Tracker Pixel for Entry

​Welcome to America

Editorial | September 19th, 2013

Nina Davuluri

Last Monday, Buzzfeed.com published a list of tweeters who made racist comments about this year’s Miss America winner, Nina Davuluri, an Indian-American.

The list included the names and links to the accounts of each of the offenders. After clicking through every account posted on this Buzzfeed page, we found nearly all of the accounts had been deleted or suspended.

In fact, the only ones that were kept active were by foul-mouthed, unapologetic dudes continuing the conversation and keeping on the defense, basically saying, “I’m just an ass. Bite me.”

Obviously, the people who deleted their accounts are embarrassed by their reactions.

Though, perhaps they don’t quite fully understand why yet. And perhaps they may even feel defensive about their remarks but won’t admit it. After all, they probably were pure, honest reactions. And anytime we are bombarded with enormous amounts of criticism, it’s only natural to feel defensive.

It’s an interesting thing to think about: How are these embarrassed folks deep down defending their racial remarks?

“She was dancing like an Egyptian or something on stage at an American event. Real Americans don’t do that,” one might say.

Real Americans don’t value cultural diversity? Real Americans don’t value their ancestry?

We believe most of these uninformed Twitter users are not horrifically bigoted, terrible people. They are just culturally uninformed.

Unfortunately, nobody informed some of these white folks that some 100 percent Indian-blooded people are also 100 percent American.

For example, here are some of the tweets:

“I swear I'm not racist but this is America.”

“How the f*** does a foreigner win miss America? She is a Arab!”

“Miss New York is an Indian.. With all do respect, this is America.”

Nobody told these uninformed white folks that not all brown-skinned Asians are Arabs either.

Ah, what a fantastic time for us cultured Americans, like many of the Miss America judges, to catch the sheltered ones up to speed. Because those who are unwilling to accept that “the real America” will forever be racially diverse are doomed to lead defensive, exhausting and shallow lives.

Yes, Davuluri was born and raised in the United States. She talks like an American, walks like an American, dreams like an American, dresses like an American, wears makeup like an American and smiles like an American. She’s 100 percent Indian – kind of like some of us are 100 percent Norwegian.

So by a racist person’s standards, a true American is someone whose descendants are from Europe or Africa – someone like Miss Kansas: a dreamer, passionate, beautiful, go-getter, someone who’s using her smarts to learn another language to communicate with the outside world. By a racist person’s standards, only white people (and maybe some blacks) have these true American attributes.

My mother was born and raised in the Philippines. I guess that makes me a foreigner to people who think Davuluri isn’t American. Apparently I’m not a true American because I was raised by someone with Filipino values, someone who sometimes spoke to me in another language and taught me how to perform Filipino songs and dances.

And yet no one would mistake me as a foreigner past my looks. Ever.

So let’s get this straight right away: If you were born and raised in America, you are American. Even if you were not born and raised in America, but you are a citizen, like my mother, you are American.

It would make perfect sense to protest the win of a Miss America contestant who’s only spent a portion of her life in the States. It would make perfect sense to protest the win of a Miss America contestant who has poor values or is indecent.

We trust that the “world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women” has excellent judgment on who deserves to win such a prestigious award.

Recently in:

By Winona LaDukewinona@winonaladuke.comIt’s been eight years since the Water Protectors were cleared off the banks of the Cannonball and Missouri Rivers. It was a bitter ending to a battle to protect the water; and for most of us…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com Rodeo is a family tradition for sisters Kate and Tera Flitton. The duo performs under the moniker Stellar Trick Riding Cowgirls. The Utah natives will be performing along with bareback riders,…

On view through March 31215 N. 3rd St, Grand ForksThe Equal Rights Association (ERA NOW), Arts for Vets, and the Women’s Fund have joined forces in hosting an art exhibition in celebration of International Women’s Day. The 2025…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com I feel like reading a newspaper is the equivalent of listening to music on vinyl. Not only is it analog, it’s an experience. I might be a little biased, but there's something about the rustling…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comLennon: “Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can!”On January 8, 2025, Timothy W. Rybeck of “The Atlantic" magazine published “How Hitler Dismantled a Democracy in 53 Days” with the…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com The below zero temperatures endured this recent January and February were a motivator to find something fun and interesting to do to lift the spirits. (Insert blue, teeth-chattering emoji here.) To…

Mooncats and Pert Near Sandstone play Empire TheatreBy Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comThe MoonCats describe themselves as “Americonscious Campfire Folk.” They have a clear acoustic folk sound with a sense of whimsy — think…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com The opening night showcase of the 2025 Fargo Film Festival is Jennifer Tiexiera and Guy Mossman’s excellent documentary feature “Speak.” The movie premiered during the Sundance Film…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comTelling Queer History is an LGBTQIA+ organization that utilizes oral storytelling and community building to educate, honor and collect oral histories. To honor its final year in operation, the …

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comHigh Plains Reader had the opportunity to interview two mysterious new game show hosts named Milt and Bradley Barker about an upcoming event they will be putting on at Brewhalla. What…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

By Josette Ciceronunapologeticallyanxiousme@gmail.com What does it mean to truly live in a community —or should I say, among community? It’s a question I have been wrestling with since I moved to Fargo-Moorhead in February 2022.…

By Faye Seidlerfayeseidler@gmail.com Somewhere lost in the cultural scuffle of what it means to be transgender is that it is an absolute joy to experience the world in such a way. When you take away the societal prejudice and…

By Gilbert Kuipersgilbertkuipers@outlook.com I live in North Dakota District 24 and have been challenging the district Republicans about their understanding of climate science for years. There has been no serious response to my…