IMG:http://forum.pakistanidefence.com//style_emoticons/PDFEmotionIconsv10/angry.gif)

[Saqr]

It was an embargo that made us persue nuclear weapons, JF-17, and self reliance, more embargoes will see fit we do more about our defence industry.

[Shah]

^so you would prefer non cooporating democrats than cooporating republicans? (IMG:http://forum.pakistanidefence.com//style_emoticons/PDFEmotionIconsv10/read.gif) (IMG:http://forum.pakistanidefence.com//style_emoticons/PDFEmotionIconsv10/wacko.gif)

Pakistan is already on her way to being a self sufficient nation, this doesnt mean we stop getting any benefits watsoever from the world leaders!!!

[dada]

Bush is a bastard and Kerry is mother kisser.  Both of them are crap, but if you want to know whats good for Pakistan, its to leave the U.S and move on, thus I pick Kerry! but I'm a Canadian and not an American so I can't vote  (IMG:http://forum.pakistanidefence.com//style_emoticons/PDFEmotionIconsv10/smile.gif)

BTW, I thought you all hated Bush for what he did to Muslims?

Pakistan First

Sub Se pehlay Pakistan

you should know what these words mean?

The wars in afghanistan and iraq are not strictly our concern.

It is in the interests of Pakistan that Bush gets reelected so we support bush. And if arab-lovers like u want to disagree with that so be it

[Saqr]

And if arab-lovers like u want to disagree with that so be it

Quit going through rough conclusions!!!

Do you KNOW how many Arabs like Bush, NOT A LOT! Now is it in the best interest for a fellow Pakistani to be given extra checks for no good reason at airports?? Or asked stupid questions??? You KNOW who caused this??? BUSH!!!! Buddy After 9/11, and still to this day Pakistanis are being racially attacked by people in the U.S, do you think Bush is gonna do anything about that?? Do you know HOW many Pakistanis ran away from the U.S after 9/11????

A country would care for the safety of its people so we can have better ForEx reserves and a stronger economy overall reducing our reliance on the U.S, I vote Kerry!

[Shah]

^Dont know where you are getting your infos mate...

last time i checked up some arab news and magezines they were putting Bush as the safer option.

The question about war is just invalid since both the candidates were in favour for dropping in on both afghanistan and Iraq.

The reason for Bush might be his capital mindedness and oil...but the reasons for kerry are even scarier! If you think Kerry is gonna solve the problem of Mideast in his 4 years...you are dead wrong Buddy!

and get your facts straighten out...Pakistan went for Nuclear option when India tested their a bomb in teh 70s. the sanctions you are talking about didnt take affect until the early 90s when the soviets disintegrated. It was sumthin just waiting to happen and was not based on what american government was there. Today, however is a different ball game altogether where countries like Iran, NK and Brazil are known to posses nuclear tech.

Kerry is into Iraq big time...for some hidden agendas of his constituents.

[Kim Jong-il Hate...]

Quit going through rough conclusions!!!

Do you KNOW how many Arabs like Bush, NOT A LOT!  Now is it in the best interest for a fellow Pakistani to be given extra checks for no good reason at airports?? Or asked stupid questions???  You KNOW who caused this??? BUSH!!!!  Buddy After 9/11, and still to this day Pakistanis are being racially attacked by people in the U.S, do you think Bush is gonna do anything about that??  Do you know HOW many Pakistanis ran away from the U.S after 9/11????

A country would care for the safety of its people so we can have better ForEx reserves and a stronger economy overall reducing our reliance on the U.S, I vote Kerry!

Gore and whoever was prez would have done the same u know!FBI and Customs recommended it, since that would make America safer than letting sum terrorists come through with a nuclear bomb in his suitcase!

[Saqr]

Gore and whoever was prez would have done the same u know!FBI and Customs recommended it, since that would make America safer than letting sum terrorists come through with a nuclear bomb in his suitcase!

Okay, its 2000, did you know Sept-11 was gonna happen? Did you know that all of this will happen? Tell me, can you foresee the future?