What are you...first?

[Falcon]

This Hindu Credit Union fella said something in the Guardian today

The atmosphere in the room became charged with tension. Harnarine, preventing Glasgow from carrying on, continued: “I will not have him coming in my country and telling me I am making an ass of myself. Why are you offending my dignity and behaving so? Is it because you are British and I am East Indian?”

Now, this is nothing new to me if I remember my daily dealings in TT. But I just wanted to ask the members here if they defined themselves as their nationality first or their ethnic group first?

Harry stated that the QC was British (nationality) whilst Harry was East Indian (ethnicity). That didn't feel right.

[greall]

To a lot...ethnicity's first and trumps everything...

I can't claim nationality...I may not be a Trini...

Greg

[Falcon]

greall, even in the UK, you will find that the Muslims in Bradford are Muslim first, then British second. That's religion trumping nationality.

[Solachica]

I think the man say he make an ass of himself becos he didn't know wht PEARLS stands for and yet tht was the model he was working with at hcu. Harry say he doh know wht it stands for but he know wht the model (system?) is

[Sirius]

I am a human being first. I never really cared much for all the ways you could subdivide that.

[kemist]

During my childhood and teenage years, I identified myself as 'Muslim First'

In North America in the 70's, if you're not white, you are black, and if you are muslim of east indian decent, they would call you 'Paki' (short for pakistani) - so my family had always put their West Indian identity first and i had adopted a similar attitude.

Today however, i consider myself too complex of an individual to just limit myself to one identity.

[Lover]

This Hindu Credit Union fella said something in the Guardian today



Now, this is nothing new to me if I remember my daily dealings in TT. But I just wanted to ask the members here if they defined themselves as their nationality first or their ethnic group first?

Harry stated that the QC was British (nationality) whilst Harry was East Indian (ethnicity). That didn't feel right.

You know I never thought about this, but I think I would identify myself first as Trinidadian as I am not even sure what ethnic group I belong to.

Mr Harnarine, no doubt did not realised there is conflict in his words, or perhaps he just does not understand the difference.

[Solachica]

I iza Trini first.
I does be proud to say where I from too.

[Wayne]

Trini to de Marrow................even if ah become ah citizen of the Moon..........

[vaio]

To a lot...ethnicity's first and trumps everything...

I can't claim nationality...I may not be a Trini...

Greg

This.

Greg the Guyanese?

[straphanger]

In Trinidad I identified with being Hindu first, but that's because everyone knows you are Trini. However, since I moved abroad, I am Trini first. My name implies that I am hindu so most of the time when Indians come up to me the first question they ask is, "what part of india are you from." My first reaction is, " I am not Indian, I am from Trinidad and Tobago." No one here really asks about religion. I think it's more a personal issue. I dont even think my co-workers know I am hindu

[SocaSim]

I am GOD's chile first...then i'm ah Trini-American...

[vaio]

i am trini first

[miktay]

In Trinidad I identified with being Hindu first, but that's because everyone knows you are Trini. However, since I moved abroad, I am Trini first. My name implies that I am hindu so most of the time when Indians come up to me the first question they ask is, "what part of india are you from." My first reaction is, " I am not Indian, I am from Trinidad and Tobago." No one here really asks about religion. I think it's more a personal issue. I dont even think my co-workers know I am hindu

I bet some East Indians screw up they face when they hear u fm Trini....

[straphanger]

i doh study dem nuh
usually is the gujjus who do that

[Wayne]

i doh study dem nuh
usually is the gujjus who do that

Musbe plenty gujjus in your area ...........eh?

[straphanger]

yes...NJ is the second gujarat

[Wayne]

yes...NJ is the second gujarat

http://www.gujaratishow.com/2009/03/gujarati-natak.html

[straphanger]

what's that?

[Wayne]

what's that?

Some show for the Indians from India who are in America,so they can feel as though they are in India.

[snowbird]

In my opinion..... some people who are of single race...tend to make a claim to their ethnic origins first, then nationality second.

Me? I don't feel the need to 'make a claim' to any one group or country in order to 'validate' myself.

... I guess, if I were ever asked... I would say I was born in Trini....not that it evokes any special feeling in me.. coming from a long line of 'nomads'.... it is just the place my parents generation happen to be in when I was born.... it could have just as easily been ...... Barbados, Grendad or ..... Timbachtoo



As to the defendant... it would appear he hasn't gotten over his 'inferiority complex' ...or his awe, but hatred of Massa...for this reason, he has an inability to recognize the learned council in his role...rather (because he is a Brit) he sees him as 'massa come back'.... and at a time when he (Harry) has already been 'liberated'.

Harry boy.... yuh eh liberated one fart.... yuh still back dey in de fields.... yuh need help boy....yuh kar demand respect.... yuh have tuh earn it.

[straphanger]

Some show for the Indians from India who are in America,so they can feel as though they are in India.

Sounds like caribana then

[miktay]

In my opinion..... some people who are of single race...tend to make a claim to their ethnic origins first, then nationality second.

Me? I don't feel the need to 'make a claim' to any one group or country in order to 'validate' myself.

... I guess, if I were ever asked... I would say I was born in Trini....not that it evokes any special feeling in me.. coming from a long line of 'nomads'.... it is just the place my parents generation happen to be in when I was born.... it could have just as easily been ...... Barbados, Grendad or ..... Timbachtoo



As to the defendant... it would appear he hasn't gotten over his 'inferiority complex' ...or his awe, but hatred of Massa...for this reason, he has an inability to recognize the learned council in his role...rather (because he is a Brit) he sees him as 'massa come back'.... and at a time when he (Harry) has already been 'liberated'.

Harry boy.... yuh eh liberated one fart.... yuh still back dey in de fields.... yuh need help boy....yuh kar demand respect.... yuh have tuh earn it.

How would u react if someone called u an ass inna public courtroom?

[guyguy]

Now, this is nothing new to me if I remember my daily dealings in TT. But I just wanted to ask the members here if they defined themselves as their nationality first or their ethnic group first?

Harry stated that the QC was British (nationality) whilst Harry was East Indian (ethnicity). That didn't feel right.

This is a loaded question and cannot be accurately addressed or answered without witnessing the entire incident and understanding the context in which it was said.

[mammadon]

In order, I am:

- British
- African
- Trinidadian

1st is my birth nationality, 2nd is my heritage, third is my current abode.