This is America. One has the freedom of religion and expression. She chose the path of freedom, and if she wants to reach her God through Christianity, that is her choice and this great nation allows it. One does not change religious and cultural identity for a few years in public office. Usually, these life altering decision are caused by profound influences in life. The article omitted to mention how recent is Niki’s conversion and if they approached her on the issue. Unless, this Niki has a history of switching sides for instant gratification, such accusations are insulting to both American and Indian cultures.

If she wins, it will be on her merits, not on her cultural background, whether Indian or American. Also, those who are American citizens are Americans first, then everything else. So stop grinding the segregative ax of the past and join us in the now.

Peace!

This reminds me of an interview with Bobby Jindal and his wife on 60 Minutes (or some other similar show), where the interviewer asked his wife if they kept any of the Indian “traditions” in their home and they both got uncomfortable at the question and answered that no, they really didn’t and instead they were just “native Louisianans.” So there certainly seems to be a need for Indian-American politicians to distance themselves from the foreignness (or Otherness) of being Desi in the US, especially if they are trying to appeal to a white conservative base, as Jindal and Haley are. Both seem to have “whitewashed” themselves to make themselves viable in Republican politics, which of course in and of itself is tied with ideas of normative whiteness and nativist (and some might argue xenophobic) politics.

I agree 100% with Jasen. As an Indian-American, the Southern states are the LAST states I would represent! The racism alone would kill me and ‘selling out’ is NOT the answer.