Shams Ur Rehman Alavi
www.asiantribune.net
AMERICA is a nation of immigrants and United States’ strength lies in its diversity. When the migrants started coming, there were natives– the American Indians who already lived here. In later centuries, immigration continued and the Americans took pride in terming United States as a nation that drew people from across the world.
But, in recent years, right-wing supremacists came up with a different stance. Of late, there was crackdown on not just illegal migration but also narrative against immigrants gained ground in a section of society. Media houses and right-wing groups spread propaganda and even using term ‘alien’ (sic) became a fashion.
Elon Musk, who owns the X platform, is also an immigrant. He hails from South Africa. Hence, despite being an immigrant, the new stance of a section of right-wing in America, is that a person from Asia or Africa, a man who is Hispanic or Black, is seen as ‘other’ but a person like Musk who hails from South Africa is a natural immigrant because of his race.
It’s no more shocking that Elon Musk launched Grokipedia that is seen as an encyclopedia that gives responses in accordance with right-wing ideology.
Besides, he selectively posted messages and talked about incidents in a way that show immigrants from Asia, Africa or Hispanics and Blacks in poor light. However, despite his huge following–over 229 million, the other big influencers from Europe and US, becoming part of the propaganda against Mamdani, they couldn’t stop him.
Mamdani, who is a Muslim, has Indian ancestry and roots in India as well as Uganda. He didn’t have a huge budget and didn’t get much proactive support from the party’s traditional system either.
But, the 34-year-old brought a freshness and energy to the campaign.
He made a strong connect with the people and didn’t compromise on his values. When asked about Israel, he said that as Mayor his priority was to stay in New York and solve the issues in the city, as this is his job and also the prime responsibility.
A section of media and journalists with right-wing tilt, tried to present it as his bias against Israel. But, this helped him due to the public sentiment.
He met Jews and assured them that he would ensure safety. It struck a chord with the section of people who want an ‘America First’ policy.
Masses have been visibly uncomfortable about the open and excessive subservience of a number of American politicians towards foreign country [and foreign land], especially, due to the powerful lobbies that have huge money at their disposal.
The 2025 NYC Mayoral election didn’t remain a city poll, but an election that drew attention of the entire world. Mamdani secured over 50% votes and defeated Andrew Cuomo, the independent candidate and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
He called killings in Gaza, a ‘genocide’. He said that ordinary New Yorker was finding it increasingly tough to deal with rising costs.
While media in other countries was showing New York as per their own lens and as outsiders, reality is that many journalists in Europe and Asia are not even aware of basics about America. They have fixed views about the vast nation that is spread over 95,00,000 sq kms and has 50 states.
Some states are bigger than Britain, France, Germany, Afghanistan and Spain. However, for a section of media men outside US, its their ideology first and they talk about their own expectations and personal beliefs, rather than understanding the ground realities of United States or issues of the common American citizens.
President Trump used the term ‘socialist menace’ for Zohran Mamdani.
But for resident of New York, the issues that affect them–rising rents or crumbling subway that mattered most. Outsiders didn’t even know that New York has nearly 24% Blacks and 29% Latino. Further, New York has over 15% Asians.
Not just Muslims and Jews, New York has a substantial Sikh population. Hindus are a strong community as well. Buddhists too number around 85,000.
Still, several media groups in Europe and Asia didn’t focus on these aspects. They saw US politics from their own lens, without widening their worldview. Trapped in a mindset that doesn’t allow them to think beyond the anti-immigrant sentiment, they are unable to see the impact of discrimination, racism or bigotry on Americans who are not white.
The participants in discussions on TV channels came across as either excessively naive or arrogant. Is it a result of years of suffering from ‘I know all’ syndrome, while being totally unaware about basic issues or even the demographics of New York. Link.
Email: editor @asiantribune.net
