PARTY OVERLOAD?
We Desis are known as Party People, right? It is obvious when every weekend, our houses are lit up, cars are lined up along the sidewalks and the music is blaring. In contrast, the Anglo houses are quiet as grave yards. In our neighborhoods such as Sugar Land or Katy, it is easy to identify the Desi houses by the number of cars parked on weekend nights. You don’t have to get down to check for the aromas of our spicy food or the quality of the yard work.
As our community has grown and prospered, the number of party invitations have increased exponentially. On a Saturday night last month, I met a couple that arrived at a party at about 10 o’clock. I asked the tired couple whether they were in a car wreck or caught in a traffic gridlock. No, they said, this is our fourth party tonight.
Indo-American News would like to know about your own Party Overload. Or are you becoming more Anglo and taking it easy? Should Party Overload be a point of pride or a matter of community concern?
H-2B Visas: Good or Bad
The H-2B working visa is a nonimmigrant visa, which allows foreign nationals to enter into the U.S. temporarily and engage in nonagricultural employment which is seasonal, intermittent, a peak load need, or a one-time occurrence.
The H2-B visa been useful for bringing into the U.S. entertainers on a temporary visa as well as non-agricultural workers such as cooks and house maids. Certainly, the visa has given employment to thousands of low skilled workers.
On the other hand, the Signal International employees in Louisiana were brought to the U.S. on H2-B visa. These workers have complained of “slave-like” conditions and taken their case to Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen.
Indo-American News would like to hear your opinions on the H2-B visa. Do the benefits of employment outweigh the enormous potential for abuse? If, subjected to abusive working conditions, the workers have little recourse.
A Three-Way Tussle
According to the latest Zogby Poll, the ongoing battle between Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama has lowered the popularily numbers of both and given Republican John McCain, perhaps temporarily. The Democratic candidates are struggling to gain every little advantage, through clver arguments about patriotism, as Bill Clinton did, or winning the electoral college, as Sen. Birch Bayh suggested on behalf of Hillary, or gaining an endorsement, as Obama did, of Bill Richardson. Meanwhile, John McCain has had an opportunity to visit Iraq and Israel.
What is your opinion of the Clinton-McCain-Obama contest?
A Super Struggle
The Clinton-Obama presidential primary battle still remains deadlocked with Obama holding a slim lead in both the popular vote and delegate count. While the Republican nominee John McCain is busy raising funds and visiting Iraq, the Democratic candidates are still campaigning, still throwing mud at each other and hoping that something will stick. They are also trying to woo the super delegates and weighing in on what to do about the discredited Florida and Michigan delegations. Looks like the two states will have to hold ‘re-do’ primaries sometime in June. For political junkies, it is great theater, but ordinary citizens are weary.
What do you think?
Clinton-Obama Ticket
In a highly strategic move to revive her candidacy, Hillary Clinton has introduced the idea of a Clinton-Obama ticket. Naturally, in her scenario, she would be the presidential candidate and Obama would be the supporting vice presidential mate. Bill Clinton has been even more vocal about the possibility. He has said it would be a “dream” ticket with Hillary drawing the older, working class Democrats and Obama would bring in the young people and the upper class voters.
Of course, Obama rejects the lopsided ticket. He says he has, thus far, won the popular vote and has more delegates.
What do you think?
Clinton or Obama!
Rarely does a Presidential nomination race extend to the March 4 Texas Primary. With Hillary Clinton and Baraka Obama running in a virtual dead heat, Texas voters may have a say in who gets the Democratic nomination.
To support an exchange of ideas, Indo-Americans would like news for readers to give us their thoughts and opinions. Our topic this time is Clinton vs. Obama. Let us know whom you prefer and why?
