More Than Just The Alphabet
by Hinal Patel
A-B-C-D, otherwise known as “American-Born Confused Desi” is a term used to describe South Asian Americans born and raised in the United States. Usually stated in a lighthearted and humorous manner, the acronym is often used by many South Asians to poke fun at the concept of assimilation to American culture. It refers to those who lack a dominant sense of identity toward either South Asian or American culture, and therefore, feel estranged from both.
Even though I’m a second-generation Indian-American, I would not categorize myself as an ABCD. In fact, there are countless Indian American youth who are quite cognizant of their cultural identities and religious backgrounds. My parents always took me to the local temple every Sunday. I learned basic Hindu principles, was taught to read and write my native language, and partook in countless cultural festivals. As I got older, I decided that I wanted to continue molding my life around the Hindu values that I was taught growing up. Hinduism not only provided me with a sense of community and purpose, but most importantly, it influenced my outlook on life.
Although Hinduism consists of countless denominations and sects, certain principles reign true for all faith adherents. One of these being the idea that each individual has a soul and is, therefore, worthy of respect. This soul, also known as the “Atma,” is the essence of an individual. This concept goes hand in hand with another belief known as “Ahimsa” or nonviolence. At its most basic level, Ahimsa symbolizes love, genuine care, and compassion towards all living beings. This principle extends beyond avoiding physical harm toward another living being; it includes avoiding harm through speech and thought. In essence, the idea provides that all life is sacred and should be loved, revered, and respected. Translated into modern-day practice, this means that the faith’s adherents should be tolerant and understanding toward everyone regardless of race, religion, gender, and belief. All living beings deserve respect and are entitled to their own path.
Every day, I make a conscious effort to incorporate these values into all aspects of my life, including letting this ethos guide my social and political beliefs. Rather than aligning myself with a particular party, I align myself with candidates I believe would serve with compassion and humility when enacting policies.
Unfortunately, in the last four years of the Trump administration, the world has seen a push away from values that many Hindus hold dear. Our current president often appears to choose his words deliberately to attack particular individuals or groups and to increase distrust, polarization, and frustration in the public sphere. He routinely uses fear to divert attention away from legitimate criticism of his presidency or fitness for office. This dangerous political rhetoric on women, religious, and racial groups has only fanned the flames of racial animus and division, and has led to sharp increases in hate crimes targeting minorities.
Following the 2016 presidential campaign, the FBI’s annual Hate Crime Report revealed that hate crimes had surged by a whopping 7%, from 5462 in 2014 to 5850 in 2015. The next year, these crimes continued to rise to 6121 incidents. During his presidency, Trump made countless attempts to enshrine discrimination into policy, such as the Muslim Ban or building a wall at the Mexican border. These policies only further feed into white supremacist and brutal nationalist ideologies that target minorities with both words and violence. These hate crimes are seen even amongst South Asian Americans. In February of 2017, an Indian man in Peyton, Colorado, awoke to find his house egged, smeared with dog feces, and vandalized with racist slogans. Two weeks later, at a bar in Olathe, Kansas, a U.S. Navy veteran opened fire on two Indian patrons, killing one. Soon after, a Sikh man was attacked outside his home in Kent, Washington, when a white man wearing a mask told him to go back to his country, then shot him in the arm.
As human beings, we are far from perfect and bound to make mistakes. Although Joe Biden is not an exception to this rule, I sincerely believe he will do a far better job of understanding and sympathizing with the American people than our current president. Indeed, his proposed policy reforms reflect his natural empathy. For example, he will uphold the rights of migrants to seek asylum, offer relief to undocumented immigrants who contribute to our communities every single day, and unite us as one America. He will also work to reform streamline religious worker visas for faith based organizations who utilize this program. All of these policies reflect Vice President Biden’s commitment to all faiths, including the Hindu community.
As Hindu Americans, we should stand proudly in support of Vice President Biden. His policies and his ideology are consistent with the core Hindu belief of Ahimsa, being non violent, being tolerant, and compassion to all. After all, should we not be prioritizing human rights over wealth? Understanding others instead of ridiculing them? Electing a president goes far beyond monetary policies — it extends to morality as well. Hindu values are humane values, and it is time we start electing politicians that reflect this ideal. As a proud Indian and Hindu American, or A-B-C-D, I’m voting for Joe Biden on November 3rd.
