Star Trek opening where a billion people could watch.

[indranee]

read my post above yours.

You replied faster than I could construct a coherent reply (and fact-check it)!

We've stumbled into that hazzy area of identity, ethnicity, and nationality.

But I think we've covered this topic for now.

OK, whatever. It's not really worth arguing.

Compared to the fights we get into in academic anthropology, this is nothing!

hey, I represent here... it's up to me to clear up misconceptions about my country of origin, whether it's on the BBS or IRL.

I'm glad it's cleared up though. there are Jewish people in India. they do not call themselves "Israeli". they're Indian. same with the Muslims, etc.

this is in general, of course. if they ARE of another nationality, it's another issue. in this case, Persis identified herself as Indian, not Persian.

 

[SonicRanger]

hey, I represent here... it's up to me to clear up misconceptions about my country of origin, whether it's on the BBS or IRL.

I'm glad it's cleared up though. there are Jewish people in India. they do not call themselves "Israeli". they're Indian. same with the Muslims, etc.

this is in general, of course. if they ARE of another nationality, it's another issue. in this case, Persis identified herself as Indian, not Persian.

True enough.

For instance, a few generations ago, my ancestors lived in Germany, and I grew up in a heavily German area of the US. By nationality, I am American. I was born here, and I do uniquely American things, like watch fireworks on the 4th of July. But many of our traditions are German, and my ancestors lived in Germany for a very long time, so I probably share a similar genetic profile to locals from that part of Germany. It might be valid to say that I am "ethnically" German, but I am not German by nationality. And when asked if I am American or German, my answer would depend on the situation and the exact way the question was asked.

I think this is the sort of gray area that led to some of discussion above.

Thanks again for your insights, indranee.

 

[Cyrus]

OK, whatever. It's not really worth arguing.

how long have you been on the BBS, Cyrus?

In my younger days I loved to get into arguments, especially when I was on trekweb which was a war zone with very little moderation, But now I have mellowed.

Regarding Persis I was talking about her ethnicity, not her nationality. By Persian I didn't mean she was from Persia/Iran, obviously she was from India. Just that she was part Persian ethnically (otherwise she would not identify herself as Parsi). And considering that Persians & Indians (and most Europeans) have common IndoEuropean ancestors makes this even less interesting to argue.

 

[Cicero]

Reginald Lal Singh, who played Captain Nensi Chandra, a member of Kirk's court martial board, was also of South Asian descent.

 

[indranee]

SonicRanger, it's all good.

to bring it all home -- I consider myself an American (of Indian extraction, true).

since the day I gave away my Indian passport, I say that I am American.

I still feel Indian... but I also feel American.

I'm a bit of a divided soul. so it's a good thing for me that Americans and Indians are fundamentally so much alike.

 

[indranee]

Reginald Lal Singh, who played Captain Nensi Chandra, a member of Kirk's court martial board, was also of South Asian descent.

wow, I did not know that!

 

[indranee]

OK, whatever. It's not really worth arguing.

how long have you been on the BBS, Cyrus?

In my younger days I loved to get into arguments, especially when I was on trekweb which was a war zone with very little moderation, But now I have mellowed.

Regarding Persis I was talking about her ethnicity, not her nationality. By Persian I didn't mean she was from Persia/Iran, obviously she was from India. Just that she was part Persian ethnically (otherwise she would not identify herself as Parsi). And considering that Persians & Indians (and most Europeans) have common IndoEuropean ancestors makes this even less interesting to argue.

it's not less interesting. not to me.

it's actually fascinating to me -- the incredible mix of ethnicities that is South Asia. when I go home... (see, I still say "home") these days, I can't stop staring at people around me. so many kinds of faces, figures, colors, and bone structures. I never noticed that when I was growing up there. I do now.

 

[Jeri]

(Memory Alpha) Persis Khambatta was an Indian model and actress who is perhaps best known for portraying Lieutenant Ilia in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Born in Bombay, India, she was of Parsi ethnicity.

So she was Persian.Cool.

I noticed that right away, too; but I didn't dare say so. "You're a better man than I, Gunga Din!" We've had a number of Iranian friends over the years; in fact, an Iranian couple moved into the house across the street a year or so ago, by way of Germany. They speak German. And Farsi, of course. The husband speaks English; the wife is learning. My husband and I met in Germany; we are both Americans. But I wind up speaking as much German as English to the wife. That's the way the world is these days...

Reginald Lal Singh, who played Captain Nensi Chandra, a member of Kirk's court martial board, was also of South Asian descent.

I remember that guy; rather striking fellow.

 

[noknowes]

It is a great pity so many people are obsessed with race.

People want to meet aliens.

why?

We can't even get along with aliens across the street or the border.

Why should be want to meet even more alien aliens?

As President Bush said "You are either with or against us".

 

[georgy]

Well everyone back home knows I'm a big trek fan, so I know all the girls will go watch it just to remind themselves of me. And I'll make my brother watch it about 50 times.

And about the subtitles, I have never seen an English movie in India with any kind of subtitles. So that would mean no subs in the south.

 

[indranee]

good to see ya georgy!

yeah, I've never seen one with subtitles either, but I've heard Jurassic Park had them in the Delhi area. and, apparently, this one has as well. not everywhere though.

 

[Cakes488]

It is a great pity so many people are obsessed with race.

People want to meet aliens.

why?

We can't even get along with aliens across the street or the border.

Why should be want to meet even more alien aliens?

As President Bush said "You are either with or against us".

The only way we're going to seriously get along with "aliens across the street" is if there is a threat to earth from an extra terresterial....then we'll all be singing Kumbaya together real quick.

Or hopefully one day we'll evolve beyond all these petty superficial differences...

 

[SonicRanger]

Or hopefully one day we'll evolve beyond all these petty superficial differences...

Culture is hardly "superficial," and cultural differences are hardly "petty." People live, eat, and breath their cultures. Culture and a sense of the Other are deeply rooted in our evolution, meaning it suited us well for hundreds of thousands of years. To expect an Independence Day or First Contact-style "awakening of human unity" when we meet extraterrestrials is, I think, naïve.

 

[Jeri]

Gorbachev and Reagan thought aliens would galvanize humankind; the moment we've got the threat licked, though, it would be back to bickering.

 

[Dusty Ayres]

Isn't Khan's character Indian, or does he not count? (One because of the actor, two because he was a genetic superman with no homeland?)

Khan's full name is Khan Noonien Singh, and is a Sikh from Punjab, so yes, he is Indian. Check out the picture of him painted by Marla McGivers from 'Space Seed'.

 

[Cakes488]

Or hopefully one day we'll evolve beyond all these petty superficial differences...

Culture is hardly "superficial," and cultural differences are hardly "petty." People live, eat, and breath their cultures. Culture and a sense of the Other are deeply rooted in our evolution, meaning it suited us well for hundreds of thousands of years. To expect an Independence Day or First Contact-style "awakening of human unity" when we meet extraterrestrials is, I think, naïve.

You must of misread what I wrote...I said "the only way we're going to seriously get along with aliens across the street is if there is a threat...(KEY WORD THERE) to earth from ET's.

So I'm not sure what you're talking about....but even taking account of what you said ...we have major cultural differences and they are deeply rooted....and....? I think if you strip away all that us humans are more alike then different...

 

[Cakes488]

Gorbachev and Reagan thought aliens would galvanize humankind; the moment we've got the threat licked, though, it would be back to bickering.

Exactly Jeri...thank you.

 

[RobertScorpio]

well, several of my cousins have already seen it twice. they loved it. now it depends on WoM.

btw, it's subtitled in hindi in the North. I am not sure about the South. I know that where I come from (West Bengal), most people in the urban areas know English well and some of the foreign-movie theaters don't bother with subtitling.

I think georgy on this board is originally from the South. he should know.

cakes, there was this one character in Season 1 -- I think her name was Lt. Radha. She was a substitute helmsman or navigator, I'm not sure which. but I don't know if the actor was Indian. they might have just given her the dark make-up treatment.

What about the episode SPACE SEED. I think there is an Indian in place of SULU that episode. I just watched it last night by the way.

Rob

really? hmm. I'll have to re-watch. so where in India did you go, Rob?

I stayed in a small village in a town south of Punjab. I want to say that it was pronounced "kier-gard'..something like that.

Now, to be honest, I was going to try to stay in the village for the whole time. But I could not get used to the village "sundasee?" and ended up staying at the local motel which is cousin owned. They charged me a cut rate and my Grandfather wired us the funds so i could live in, well, my spoiled 'USA' standard of living (i.e. a regular bathroom)...

But we traveled all over india in that year. Taj-mahal (spelling) had a real effect on me. I come from a country (USA) with, at best, a 220+ year history? I was standing there in India, in that Taj-mahal, realizing that I was standing in a place that had been there for a VERY long long time. How many people had stood where I had stood over the stretch of time?

I really enjoyed visiting his family/friends in my time there. The people were just so nice. I remember sitting with my friend's grandfather (who is now dead) but sitting with him on many nights discussing world history. The man was a walking book-of-knowledge. Very wise..and very cool.

Rob