<p>So I'm an Indian guy, I live in Northern California, I'm a senior, etc etc. Anyway, over the last few years, I've felt embarrassed about certain aspects of Indian culture. It's not that I've been necessarily "embarrassed," exactly, but I've always wondered how Indians are perceived by others, especially whites. At my school, we have a SASA club (South Asian Student Association, which is basically all Indian lol) that occasionally creates certain videos and plays them over morning announcements. A lot of the recent videos have been very FOB-type Indian, I guess, and some have been so incredibly weird that I've seen a lot of white kids and other non-Indian kids look at each other like, "What the **** is with these Indians?", after which my fellow Indian friends and I will look at each other and have one of those facepalm moments. I keep reminding myself to ignore it, but it's very hard to do so at times.</p>
<p>I feel bad because I am proud to be Indian and I'm proud of my culture, but it's just certain events like these videos and other things (like weird Indian films) that sort of make my stomach turn, especially when they are presented to the public. I know a lot of other people feel this way, so fellow Indians - do you feel the same way, or do you just ignore all this? This goes for others too - do you find yourselves feeling embarrassed about your culture, or are you used to it? </p>
<p>As a side note, please focus on this issue in your responses and don't bash other people, thanks.</p>
<p>I completely understand where you’re coming from. Hell I don’t think I’m even gonna date any more Indian girls, I just find that they’re moody and hard to deal with (trust me…I know. At this point, it’s a large enough SRS to make an accurate conclusion). </p>
<p>I like our culture and the food is great lol but Bollywood is embarrassing (the music, the movies, everything about it) and I find that unless you’re Indian, a lot of the inside jokes Indians tell non-Indians just results in awkward silence afterwards. Also, Indians are known to start tons of drama so I stay away from 99% of Indians as much as possible.</p>
<p>I completely understand where you’re coming from, and I try my best to ignore it.</p>
<p>LOL yeah, I don’t even find myself attracted much to Indian girls. I just think this whole way Indians are portrayed is just…weird. Especially the whole Metro PCS Tech and Talk thing with “Ranjit and Chad.”</p>
<p>I do not think there is anything to be embarrassed about. The fact is that it is another culture. No big deal. I’m sure in India watching Lady Gaga or Fred Astaire is weird.
I find that most first generation Americans, just blend into the culture and there is little distinction. It seems when there is a discomfort, it is when there are limitations or expectations to not blend. Present culture constantly changes as does the members in it.</p>
<p>^ Yeah, that is true. A few of my white friends went to India for an immersion trip and were stared at for at least 10 minutes…lol
As far as the whole Metro PCS thing is concerned, I think people just laugh it off more and forget that it’s racist. It’s basically playing at Indian stereotypes with the music and the accents ESPECIALLY. If there were more backlash about it, it would have been taken down by now.</p>
<p>I know what you mean man. But my school for the most part accepts it. Our International Club have this great show(this usually gets sold out within a week, hottest event of the year for our school) we do in April/May called Collision where we have a dance competition and we usually have 2-3 Indian dances. People definitely respect/accept it. Check out our intro vid [YouTube</a> - Collision Introduction Video 2010](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube)</p>
<p>Don’t know what you guys are talking about regarding Metro PCS; I’m Indian and I find most of the commercials to be hilarious.</p>
<p>I can definitely relate to you thankyou4flying. I mean I love everything about the Indian culture - the language, the food, the people, and I actually really enjoy certain Bollywood films (mainly comedies) and music since I’ve grown up on that stuff. But I definitely don’t like when it gets impressed upon others like what happened in your case. I think all these inside jokes that golfer111 mentioned and the Indian culture should just stay within the desi community here, and we shouldn’t try to force it upon others. </p>
<p>My friends came over one day and saw part of an Indian soap my mom was watching and just stared at it because its the stupidest thing I’ve seen and probably that they’ve seen. Those are the times when things get embarrassing. Otherwise I’m fine being Indian.</p>
<p>Don’t we all do this to each other? lol. I remember when I was in middle school we had a science project assignment where our project was supposed to have some of our favorite music as background music.</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>I chose a Janet Jackson song and just about died having to play it in front of the class. <em>SIGH</em></p>
<p>I’m not Indian, but… I guess I do have the advantage of everyone saying I have no culture XD</p>
<p>Indians definitely have an image problem as perceived by most Americans. It’s acceptable to call an Indian weird but not so much to call any other group weird.</p>
XD</p>