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An effort to ban caste discrimination in California has touched a nerve

politico.com

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Re: An effort to ban caste discrimination in California has touched a nerve

#11

Post by Supermancho »

ugh123 wrote: post #3
mortureb wrote: post #2

It’s dumb. They’re trying to get caste codified and defined where all it will do is extend the longevity of a system that is genuinely on its way to being forgotten, even in India.

Really? How would it extend longevity? Seems like people who are fighting this are likely the ones still benefitting from this system

> How would it extend longevity?

Codifying something in law (or code, ie unit tests) tends to ensure it's durability. Information is something that can exist as an idea ephemerally. Once you write down a definition, it has perceived historical value. Later this can be used as an example of how things were done that might be tried again. Many people recognize this as self-evident.

Re: An effort to ban caste discrimination in California has touched a nerve

#14

Post by kashunstva »

> “A lot of staff asked, ‘What is caste?’”

Wait - these staffers are working in government but know so little about world history and culture that they’re clueless about caste? Maybe that’s part of the problem of getting progressive consensus on this bill.

Re: An effort to ban caste discrimination in California has touched a nerve

#16

Post by whats_a_quasar »

I'm legitimately confused about the strength of opposition to the measure. It seems like it should be a small, uncontroversial, update to protected categories. Are people opposing the term "caste" appearing in U.S. law? Is the concern that the law will cause other Americans to judge Indian/Nepalese/Sri Lankan communities?

If anyone here can explain the emotional significance of the bill to someone who is not South Asian, I'd appreciate it!

Re: An effort to ban caste discrimination in California has touched a nerve

#17

Post by atleastoptimal »

Supermancho wrote: post #11
ugh123 wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? How would it extend longevity? Seems like people who are fighting this are likely the ones still benefitting from this system

> How would it extend longevity? Codifying something in law (or code, ie unit tests) tends to ensure it's durability. Information is something that can exist as an idea ephemerally. Once you write down a definition, it has perceived historical value. Later this can be used as an example of how things were done that might be tried again. Many people recognize this as self-evident.

It's ridiculous though, that's like saying that the 13th amendment assured the longevity of slavery since it was never as explicitly defined in the Constitution.

Re: An effort to ban caste discrimination in California has touched a nerve

#18

Post by dudus »

When the subject came up at Google I didn't know much to contribute to the discussion. I noticed white people were against it while Indians had a more nuanced approach.

But I always thought the way the predominant Indian leadership, Sundar included, completely ignored the matter was weird. That spoke louder than anything else they could have said.

Re: An effort to ban caste discrimination in California has touched a nerve

#20

Post by xNeil »

runarberg wrote: post #7
mortureb wrote: post #2

It’s dumb. They’re trying to get caste codified and defined where all it will do is extend the longevity of a system that is genuinely on its way to being forgotten, even in India.

Caste discrimination is illegal in India. So according to your logic, perhaps codifying and banning it seems to be working then.

Yes, but that's because the caste system was prevalent in India. It's really not a thing in the US, and so codifying it seems to give it some sort of legitimacy or something.
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