S.R. "Macaca" Sidarth Has the Last Word

November 15, 2006 1:19 PM

Macaca... or whatever my name is...S.R. Sidarth writes post-election column about his role in the Jim Webb/George Allen Virginia Senate race. In case you were interested... "The hairstyle inflicted upon me by two friends late one night also became newsworthy; for the record, it was intended to be a mullet and has since grown out to nearly the appropriate length."
posted by jonp72 (25 comments total)

I'd like to welcome defeated-for-reelection Senator George "Macaca" Allen "to America and the real Virginia".
posted by orthogonality at 1:24 PM on November 15, 2006

S.R. Sidarth is hawt! And I like his freaky haircut, to boot.
posted by DenOfSizer at 1:35 PM on November 15, 2006

S.R. Sidarth writes: But the fact that Allen believed I was an immigrant, when in fact I am a native Virginian, underlines the problems our society still faces.

I think the bigger problem is that Allen thought that he could use Sidarth's race, regardless of immigrant status, to score some points with the crowd. It's one thing to be prejudiced, it's another to feed the prejudice of others to advance your political ambitions.
posted by peeedro at 1:46 PM on November 15, 2006

Webb won there, in what I can only hope was a vote to deal the race card out of American politics once and for all.

LOL.
posted by Paris Hilton at 1:46 PM on November 15, 2006

How bad have things gotten when, "It's supposed to be a mullet!" is actually a valid defense?

/Snake? Snake! SNAAAAKKKEEEEE!!!!!
posted by InnocentBystander at 1:49 PM on November 15, 2006

BESTZ OF TEHW EWBZ
posted by keswick at 2:00 PM on November 15, 2006

Strange, the same article published in Sunday's Washington Post is titled I am Macaca. Which is the essentially the punchline at the end of this article from August 25.
posted by peeedro at 2:05 PM on November 15, 2006

It may easily be said that S.R. Sidarth, by going to that rally, handed the Senate to the Democrats.

I'm really glad he got something positive out of the experience.
posted by dhartung at 2:22 PM on November 15, 2006

S.R. "Macaca" Sidarth Has the Last Word Laugh
posted by mistermoore at 2:48 PM on November 15, 2006

Interesting piece. As someone who used to teach composition at UVA though, I have to say, this op-ed is poorly organized.

B/B- Macaca. But A for effort. And I hope George Allen will just move back to California.
posted by bardic at 2:50 PM on November 15, 2006

Rather light on the content, isn't this?
posted by unmake at 2:59 PM on November 15, 2006

the Post article from August 25 is funny. Essentially Mr. Sidarth wanted to get into Larry Sabato's famous politics class at the University of Virginia this semester. Each applicant had to write an essay as to why they should get in. Sidarth's essay was "I am Maccaca." He got in the class.
posted by Ironmouth at 3:32 PM on November 15, 2006 [1 favorite]

Is racism a handicap in Virginia? Maybe Allen closed the vote gap in his favor through his Macaca comment......
posted by dibblda at 4:00 PM on November 15, 2006

Is racism a handicap in Virginia? Maybe Allen closed the vote gap in his favor through his Macaca comment......

Given that he dropped 20 points in the polls that day I kinda doubt it.
posted by Paris Hilton at 4:13 PM on November 15, 2006

It may easily be said that S.R. Sidarth, by going to that rally, handed the Senate to the Democrats.

no, I think Joe Lieberman did that (temporarily at least, judging by his Russert performance). if you really want to give so much credit to the macaca incident, don't give credit to the poor Sidarth -- mad props to the campaign operative who decided to have a dark-skinned, foreign-looking guy shadow Allen with a videocamera. Allen took the bait (given his hardon for the KKK and turtle recipes it was hardly surprising).

come on, that's a guy who -- on camera, in front of a lot of journalists -- describes being called Jewish as "an aspersion". technically, that's a moron. I'm not that surprised that he found Sidarth very irritating and he eventually lashed out.
posted by matteo at 4:44 PM on November 15, 2006

I think the bigger problem is that Allen thought that he could use Sidarth's race

Indians are Caucasian, so despite his skin color he's the same race as Allen.
posted by mike3k at 5:42 PM on November 15, 2006

On a genetic level, races are garbage anyway. There are no specific genetic markers that are limited to any given 'race'.

Race is a byproduct of the human mind's desire to classify things based on surface appearance. Because it's not based in reality, it results in stupid mistakes.
posted by Malor at 6:09 PM on November 15, 2006

Indians are Caucasian, so despite his skin color he's the same race as Allen.

Well then, smartypants, Allen thought that he could use Sidarth's skin color...
posted by peeedro at 7:22 PM on November 15, 2006

This was discussed over at Sepia Mutiny.
posted by chunking express at 7:51 PM on November 15, 2006

I was taught that Indians are Asian. In college. By a Chinese professor, teaching Asian religions.
posted by NortonDC at 8:59 PM on November 15, 2006

Sidarth is scientifically a member of the yaintfromaroundhereareyasonian race.
posted by dhartung at 9:10 PM on November 15, 2006 [2 favorites]

I was taught that Indians are Asian. In college. By a Chinese professor, teaching Asian religions.

no offence, but aren't there schools teaching that god designed the universe like... about 3 years ago?
posted by infini at 10:08 PM on November 15, 2006

Is "indian" a distinct and coherent ethnicity now? What if both Asians and Caucasians live in India?
posted by spazzm at 3:43 AM on November 16, 2006

Apu: Today, I am no longer an Indian living in America. I am an Indian-American.
Lisa: You know, in a way, all Americans are immigrants. Except, of course Native Americans.
Homer: Yeah, Native Americans like us.
Lisa: No, I mean American Indians.
Apu: Like me.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 7:03 AM on November 16, 2006

Class Struggle
posted by homunculus at 8:37 PM on November 16, 2006