Nirmal Trivedi

The Warring Society

“Bobby” Jindal, the first Indian American governor in U.S. history, has found his way into marking a turning point in American history. The LA Times writes how he is the “first nonwhite to hold the job in Louisiana since Reconstruction” and NY Times writes that Jindal “made a particular campaign target of conservative northern and eastern parishes of Louisiana by visiting them frequently and bringing his brand of devout Christianity to their rural churches,” teaching “intelligent design” among other views touted by social Conservatives.

I think of Eric Foner’s comment in A Short History of Reconstruction where he writes that the Civil War inaugurated a widespread enlistment of African-Americans into the army as it was one of only paths towards political freedom, advancement and respectability.

Jindal is not an army man, but rather a soldier of sorts for a group of elite South Asians who see education as the only path for self-representation in a resolutely warring society.

Update: a varied set of responses elicted by Jindal.

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