Dear Editor (of the Queens Chronicle): Born and living in Queens for over 50 years, I am encountering racism directed at me simply for being a white American, as well as witnessing others who are going through the same. My family and I are referred to as the “white Americans” by neighbors on the block where we live. We’ve owned our own home here for almost 45 years and by no means are we insulted, but proud. This however shows their poor mentality and racist ways.
We’ve also been called obscenities, which are always prefaced with the word “white.” As absurd as it sounds, we’ve been told to go back to our own country. We are friendly to everyone, having friends of all races, bearing no prejudice to anyone. There are many “new comers” who have absolutely no social skills and refuse to accept anyone who is not from their “home land,” resenting us as a whole.
America was built on diversity of many different ethnicities working and bonding together to make it what it is today. Currently, it’s a different story and we are being made to feel that we don’t belong, which is why so many people are moving away or as some say, “pushed out.” We are looked at and treated like unwanted outsiders, meanwhile we have worked hard to obtain what we have, having made this our home many years ago as well.
Do they not know how to respect others and live accordingly as we do in this country, the good old American way? This is pure harassment, and when the police intervene, seeing the racism first hand, the taunting will subside for awhile, but shortly begins again. All we are trying to do is live, not bothering anyone, yet it’s a sad thing to say how uncomfortable and threatened we feel in our own home.
It’s a sorry state when one suddenly can’t go in their front garden or sit in their own backyard without racial slurs being called out. Regardless of race or color, wrong is wrong and no one should be given amnesty because of it. If they are confronted, their cry is racism, which is nothing more than a poor excuse, not to be prosecuted for their wrong doings.
This is their way of doing whatever they want and getting away with it.If any slurs were directed towards them, it would be labeled a hate/bias crime, with groups ready to defend them and a guilty verdict for us. May I ask, who can the white Americans turn to in these times of strife?
Christine Klein
Richmond Hill
I am sure the simple act of reposting this will elicit a knee-jerk labeling of this blog as "racist", "Archie Bunker" etc. as usual. Can't let people know what is really going on in Queens these days and why those who have lived here for decades are moving out.
Must...maintain...tweeding...clubhouse's...multicultural...utopian...
fantasy....
69 comments:
I went to Richmond Hill Highschool from Sept. 2004 - Mar. 2006 and this woman's letter parallels exactly how I felt in my time there. I only grew up eight blocks from that school, yet everyday I attended classes I was viewed as though I was some sort of outcast. I would estimate the white student population was approximately 75 of 3,800 students at the time. RHHS was such a miserable, inhospitable environment, I dropped out 3 days after turning 17 and got my GED.
I am still often mocked on my way to the newstand on Jamaica Avenue as if I have to pay some kind of harassment toll for being white and walking down the street in my own neighborhood. There are indeed too many immigrants moving in too quickly who don't feel like they need to assimilate to American culture, and in many cases, don't need to make any attempt to learn English. Richmond Hill and many other Queens neighborhoods are taking an unsettleing turn for the worse in this respect.
As an older white middle age white Corp. employee we are to embrace diversity by hiring the opposite to maintain diversity and minority numbers. In many respects this is to force us to interview people by color, religion and sexuality. Nothing wrong at all hiring across all groups but little goes into the vetting of qualifications, abilities and fit to perform in the position hired for. My approach is to hire on qualifications or the best person for the job, thus I have a diverse staff that qualified and do a remarkable job.
However, my own age, color, gender works against me and can now justify as a Queens resident that I too have become a minority including in the Corp world with policies that work against my possibilities and opportunities at other Corporations. In fairness, all people are equal why can we not compete on the same level footing? Will my white teenage children be left out in the cold when equally qualified in a pool of candidates that the diversity systems favor people of color, gayness or what or sexual anatomy? Is reverse discrimination not discriminatory - have I lost my basic rights to make up for something I nor my previous generations have had nothing to do with in the past?
The beginning of the end of NYC started years ago. See for your self just call your government at 311, don't press '1' for English, don't press '2" for Spanish, instead press '3' for Russian and let your government explain to you in Russian what our Russian NYC government can do for you. Glad to see that Reagan won the cold war for America. Tell me again when the 5th column runs your government are we a conquered people.
here is an idea for you mr letter writer
sell your 50 year old piece of crap and get out of the third world aka richmond hill- ozone park.
you fought hard and lost deal with it.
queens is toast take the money and run while you can
The odds are that this mindless bigotry is coming from illegal aliens or the "anchor babies" of illegal aliens.
It is natural for any criminal to hate the victim because the victim failed to put up a successful fight.
In the coarse, crude mentality of the criminal mind, the criminal is the "winner", the victim is the "loser". Winners hate losers.
This has been the mentality of the KKK, the White Supremacists, the Nazis, and all dictators.
Now the illegal aliens, whose homeland experience was hate-filled, invade this country to act out their resentments.
Solution? Obvious.
Well this is a new one - blame immigrants for your dropping out of high school.
I am a white American with a professional job in the private sector, and I have lived in Queens my entire life. While maybe things are different in Richmond Hill, I can say that I have never had any of these bad experiences set forth in the letter above. I have never seen any company where I have worked hire people based any any racial, gender or sexual orientation basis. I have had lots of interaction with people of many different races and cultures, and I have never been made to feel discriminated against because I am white. I also have never heard from any of my friends that they have directly had any of those types of experiences. I know that there are occasional abuses and wrongs that occur, but it is not as rampant as you are making it out to be. People here need to realize that you are only harming yourselves with your generalized prejudicial views.
"I have never seen any company where I have worked hire people based any any racial, gender or sexual orientation basis."
HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!
" I have never seen any company where I have worked hire people based any any racial, gender or sexual orientation basis. I have had lots of interaction with people of many different races and cultures, and I have never been made to feel discriminated against because I am white. I also have never heard from any of my friends that they have directly had any of those types of experiences."
And how many companies have you worked for? You must have had a LOT of jobs in your short life time. OMG you are whacked! You must work for Disney or some such company...
Get your head out of your ass and clean off your glasses...
"I am sure the simple act of reposting this will elicit a knee-jerk labeling of this blog as "racist", "Archie Bunker" etc. as usual. Can't let people know what is really going on in Queens these days and why those who have lived here for decades are moving out."
The diversicrats/multiCULTuralists all have their heads up their asses. The unfortunate thing is that most of these imbeciles are white! It's going to take a major disaster like race/ethnic riots by La Raza sympathisizers for these idiots to wake up, but unfortunately they inhabit an alternate "Orwellian" universe, whereby everything is ALWAYS the fault of white racism, and the cure is simply more sensitivity training and affirmative action.
If you point out any of various and obvious flaws with "diversity" - e.g. humans are simply "hard wired" to be tribal and distrust others, diverse neighborhoods have low levels of social trust, etc., these idiots will simply accuse you of causing trouble. These are points that the flaming liberal and "true believer" in diversity Robert Putnam himself pointed out in his research, yet he suppressed his findings because he was afraid of "right wingers" using the data for "evil purposes". That's not science, that's "hocus pocus"!
Case in point - I happened to mention Putnam's work on a Jackson Heights message board, and some idiot accused me of "stirring up trouble"! I made no mention of any ethnic or racial groups, I simply pointed out Putnam's conclusions, and I was accused of being a trouble maker!
There's a reason why states such as California and New York are declining in population. Many whites are leaving California for Seattle, creating traffic problems up there. There's also a reason why many blacks are leaving New York as well, moving to the south, as they are simply being forced out of the job market due to competition by the tweeded "undocumented guest workers". Yet if you point this out, you're a "trouble maker" at best, a "RACIST" at worst, something the diversicrats consider worst than a child molester.
Ignore the idiots calling this blog "racist" or "Archie Bunker"! It's one of the few voices of sanity in an insane city!
I have experienced the same while living in NYC. Being called stupid white b**** and being told to go back to my country. Which is somewhat baffling since my ancestors were here long before this was even a country. Sometimes I've been told to go back to my own neighborhood cause I didn't belong there. But you know what, it happens. Just because we're white doesn't make us special. I suppose perhaps this is a taste of what people of other races have to put up with and our vision was to clouded to think it could happen to the mighty whiteys lol.
By the same token though, it is sad. Everybody's supposedly against racism and such and yet the people that claim to be suffering it are dishing it out. I suppose it's everywhere and nobody's immune.
Recently, I was in a Family Dollar store in a mixed neighborhood. This nabe has a little of everything and everybody seems to get along well. As I was leaving the store, two black women came up in front of me and blocked the store exit - not maliciously, they were chatting with one another and lost in their own world. They stopped walking and chatted whilst blocking the exit completely. I said "excuse me" and they kept chatting. I said it again and one looked at me and made the comment about whitey wanting special treatment... then continued in their conversation. So, excusing myself as I went, I walked between them and exited the store. They followed after me cursing at me and calling me a racist white b**** and i had no right to be in their store and I needed to go back to my own country cause people like me are why they can't get ahead.
The more I think about this topic, the more my head spins.
I'd like to say "It happens, deal with it"
But should we have to anymore than other races should? What ever happened to banishing racism? After all that happened during civil rights... all the races of people fleeing their own countries for a better life here... all those choosing to live here for a better life..... why must we take steps backward? It only seems to be getting worse instead of better.
I lived in Richmond Hill for 2 years and never had the experiences mentioned here. But I've seen them elsewhere in Queens and wonder why the most racially diverse borough can't just learn to get along. Must not be such a terribly and horrible place if they chose to come here.
At this point, you can see I have no solution for any of this. I'm just rambling. But maybe it's par for the course. Maybe there is no solution and it's something we have to learn to deal with... or move on.
Over here in Flushing I can't say I have interacted with anyone who discriminated against me during my short time as an adult. However in my adolescence I would be referred to as "white boy" and such from ignorant groups of young adults (somewhat of a common place during Basketball games in public parks). My opinion is that over here in Flushing, so many groups of ethnic enclaves are too busy trying to "make it happen" to show anguish. Perhaps the OP-er (original poster)has had other confrontations or misunderstandings (not related to race)with the racial "offender" for lack of better words.
OMG I live in Westchester and always thought people of all races from Brooklyn and Queens held hands and danced in a circle every night. At least that's how the area has always been depicted on TV and in the press. Now I know better.
The most ignorant aspect of not only the subject article but the responses also, is that there is absolutely no good-faith interest in harmonizing any of these alleged tensions. Am I surprised--Not at all! The immigrant communities that have nurtured Richmond Hill for many years, were fearful of you white americans due to incidents such when "A Sikh man wearing the turban and beard that are symbols of his faith was confronted by three men drinking cocktails on a Queens sidewalk yesterday and beaten into unconsciousness" (See http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE4D6113BF931A25754C0A9629C8B63). Cultured persons from other boroughs of NYC often dine at some of the local restaurants in Richmond Hill, hailing these food-spots as authentic and rich additions to the foodie landscape of NYC. Why is it that I dont see the local "white americans" amongst the patrons in these restaurants. It's because your attitude is what is dividing you against becoming part of the community. You have chosen to become dropped stitches that want to remain outside the rich community fabric of a neighborhood such as Richmond Hill. As a regular customer at the RKO flea market on the weekends, I've witnessed the way "white americans" yell and scream at immigrant customers all the time. Please--as far as I'm concerned, your ramblings and complaints only perpetuate further ignorance and do nothing to add to any harmonizing of cultures in our beautiful Richmond Hill!
The simple fact of the matter is the clubhouse loves the immigrant: they usually vote Democratric (if they become a citizen) and every time of taxpayer money is funded on narrow programs that appeal to them (rather than the general publc.)
This is also the reason that our leadership places every roadblock they can to any form of community preservation.
If anyone stands up to this, they are ridiculed and called the Queens equivalent of Sambo or Hillbilly, an 'Archie Bunker'.
I have nowhere to go. I will stand and fight. When someone scribbled 'White People off OUR block', I painted over those words from the front of my building in front of the smirking punks that did it.
Now I have 'Latin Kings' and the like scribbled up and down my block. The absentee landlords don't care that I have to walk past their toilets of buildings every day I go to the train that is my portal to the real world, my passage outside of this shithole the clubhouse made of Queens.
Immigrant communties don't get services. My trash regularly sits for an entire week, and calling 311 gets a run a round.
I am tired of explaining why my block looks like this to my family and friends.
I am not anti-immigrant, my grandparents struggled to get established here.
I am anti clubhouse who use the immigrants as the foils for their tricks.
I am tired of my home called over and over and over again 'immigrant boro.' We have 350 years here, 100 communities, and 2.5 million people.
To summorize all this in one word. immigrant' is bullshit. After 30 years, time to move on.
This blog finally gives the people of Queens a chance to do so.
Yes I am sure not eating in local restaurants is the reason this woman is taunted in her backyard. Brilliant.
Obviously--you still dont get it.
Why is it that I dont see the local "white americans" amongst the patrons in these restaurants.
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Because unlike smarmy posturizing yuppies who are slumming for the afternoon, they dont actuall LIVE in immigrant communities, and wake up with your pillow smelling like curry, or ride the train into the city next to a Chinese 'bathing is optional' kitchen employee.
Maybe because us natives actually see what goes into the kitchen unlike the clueless farm boys and girls from Kansas out for a gastronomical junket.
If you dont want what the clubhouse has decided for you, you are 'narrow minded.'
"Why is it that I dont see the local "white americans" amongst the patrons in these restaurants."
How about the fact that the majority of local "white americans" don't eat that kind of ethnic food. They eat AMERICAN food.
I know I do. Sometimes I eat ethnic food when I am in the mood for it but the majority of people I know can't stomach some of the ethnic food coming into this country.
Russell
Case in point - I happened to mention Putnam's work on a Jackson Heights message board, and some idiot accused me of "stirring up trouble"!
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not surprised. those paranoid bozos at astorian.com run that site.
they mirror their politicians as being fearful when new ideas they can't control get into the community.
come to think of it ....
hmmmmmm.....
The suggestion to eat in local restaurants is a symbolic gesture. Even on a historical level, community dining has been a remarkably powerful example in furthering the notion of a community breaking bread together. Also, did you know that it is part of the Sikh faith to hold community meals at the temples for all persons of any faith, creed, etc... I as an immigrant woman took a "white american" friend of mine to one of the Sikh Gurudwaras (Temple) in Richmond Hill. He was overwhelmed at the kindness and respect he received. The community kept on greeting him to welcome him. Again, the restaurant idea is not THE solution, it is A suggestion on how individuals can make small efforts to become part of one human community.
I am an immigrant that lives in Richmond Hill and have never seen or heard of anyone being harassed because they are white. Ms. Klien sounds like a paranoid schizo.
Immigrants are not the problem, they are the solution to this countrys ills. Immigrants saved Richmond Hill, from crime, drugs etc. The 102 precinct had the largest reduction in crime of all other precincts in the City.
Stop complaining and do the right thing.
It sounds like the thugs harassing this woman next door are the ones who need to become part of the human community.
To Russell and the other anti-immigrant commenters - were your ancestors all on the Mayflower or were they Native Americans? I'm surprised some of you aren't embarrassed to write such drivel in a public forum.
"Well this is a new one - blame immigrants for your dropping out of high school."
Richmond Hill High School intended seating limit: 2,200
Richmond Hill High School student population: 3,800
I don't even know how many of the students attending RHHS were born outside of the US. The fact of the matter is the boat is full and the folks who are already here are suffering from substandard public services as a result of overcrowding.
Russell
A willingess to experiment with different foods is considered by many to be a sign of intelligence.
and btw, pray tell, just what IS this AMERICAN FOOD of which you speak?
"Immigrants are not the problem, they are the solution to this countrys ills. Immigrants saved Richmond Hill, from crime, drugs etc. The 102 precinct had the largest reduction in crime of all other precincts in the City."
C'mon, is this a joke? I really don't believe you are an "immigrant who lives in Richmond Hill". I strongly suspect you're probably a dopey white guy, living in Astoria, or Jackson Heights, perhaps Forest Hills. You probably received your indoctrination....excuse me......received your degree from some ultra left leaning school such as Berkely, probably work in the "arts", or for some "non-profit". Probably believe that 9/11 was part of a conspiracy by Bush, hate Chrisianity, believe Bin Laden is a "freedom fighter", etc. etc. I could go on and on.....
As for "Immigrants are not the problem, they are the solution to this countrys ills":
Yes, all those crafty Guyanese and Trinidadian "youths" in the high school honors program riding "tricked out bikes" with "Marshall Stack Amps" on their bikes in Richmond Hill are going to save those evil whites from bad music!
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/29/nyregion/29bikes.html
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
DIVERSITY IS STRENGTH!!!
He was overwhelmed at the kindness and respect he received.
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Urban myth: Narrow minded Queens Archie Bunker whose is life turned around by contact with wise immigrant.
Kung foo, baby!
Immigrants are not the problem, they are the solution to this countrys ills. Immigrants saved Richmond Hill, from crime, drugs etc.
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hahahahahahahaeheheheeheheehehohohohohoh
"were your ancestors all on the Mayflower"
Uhhh actually yes, pretty close. I have traced my background back that far to one of those era boats...
_________________
"and btw, pray tell, just what IS this AMERICAN FOOD of which you speak?"
Definitely not baba ganoush or roty or oxtail soup or what have you.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8392312/
There's an article for you to read. Enjoy...
I lived in Ridgewood till 1986 then Moved to Manhasset and now had to Move to Mattituck this year (on the N fork) to get away from looking at and putting up with them.
I fought and fought like hell, attended meetings the politicians won't touch them.
The politicians and people they appoint see sh*t people as the future voting base or are to happy with all the payola $$$.
-Joe
Anonymous said...
"To Russell and the other anti-immigrant commenters - were your ancestors all on the Mayflower or were they Native Americans? I'm surprised some of you aren't embarrassed to write such drivel in a public forum."
The morons never disappoint. The good people are immigrants. The bad people are illegal aliens. Immigrants arrive here after obeying all the laws and rules. The illegal aliens invade, bringing crime, poverty, ignorance, all sorts of contagious diseases, and the insatiable desire to have us pay for their every desire.
Make the distinction before complaining.
Tweeding rule #1: When your brethren are accused of acting like racist losers, turn it around and blame the victim. Suggest they become more tolerant of the newcomers. Never expect the newcomers to behave themselves.
A willingess to experiment with different foods is considered by many to be a sign of intelligence.
Have you seen the so called resturants on Hillside and Lberty Ave? They are not fit to eat in. Intentional food poisoning is not a sign of intelligence! These dives cater to local tastes and pocket books, their kitchens run by ignorant illegals shunning health laws. Hepatitis C is passed by unproperly washed utensils, unwashed hands and suspect tainted foods. Where did that cheap goat's head swimming in curry powder come from - some illegal Hallah butcher who works out of his basement apartment? Get over your thoughts about joining the slobs who can't afford better than this - I know better, this has nothing to do with trying different food, it's all about acceptance in a community and adapting to gain respect not shunning your established neighbors.
I respect all the opinions on this blog and it's previous comments. It is true, white people are becoming the victim's of reverse discrimination and are being harrased in our own homes by immigrants that have no desire to assimilate.
So how come people on this blog have an equal hatred towards the white, american newcomers that are moving into Queens and lable them as yuppies and hipsters and hate the econmic and cultural good will they bring with them?
I am not starting a fight, I just dont understand?
Yes, that's right, Queens natives. Choose between slummification or gentrification. Either way, you'll be forced to move out.
Which is just what they want you to do.
90% are illegal aliens. The rest are Immigrants, Hospital Interns and lottery winners.
And yes the Mayflower is on my mothers side. The other side is from Italy. They came through Ellis Island, they were health tested quarentined,then health tested again, received shots and learned English and NEVER used this term "Well, in my country" Bull stuff.
They became AMERICANS !
These new F***s and criminals of today come here to bring their crap home countries and customs with them.
Look at the population of the California jails 90% Mexican and Central American.
I won't even get into the Mid Eastern people, I will get edited again.
Amazing, because I see "white against white" prejudice in my own family- our family is from Flushing, and white - and over the past 15 years, my father would always complain about all the "white kids" he sees more and more of in Astoria as he passed through the area on his daily commute. It seems that the white families who established themselves here multiple decades ago just don't want to accept demographic changes. When they moved into Queens, it was a step up from Manhattan or Brooklyn. There were also at least 2 million less people in the city. Just like there was so much less traffic, and milk was cheaper, and gas was cheaper, and people were nicer, all "back in the day"!
Next stop Nassau county, then Suffolk - just look at "joe in mattituck" who had to get away from it all. This is a normal cycle of change. It's inevitable - so deal with it, just as you would expect to deal with the ignorance of any newcomer to the melting pot that is Queens.
That's right...just leave! That's what the clubhouse wants, remember!
This is a normal cycle of change.
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Oh, I never knew that people go through 'normal' cycles.
Of course, the clubhouse orchestates trashing a neighborhood making a community unlivable except for the desperate (machine supporting) residents.
"When they moved into Queens, it was a step up from Manhattan or Brooklyn."
Interesting. Now it is widely regarded as a step down. Why is that?
I posted the previous comment asking why newcomer whites are hated equally as much as immigrants and the only response is "slumification vs. gentrification".
Does anyone have an answer to my question that is just a little more in depth?
Both ruin neighborhoods, just in different ways. Whenever I drive down Hunterspoint Avenue and realize that I soon will not be able to see St. Mary's familiar steeple, which I consider to be part of the very essence of LIC, I feel very sad.
Yes, both groups tend to look at Queens as a stopover place on their way to somewhere else. Neither give a damn about becoming part of the fabric of their neighborhoods because it's only a temporary situation for them.
Many of these immigrants who don't know how to behave have money. Attracting people with more money, no matter what their race, is not the solution.
"Can't we all just get along"?
(Heh, heh, heh....snicker, snicker) !
As the "Chad Mitchell Trio"
once sang in the 1960s:
"The whole world is festering
with unhappy souls.....
the French hate the Germans.....
the Germans hate the Poles.
Italians hate Yugoslavs.....
South Africans hate the Dutch....
AND I DON'T LIKE ANYBODY
VERY MUCH" !
So what's changed
except for the names of some countries and governments?
I have something to add to this thread but am too cowardly to express it as it might be construed as racist, even though it isn't.
I must appear to have the proper attitudes and ideas society insists one have. Otherwise I'd risk being blacklisted.
I wish in a way I had no career ambitions. Then I could say whatever I wanted.
What do you expect?
This is Richmond Hill.....
one of the new dumping grounds!
Denied becoming a landmark district....
although it was the first to receive
QHS's foolish non binding "Queensmarks".....
the area's been red-lined for occupancy by
our third world brothers and sisters.
You don't see any ignorant
uneducated masses
moving into the preferred area
of northeast Queens do you ?
Amazing, because I see "white against white" prejudice in my own family- our family is from Flushing, and white - and over the past 15 years, my father would always complain about all the "white kids" he sees more and more of in Astoria as he passed through the area on his daily commute.
Astoria has more public projects than anywhere else and even off its shores on Roosevelt Island. There is still plenty of white welfare trash there - really hardcore. Richmond Hill simply has a modern day type of welfare system that the Guyanese community specializes in abusing. A homeowner fills his house with near-family to generate much cash from the welfare office. These legal immigrants know how to leverage the system years before landing at JFK. Guyana's biggest export is her people who send back the remittances to build their homes there and go back after the eligibility for welfare dries up. You don't find real Indian folks here doing that as they are well educated and want to work. But experienced welfare white trash is very prevalant in Astoria.
"What do you expect?
This is Richmond Hill.....
one of the new dumping grounds!
Denied becoming a landmark district....
although it was the first to receive
QHS's foolish non binding "Queensmarks"....."
Four of which have already been demolished and replaced by uber-crap.
Hello out there Nancy.
Anything to say on the matter ?
H-m-m-m.....I thought not.
Like I said before, Queens has become a purgatorial area especially west of the Van Wyck and south of Hillside. And let's not forget Corona and Jackson Heights... Astoria and Ridgewood are also headed that way.
"you dont see any ignorant, uneducated masses moving into preferred northeast queens, do you?"
No, I dont see any moving into NE Queens and as for western Queens, most people are apparently already ignorant and uneducated so why stop now?
Yes, both groups tend to look at Queens as a stopover place on their way to somewhere else.
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Remember that when some smarmy kid tells you what is important in your community:
instead of putting down roots, they just meet, mate, and move.
who would want to stay in Queens with the likes of you people as neighbors?
Who you calling 'you people'? Someone get Rev. Al on the line!
"and btw, pray tell, just what IS this AMERICAN FOOD of which you speak?"
Definitely not baba ganoush or roty or oxtail soup or what have you.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8392312/
There's an article for you to read. Enjoy...
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Way to negate your own argument... all of the foods listed here came from other countries (hamburgers = Germany, fries = France, apple pie = franco-germanic, pastrami = Romanian)!
Um, as far as I can tell, the only original AMERICAN food out there is pheasant, maize, and wild boar... and unless you're shopping at Whole Foods, Balduccis or some other gourmet palace, let me assure you that you're eating original immigrant food.
So distressing that this post has become nothing except a destination to spew unintelligent and hateful barbs. I'm sorry that some of you feel "oppressed" by your neighbors, but isn't that the same argument that was given when they piled newly-arrived immigrants in the slums of the Lower East Side?
American food is based on regionalism. There are foods here that you ain't finding on any other continent or in any other country. Heck, you may not even find them in other parts of this country. As for where certain foods came from, I can assure you that the versions we prepare here are not prepared that way wherever they may have their origins.
As long as I don't have to eat this, I'm ok with it.
Here you go:
All are classified as traditional American cuisine -
Menu Pages
Or how about this one: Fraunces Tavern menu
I suppose Rachael Ray can show you how to prepare American food as well.
The real problem lies in the fact
that Richmond Hill is located too close to Jamaica.
When the "less favored"
population of Jamaica overflows.....
it spills into Richmond Hill.
If you want Connecticut you'll never find it here.
And you should see some of the ugly Mc Mansions going up in"historic" New England these days!
“I'm sorry that some of you feel "oppressed" by your neighbors, but isn't that the same argument that was given when they piled newly-arrived immigrants in the slums of the Lower East Side?”
Yes, that is true. The Lowe East side during the earlier part of the last century was mostly single family residential and much the same cycle occurred there too (Five Points).
What has changed here is the vast amounts of Illegal immigrants (not those legal and seeking a better life and a steak in becoming Americans) that have come here and changed neighborhoods like Richmond Hill in a less than positive way. I also lived there from 1951 through 1976 and I can sympathize with longtime residents.
You either don’t live there, or you are blind to what is going on.
CJ, you need to re-learn your history. Your assertion that the Lower East Side was mostly single-family houses in the early 20th century is laughable. Also, the vast majority of immigrants in NYC are legal, and the vast majority of the illegal ones are here because they want citizenship and they want to be Americans. Sure, there are a portion that are not here to become Americans, but you shouldn't generalize about all immigrants the way you do.
My mistake, here goes again. My reference was to the 19th century (Five Points). And there is nothing wrong with my history.
“… and the vast majority of the illegal ones are here because they want citizenship and they want to be Americans.
The vast majority of Illegal immigrants to which I referred (there are no exact figures because we are a sanctuary city, and it is not PC to keep track) are here because the broke the law and jumped ahead of respectable law abiding people that want to come here legally. Since they are breaking the law by coming here illegally, and a citizen swears to uphold the law, it doesn’t really matter if the want to become Americans or not.
...I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America..
From the Oath of Citizenship
Um, food for thought.
CJ, you are filled with mistakes. Try referencing some sources to check your facts. The Five Points area was not at what is now the Lower East Side. Five Points was at what is now the government buildings by Foley Square. From roughly 1820 until it was cleared at the end of the 19th century, it was one of the poorest and most dense slums in the world.
The LES was farmland until the very end of the 18th century. True, mainly single-family row houses were built in the early 18th century, but as the population increased, these were quickly replaced or converted to tenements. By 1840, the single-family houses were gone.
As for the illegal immigrants in NYC, most are here on expired visas. Therefore, they are not "breaking the law by coming here illegally."
"Illegal" means Illegal
William "Boss" Tweed and Fernando Wood would know it for what it is.
My sources: 1830 - 1860
Five Points (Five Points) Tyler Anbinder
Ref. NY Sixth Ward, Fourteenth ward, Tenth Ward, Seventh Ward
nypl.org
Moving Uptown R. Waddell
The Tenement As History And Housing
by Ruth Limmer and Andrew S. Dolkart
Lower East Side Tenement Museum
Ref. Tenement Home Law 1867, Housing
Demographia
New York (Manhattan) Wards:
Population & Density 1800-1910
US Census Schedules 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860
"rude vs. racist"
I like chemteacher81 point, there is no us vs. them, there is no war; don't freak out, calm down. They are just rude and maybe racist against white people. It happens. It might be about culture.
For example, a lot of Hispanics are racially diverse, but some are indeed racist towards ___. Some are just colloquial due to their culture; they are mean in the ha-ha way, and they might use race to joke around, pet names, etc.
And the whole go back to your country, refers to the European heritage that white people has.
I had a very different experience in Queens; and it's not about being white, it's indeed about being different.
Going back the blog; it's unfortunate that this happen, but just remember this; even if they use the W word (get it? like the N word); it might not really mean that they are upset you are white and around them. It's my experience that being a "good" neighbor is in the eye of the beholder.
And the reason that Queens is diverse it is because, their residents are working class, and Queens (thank goodness!) still remains a working class neighborhood, with some reasonable housing, some safer than others. Gentrification will only bring hipsters! Let's keep them in west Brooklyn. And deal with the families LIVING among us.
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