Desi Manifesto Blog: The Forum for South Asian American Men

* The quirky and forward-thinking Canadian TV (CBC) show, “Little Mosque on the Prairie,” is being adapted (and potentially ruined) by FOX. Even if it doesn’t make it to air, this is progress. Unless it’s some kind of feeder for “24″ villains. Ugh. Props to writer Zarqa Nawaz, as she has created a show unlike anything currently around. The desi moment is that she’s of Pakistani origin, BTW.

And she answered some questions after the pilot aired. Watch the pilot (takes a long time to load). [Thanks Nirali Magazine]

I was not Christian, I was not white. This alone was enough to invalidate any chance of being president… [But in] this new millennium, in this present day, things have changed. We finally have a South Asian candidate running for president – Barack Obama.

Before you point out the obvious, allow me to explain.

Various cultures have tried isolating those who are “different.” They’ve all claimed it was for benign purposes, some going so far as to say it was to benefit the minority group. In recent history, the Nazis made the Jews wear “pieces of flair” (thanks, Office Space). The Americans sent anyone of Japanese origin into camps during WW2. The Taliban made the Afghani Hindus wear patches. The Americans made blacks live in separate areas of the country when they tried the “separate but equal” debacle. Rather than protecting the smaller group’s members, these plans simply divide them from the majority, destroy the bonds that have integrated them into society, and make it easier for the majority to view the smaller group as a foreign entity, a “them” vs. “us” scenario.

I can confirm for you that the potential disaster of a cultural hodgepodge these white writers (assumption, but I’d bet money) threatened to put together is not only enjoyable at times, but is also tonally uplifting and not a complete cultural massacre. Perhaps more like a back alley stabbing. But with Hollywood nowadays, that’s a boon.