(Originally posted on 9/16/13 on my family blog.)
Yes, I know a blog post is long overdue. Yes, I know many of you have been asking for pictures of our daughter. However, as adorable as we think she is (and we're not biased at all :-) ), she is not what motivated me to write today. It's the Miss America pageant from last night, that I'll admit, I did not even watch.
I spoke with my sister this morning, who was extremely frustrated and angry about the racist comments surrounding the Miss America winner. I had no idea what she was talking about. Apparently, while I was cursing my fantasy football team and waiting for the rain delay to finish during Sunday Night Football, an American of Indian descent won Miss America. And twitter went crazy.
Initially, I was mad as well. But then I read about 12 different articles, and they all quoted the same 10 tweets. There was only one article that posted the uplifting tweets (all from people NOT of Indian descent)--many expressing their pride at being American, and wishing Nina their best. So I checked my other source to check the pulse of the world--my Facebook feed. The only people posting anything relating to the pageant were of Indian descent. No hate from anyone, and even those quoting the racism were linking to the same articles quoting the same 10 tweets all over the news.
Look, I know there is racism here. 9/11 has changed this country, emotions are still raw, and anyone who looks anything like the perpetrators have felt some backlash from it. America isn't perfect. Even we have a few ignorant idiots that spoil the reputation for a whole country. (I know, shocker!) But I believe something is getting lost in all this. An American of Indian descent just won Miss America. Essentially, a panel full of Americans just determined that this young woman, Indian descent or not, was fit to represent our great country in a worldwide competition. Isn't that something to cheer? This does not happen anywhere else, because America is one of a kind. Truly a melting pot.
I remember reading an article before Barack Obama was elected. A reporter had gone to several large cities around the world, and asked who they thought was going to win the US election. Less than 2% said Obama (though that's who they were hoping for), and the common theme was that Americans would never elect a black president. I knew better than that. I had more faith in our country. Obama was elected--a huge step forward, and a huge statement about the views of diversity in this country. And then the racist, he's not born here and his last name sounds like "Osama" storm came. However, when the dust settled, the people of the USA had elected this man to lead them, and that's that.
I am reminded about that today, as my feelings are similar. There are a few who will yell, scream and try to tie Nina to some terrorist organization. However, there are also a great number sending their congrats, and an even larger number who are going about today like nothing out of the ordinary happened last night, which in my mind, is the largest win of all. However, the fact is that she WON. She was elected by a panel of Americans to represent our great nation. They knew her skin color when they voted. She did not fit the typical blond hair, blue-eyed girl that so many are used to. (For the record, this is not the first time a minority has won, by any means.) But, they chose her to represent the ideals of our nation. And I couldn't be more proud.
Yes, reading some of the tweets is hurtful, and I have not-so-nice thoughts in my head that I'd like to express to those shameful people. (I LOVE that the articles quoted them by name...good luck ridding yourself of that racist reputation, folks.) However, I do not feel the tweets of a few represent a nation of many. Change always makes people uncomfortable--some people know how to deal with it better than others. This nation is constantly changing, but always holds the same ideals at its core. Any race and any religion is welcome here--all under the umbrella of the United States of America. With Barack Obama as President and Nina Davuluri as Miss America, no one can say we don't stand by our ideals. I hope today those tweeters are hanging their heads in shame, being told off by those who read their names in the news articles, and will remember their words as they are forced to start new Facebook and Twitter accounts. Freedom, equality and justice for all--even the ignorant idiots. Though sometimes I wish we could choose who gets freedom of speech, at the end of the day, the great thing is in this country you can say whatever you'd like. A right that we so often take for granted.
Congratulations Nina Davuluri--from one born-and-raised-in-New-York gal to another. Today I'm proud to be of Indian descent. But, as always, above all and more than anything, today, I'm proud to be an American.
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