L.

Paul November 14, 2007 at 12:37 am Dark-skin Indians in Trinidad have been victims of racism from the time they entered Trinidad in the late 19th century. Dark-skin Indians coming to Trinidad were also victims of racism in their own country (India) where a vicious caste system existed and still exists today. Unfortunately, most Indians have adopted this same caste-like, Brahminical, racist attitudes against darker-skin ones including darkskin Indians and Africans. Even dark-skin Indians have accepted racism against them and aspire to whiteness by self-loathing tactics, including skin-bleaching and adopting the same nasty attitudes against other dark-skin Indians and Africans. The African community has been quite aware of the general dislike of them by a wide cross-section of Indians and their bold display of haughtiness and intolerance, particularly during the UNC regime. Also, the Indo-Muslim community does demonstrate racism and a tendency to separate themselves from the African community, even from other African Muslims, but there is no escaping the overt, racist attitudes of Hindus especially as their spokespeople are quite vocal about it. In fact, entrenched in Hindu teachings are inferiorizations about darker skin people. So Sat Maharajs and others racist ramblings are only because they closely follow the tenets of Hinduism. That is not to say that all Hindus or Indians are so blatant with their racism or agree with Sat Maharajs stance. Also, when have Indians come out publicly to speak out against racism in their communities? First of all, Indians who experience racism by other Indians quietly submit to the abuse and ridicule. They, supposedly because of religious loyalties, have not historically demonstrated rejection of racial abuse by other Indians in Trinidad and Tobago. In India, the Dalit in some instances have fought against Indian racism and continue to fight their oppression. Not so in Trinidad and Tobago. In terms of fighting against racism by Africans, they have never done so save some bogus ramblings about Indians being discriminated against in the public service, which is historically proven to be untrue. Stereotypes of one group against the other are very prevalent, even today, but oft times have gone overboard. Remember Hulsie Bhagans claim that Africans were raping Indian females; a claim that was not only malicious but proven false?

If Indians feel that they are treated unfairly by Africans they should state their case. It would be hypocritical though if they do not address racism and colourism within their own communities. As it stands now, Africans have a right to remain distrustful of Indians. The conduct of many Indians when UNC held the reigns of power in this country gave sufficient reason to be distrustful of them in leadership positions.

Ruel Daniels November 14, 2007 at 6:19 am Posted by Peter Beharry Rued Daniel: Who the hell is Beharry trying to fool? Its the sneaky hypocrites like him who are the worst. Beharry, youre a racist just like all of your kind. Whats your agenda in pretending otherwise? At least Sats being honest. Wake up my people! The Indians who pretend to be non-racist are the worst kind of deceivers! Their agenda is to destroy by stealth, even by intermarriage! The only honest Indians are the ones who speak and live their vile racism in its plain and raw form! Peter Beharry:Why did I even try I suggest that you revist that post and verify its originator. Those are not my words. If you do not go back and position time and date as means of everyone verifying the origination of that quote you presented as mine, then I have to presume that you deliberately posted a lie in pursuit of an agenda, and that the person who posted those comments about you was on the mark. It is up to you Peter Beharry to prove that you are not being wickedly disingenuous. This is not the first time I have encountered people blatantly lying in pursuit of their agendas to silence those they resent addressing the sacred cow of issues in the Caribbean. My purpose is to leave no doubt in posterity about these machinations, and to lay a foundation for analyst in the future. So Beharry Identify where you found those words you are alleging to be mine, or eat crow. Since I know that they are not mine, and that you mischievously presented them to be thus, I have to agree that whomsoever posted them have the skinny on you, and told it like it is in his description of you.

Peter Beharry November 14, 2007 at 7:44 am Dear Mr. Daniel

Obviously I did NOT intend to attribute such a position to YOU personally. Rude Daniel is NOT your name. If I had used names like Fat Maharaj or Deviant Maharaj it would not be to attribute fabricated statements to Mr. Satnarine Maharaj or Mr. Devant Maharaj, but to satirize people of the school of thought that they represent. Mr. Daniels, please note that Rude Daniel is intended as a hypothetical follower/disciple of your school of thought. If I had intended to quote you, I would have used your name and referenced the date of your post. Thank you Peter Beharry

Peter Beharry November 14, 2007 at 7:49 am Furthermore, Mr. Daniels Would you like me to re-post this using another name such as John Doe- Daniels in order to clarify this as a satire on your school of ideas rather than a false quote from you?

Peter Beharry November 14, 2007 at 7:59 am Dear L. Paul You claim that entrenched in Hindu teachings are inferiorizations about darker skin people. I am sure you can find some quotes from some old indian myth(s) consistent with this. But, please note: Lord Krishna (the hero of the Mahabharata and Gita, viewed as divine by many Hindus) is described as DARK or even BLACK skinned. In fact, the word Krishna means BLACK. Lord Rama, the hero of the Ramayana epic, is unequivocally and particularly described as dark skinned. He is not a brahmin. In the story, he fights and kills the evil king Ravana, who IS a brahmin, and is not singled out for description as dark. (This point is distorted by some racist indos, possibly influenced by British color prejudices). The goddess Kali, revered by many Hindus, is also described as dark/black in skin complexion.

I stand by my claim that Indo-Trinis who try to speak against racism are subjected to the double attack of the Sats and Devants who they are up against in their own communities, and the Africans who label them as both racist and hypocritical. I have seen this myself.

Peter Beharry November 14, 2007 at 8:03 am Dear Mr. Daniel My apologies. Corrections as follows: I agree with Mr. Ruel Daniels that racism perpetrated by certain indotrinis needs to be eradicated (like any other kind of racism). However, his wholesale labelling of east indians in general and hindus in particular as racist brahmin plotters (dalit origins nonwithstanding, is a broad form of attack with much collateral damage. This actually makes it difficult for east indians to attack the racists in their own community, as they would likely draw additional fire by doing so. Perhaps, something like this: FatMaharaj: I am opposed to the steel pan, I dont like anything African Bobolee Beharry: Sat youre talking crap. Its an Afro-Trini invention but its the national instrument of all Trinbagonians. Swim back to India if you will John Doe- Daniel: Who the hell is Beharry trying to fool? Its the sneaky hypocrites like him who are the worst. Beharry, youre a racist just like all of your kind. Whats your agenda in pretending otherwise? At least Sats being honest. Wake up my people! The Indians who pretend to be non-racist are the worst kind of deceivers! Their agenda is to destroy by stealth, even by intermarriage! The only honest Indians are the ones who speak and live their vile racism in its plain and raw form! Bobolee Beharry:Why did I even try.

Peter Beharry November 14, 2007 at 8:15 am

One more thing L. Paul, thanks for saying most indians have adopted this caste-like, brahminical attitude You used the word MOST, creating space for those who do not fit this mold. So many would have said those indians or all the indians or even those ******* indians, crushing those who wish to walk away from Sat&Co. (there are many) Please understand- attacking all indo-trinis or all hindus in response to the Sat-like, vocal racists, just forces them to turn inwards and seek the company of their own ethnic group not from hatred of others, but fear and unease engendered by those who place a single label of evil racist on all those with the misfortune to be born of east indian ancestry. As an Indo-Trini I have to live with the fact that NO MATTER WHAT I think, say or do, I will be hated by many or most Africans as a presumed racist solely on the grounds of my phyiscal appearance.

Peter Beharry November 14, 2007 at 8:23 am Dear Mr. Ruel Daniels and Ms. Linda Edwards Lets try to be constructive. Lets say that there is are Indo-Trinis who are not in support of the East Indian racism against others and wish to simply be regular Trinis, able to interact with others, free of the brahmin/racist taint and label. What do you suggest that this person should say or do? (Lets leave out migrate, commit suicide, go to st. anns, or could never have been born in the first place Thanks Peter Beharry

Ruel Daniels November 14, 2007 at 6:08 pm Dear Mr. Daniel Obviously I did NOT intend to attribute such a position to YOU personally.

Rude Daniel is NOT your name. If I had used names like Fat Maharaj or Deviant Maharaj it would not be to attribute fabricated statements to Mr. Satnarine Maharaj or Mr. Devant Maharaj, but to satirize people of the school of thought that they represent. Mr. Daniels, please note that Rude Daniel is intended as a hypothetical follower/disciple of your school of thought. If I had intended to quote you, I would have used your name and referenced the date of your post. Thank you Peter Beharry This is a BB. When you include someones name before quoted remarks you are attributing those remarks to that person. No I do not accept your apology or explanation. The fact that you choose to use a portion of an Africans name to for your satirical exercise convinces me that you are devious as they come, and probably just as dangerous. What you have done is no different than the stereotypes constantly advanced as templates of African behaviour. I consider this to be racist, and a butressing of my position that there some Indians who will fabricate racist allegations in order to justify or obscure their own prejudice. And this Sir, is a classic example of such an exercise. I believe this act is crucially suggestive of how people like you Mr Beharry, vent your deviant prejudices. You do so by hiding behind silly explanations of satirical licences, on a BB where no reader can tell the difference between what is satire and what is a quote. You sir are racist, and deviantly so I believe.

A. Friend December 4, 2007 at 8:58 am Mr. Beharry, good luck with Messers Daniel and Paul. You are wasting your time. They have acccepted all of the rigid stereotypes foisted upon them by colonial and neocolonial education. They are frozen intellectually: but this is by choice and desire. It is beneficial to them, perhaps materially, because they seem to have such a high stake in perpetuating anger and racism as the precursor to genocide. These are dangerous pseudo-intelluctuals who can embellish every rationale supplied by their masters, as to why people of different hues and ethnicities should never be equal or united.

I am certain that your admirable mission is to stimulate genuine dialogue and open up communications and dispel myths as a foundation in a larger quest to build a more harmonious nation and world. Realism requires that we use our time judiciously and not be drawn into a debate with those who have no conceivable interest in change. They make a good living as radio personalities, African studies teachers, consultants, columnists, etc. peddling this rotten fish called racism.