As indigenous practitioners, we raised concerns re: Alabama's #yoga law, which strips all references to its Hindu roots. We clearly noted that we welcome ALL to practice but don't want Yoga stripped off its cultural roots. Cultural appreciation, not cultural appropriation. 2/n
Media houses such as @washingtonpost covered our perspective. Quote: "Yes, it has roots in Hinduism, and it’s a Hindu practice, but it’s a gift Hindus have shared with the world." 3/n washingtonpost.com/education/2021…
Yet, Prof Truschke calls our position "tongue twisters" and a dislike of "dissent." How hypocritical for someone who has made a career out of disparaging our deities, silencing our voices, speaking over us and blocking our earnest attempts to engage! 4/n
By denying us the right to opine upon laws that have an impact on our religion and culture and calling us "Hindu Right," she advances bigotry, hatred and #Hinduphobia against our community. 5/n
Her tweets are a great example of the #WhiteSavior and colonizer complex - first tell Hindus what's "wrong" with them by portraying them as savages and backward and then "educate" them via the lens of Aryans, "caste", Sati, "criminal tribes," "misogynist pig," etc....6/n
...Telling them ONLY the #WhiteSavior knows the best and how to "save" Hindus from themselves. 7/n
According to Jamie Willer on ##WhiteSavior narratives: "The narratives are designed to teach Brown and Black individuals they are not capable of making decisions for themselves and their communities." 8/n scholarworks.merrimack.edu/cgi/viewconten…
Then comes dehumanization, which "involves reducing a complex group of people into one simplified stereotype, attempting to systemically deny individuals the ability to define their own identity and reality at the cultural level." 9/n
"As a form of systemic racism, the white
savior complex controls the production and maintenance of single stories filled with symbolic
codes of dehumanizing racialized stereotypes." 10/n
savior complex controls the production and maintenance of single stories filled with symbolic
codes of dehumanizing racialized stereotypes." 10/n
Hindus are dehumanized by portraying them as oppressors, "Hindu Nationalists," "cow piss drinkers," misogynists, a "band of right wingers," etc. who lack any cultural greatness or sophistication. An art and narrative that Prof Truschke and Co. excel in. 11/n
When Hindus protest, Prof Truschke and Co. "Cry Hindutva" and try to silence dissent and critique. 12/n academia.edu/40082617/Cry_H…
Such behavior is a painful reminder of the practices used by colonizers to deny indigenous people a voice and a representation of their narrative. Doing so allows the #WhiteSavior to maintain a position of power and privilege and control the narrative. 13/n
Coming back to #yoga and Hinduism. Prof Truschke's attempts to portray us as "band of right wingers" is tantamount to the maintenance of this power and privilege because only SHE can tell Hindus how they should talk about their culture. 14/n
Interestingly, #Bhagavadgita, one of the most famous Hindu texts is full of references to Yoga. But...15/n
...that doesn't suit Prof Truschke's narrative, which claims that the Gita "rationalizes mass slaughter." This narrative fits well in her bigotry and peddling of #Hinduphobia. 14/n cohna.org/wp-content/upl…
We don't claim to represent ALL American or Canadian Hindus. However, we will not be silenced or sit on the sidelines when laws and policies impacting our religion and culture are being passed. Attacking us for doing so is nothing short of racism and bigotry. #NoWhiteSavior. 15/n
Part 2 of the thread continues here, based on continued #WhiteSavior attitude and #Hinduphobia.
https://twitter.com/CoHNAOfficial/status/1397589004791472129
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