Come on guys, lets be fair here: Indian lobby is active both due to sheer numbers and the fact that Indians in America are getting involved in the political system. With Pakistanis, its the newer generation just getting started with a smattering of older elected officials.
In democracy, Indians in America have every right to lobby the govt, I just hope that Paks can step it up. Pak-PAC used to be a good group along with others. Honestly we should follow the Israeli/Jewish model, as we are outnumbered.
My point wasnt that its official, its that Obama understand in principle the issue at hand. That being KAshmir.
You for some reason didnt get the point, but you Indians do tend to have a very shallow understanding of anything outside of Billywood:)
Come on guys, lets be fair here: Indian lobby is active both due to sheer numbers and the fact that Indians in America are getting involved in the political system. With Pakistanis, its the newer generation just getting started with a smattering of older elected officials.
In democracy, Indians in America have every right to lobby the govt, I just hope that Paks can step it up. Pak-PAC used to be a good group along with others. Honestly we should follow the Israeli/Jewish model, as we are outnumbered.
There are a few active Pakistani legislators. One is a democrat and the other is republican.
Otherwise, your right, Indians have more people as well as more money.
The American hotel owners group, of which most are Gujrati Indians, are probably all earning in the 6 digit range.
But still, there is hope in that there are more Muslims in general then Indians, so that might be of benefit to Pakistan so long as they are united.
As for Jews, they are the second biggest religious group in the US, and much larger then Muslims. Also, they have the support of many Israel supporting born again christians, who themselves are a very strong grouping now.
Jews have an easy time because the American public in general is sympathetic to Israel for a number of reasons.
Pakistanis cant hope for the same, expecially now-a-days.
There are a few active Pakistani legislators. One is a democrat and the other is republican.
Otherwise, your right, Indians have more people as well as more money.
The American hotel owners group, of which most are Gujrati Indians, are probably all earning in the 6 digit range.
But still, there is hope in that there are more Muslims in general then Indians, so that might be of benefit to Pakistan so long as they are united.
As for Jews, they are the second biggest religious group in the US, and much larger then Muslims. Also, they have the support of many Israel supporting born again christians, who themselves are a very strong grouping now.
Jews have an easy time because the American public in general is sympathetic to Israel for a number of reasons.
Pakistanis cant hope for the same, expecially now-a-days.
Actually having the opportunity to meet with them informally, they are indeed brilliant. Despite their numerical and funding advantage, we can still work to blunt their advantage. I think that the Pakistani problem unlike the Indian boils down to one issue: Unity. We need to focus on a combined multi-pronged strategy to work both on state and national levels.
The Pakistani brand is nowhere near its Indian counterpart, but are partially at fault for not bringing up how many Pakistani soldiers have been lost fighting essentially America's war, critical support in the region etc. I used to be much more active in the lobbying circles, but honestly lost my drive for that sort of effort after 9/11.
Actually you might be surprised to know that the Muslim population may be near eclipsing the Jews. But what is relevant is their coordinated strategy towards US-Israeli relations. I am not going to say that there is conspiracy but there is a certain effectiveness to their lobbying that could replicated by Pakistani-Americans.
Actually having the opportunity to meet with them informally, they are indeed brilliant. Despite their numerical and funding advantage, we can still work to blunt their advantage. I think that the Pakistani problem unlike the Indian boils down to one issue: Unity. We need to focus on a combined multi-pronged strategy to work both on state and national levels.
The Pakistani brand is nowhere near its Indian counterpart, but are partially at fault for not bringing up how many Pakistani soldiers have been lost fighting essentially America's war, critical support in the region etc. I used to be much more active in the lobbying circles, but honestly lost my drive for that sort of effort after 9/11.
Actually you might be surprised to know that the Muslim population may be near eclipsing the Jews. But what is relevant is their coordinated strategy towards US-Israeli relations. I am not going to say that there is conspiracy but there is a certain effectiveness to their lobbying that could replicated by Pakistani-Americans.
You mean met the Pakistani legislators?
I suppose they would have to be brilliant to be able to win in US politics.
Yep, Unity is right.
But under the current circumstances, it seems Pakistan being a Muslim country would have a hard time selling itself.
I dont know about the Muslims eclipsing Jews, although I hope your right.
A recent time magazine article said that the number of muslim in america is highly speculative, with conservative esimates at no more the 2 million, and 6 million if your going to be liberal. And that 6 million comes from Muslim organizations...
So I hope your right, but I think more important then all else is for Muslims to vote as a single bloc. But thats seems unlikely as most Muslims communities have their own issues and needs.
Come on guys, lets be fair here: Indian lobby is active both due to sheer numbers and the fact that Indians in America are getting involved in the political system. With Pakistanis, its the newer generation just getting started with a smattering of older elected officials.
In democracy, Indians in America have every right to lobby the govt, I just hope that Paks can step it up. Pak-PAC used to be a good group along with others. Honestly we should follow the Israeli/Jewish model, as we are outnumbered.
One of the reasons a Pakistani/Muslim lobby can never be really strong in the US is because of the strong Jew lobby. A couple of legislators here and there is fine, but anything more than that seems like a pipe dream at the moment.
You mean met the Pakistani legislators?
I suppose they would have to be brilliant to be able to win in US politics.
Yep, Unity is right.
But under the current circumstances, it seems Pakistan being a Muslim country would have a hard time selling itself.
I dont know about the Muslims eclipsing Jews, although I hope your right.
A recent time magazine article said that the number of muslim in america is highly speculative, with conservative esimates at no more the 2 million, and 6 million if your going to be liberal. And that 6 million comes from Muslim organizations...
So I hope your right, but I think more important then all else is for Muslims to vote as a single bloc. But thats seems unlikely as most Muslims communities have their own issues and needs.
Again, Unity is the issue.
Brilliant not in the sense that they won but rather as shrewd politicians who can represent this constituents while building a bridge with Pakistan.
The Muslims eclipsing Jews is based on unofficial estimates accounting for the higher Muslim birthrate and immigration (both legal and illegal).
Surprisingly Muslims have voted as a bloc on several occasions, with GW Bush in 2000 and B. Obama in 2008. As the community matures and more American born Muslims become active, I certainly hope that we can establish that elusive unity.
One of the reasons a Pakistani/Muslim lobby can never be really strong in the US is because of the strong Jew lobby. A couple of legislators here and there is fine, but anything more than that seems like a pipe dream at the moment.
Punjabee, I don't understand why a Pakistani or Muslim lobby must always be in opposition to the Jews? I mean on this very thread ofcourse the Pakistani lobby (and Pakistanis in general) would oppose any Indian-Americans efforts to malign our great nation - but there can areas of cooperation: Particularly in terms of regional interest and trade.
One thing I do see more in Indian-American lobbying is the venomous efforts to malign Pakistan at every turn, while Pakistani lobbying efforts are confined to Kashmir vis-a-vis India. There is a subtle difference that I hope you see.
Brilliant not in the sense that they won but rather as shrewd politicians who can represent this constituents while building a bridge with Pakistan.
The Muslims eclipsing Jews is based on unofficial estimates accounting for the higher Muslim birthrate and immigration (both legal and illegal).
Surprisingly Muslims have voted as a bloc on several occasions, with GW Bush in 2000 and B. Obama in 2008. As the community matures and more American born Muslims become active, I certainly hope that we can establish that elusive unity.
Well there is much more to be optimistic about in the US then in other countries.. Pakistanis and Muslims in general seem far more progressive in the US then their counter parts in England and Europe. So heres hoping.
Punjabee, I don't understand why a Pakistani or Muslim lobby must always be in opposition to the Jews? I mean on this very thread ofcourse the Pakistani lobby (and Pakistanis in general) would oppose any Indian-Americans efforts to malign our great nation - but there can areas of cooperation: Particularly in terms of regional interest and trade.
Thats a question for you/Muslims to answer. Till the time Muslims will support the destruction of Israel, how do you expect Muslim & Jewish lobbies to be on the same side.
One thing I do see more in Indian-American lobbying is the venomous efforts to malign Pakistan at every turn, while Pakistani lobbying efforts are confined to Kashmir vis-a-vis India. There is a subtle difference that I hope you see.
And the reason is that Pakistan has sponsored terrorism in all of India (not just Kashmir). The animosity towards Pakistan is no longer confined to just Kashmir.
