Plea : If you are non-Indian replace India/Indian with your country. Yes, Europe included.It was close to two years back that I first came face to face with a label that I unwillingly allowed myself to be associated with. The label was 'alien.' It was the DS 156 Form, a U.S. Visa Form. USA calls any non U.S. citizens, 'aliens.' I have traveled to London. The British Consulate does not use any such labels.
Clearly, the use of the term has gone unquestioned or so I think. When we talk about aliens we usually mean extra-terrestrials. 'We' includes American citizens. U.S. Blockbusters like 'Aliens' have made that imagery even more permanent and narrow, if I may say so. Narrow, because there is no escaping what the word 'alien' means for most people. Though technically the word also means non-citizens, it is not a well known definition. The fact that alien denotes, unfailingly, creatures from Mars or Pluto, makes it imperative that U.S. considers calling foreigners by something else, if 'foreigner' or 'non-citizen' has some kind of incorrect political connotation to it. If I was India's Prime Minister I would suggest myself that my citizens not be called alien, just because they happen to be going to U.S. for work or study. (If the Indian wants to go settle there....use aliens for HER/HIM ! Kidding )
Aliens probably have higher intelligence than human beings, they travel in flying saucers etc etc. Well, in spite of all that it is not very flattering for me to be called an alien. And, I do not object because aliens do not look handsome the way Spielberg and Shyamalan showed them in E.T. and Signs respectively. I just feel very strongly abut the fact that a general label equates me and many like me, with other living organisms we do not know enough about. That the term means no derogation I will accept but that it causes me discomfort is also true. I was filing my tax returns the other day and I needed help with a certain question. The very kind staff who helped me with it asked me , 'You are an alien , right ? Yeah..click this..." It just shook me up. Type aliens and search google images. Is that 'us' ?
I would really like to know what you feel about being labeled as an 'alien' or am I getting paranoid about nothing !!!
6 comments:
As long as you don't have a prefix beginning with "il" and rhyming with seagull before it, I wont worry. Who cares about labels!
I might be high on dumbness today ...But I l still say...i did' nt get you !
My post was in context of this - http://www.nilc.org/immlawpolicy/DREAM/index.htm
Now, delving deeper into the debate, I found most of it buried in technical/bureaucratic jargon. Its tough to take a right moral stand on it - in fact the whole definition of who is illegal is getting kind of blurry. How much leeway should be given for family ties? And how to monitor that? What about the huge number of not entirely legal IT professionals and body shoppers who import them? And should not be immigrating a privilege rather than a right? But then again, this historically being a country of immigrants, where does one draw the line? And in spite of all that and many more unanswered questions, the current initiative is mostly political.
And, in current time and age, we have no choice but to be paranoid! :)
P.S - Sorry about that "failed humor". I simple meant "illegal" alien.
What??? They call us aliens? And these are the very people who make fun of Muslims when they call non-Muslims 'Infidels'! Interesting indeed.
On an unrelated note, you may not know me Dhoritridi, but I know a lot about you. You have a lovely blog here, and I particularly liked your "About me". Keep up the good work!
That is a very interesting point. I am usually cautious about using the word 'interesting' because in America it is often used when some one is clueless and still has to comment.
But I think it is an interesting parallel because 'words' and 'labels' clearly matter to all...don't they ?
Keep visting :)
You write very well.
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