While our exertions for cultural and religious purposes have been remarkable, we need to elevate our social and political profile. Aggressive programs which foster economic cohesion (recycle Asian Indian dollars), political cohesion (raise voices on issues which affect us), and social cohesion (orchestrate vociferous protests to derogatory comments) are a must. That's the only way to social visibility and political power, to count and be counted.

Our success in organizing culturally in the U.S. is clear. Innumerable temples and churches, "Garba" dances and "Onam" festivities, "Diwali" fireworks and "India Day" parades are ready examples. Unfortunately, we are yet to figure in the economic or political calculus. Witness New York's ex-Mayor Koch's nerve in commenting non-chalantly on prime time network television that India was not a "civilized" country. And ex- Secretary of State Henry Kissinger's gall in asserting blithely -- again on network television -- that Asian Indians got on his nerves with their "self-righteousness." And syndicated columnist Mary McGory's audacity in pontificating about "the Indian tendency to moralize".

Kissinger, Koch and McGory only underscored that not a pigeon drops a feather when Asian Indians are trampled upon. The two protest letters -- at best -- which might result can be safely trashed (Nobody bothered replying to me). Bashing Asian Indians is free of political or economic costs.

Contrast this with the racket created by Jesse Jackson's light-hearted, off-the-record reference to New York city as "hymietown". Poor Jesse had to apologize repeatedly. Indeed, even professional comedians have lost their jobs for derogatory jibes about Blacks, Andy Rooney and Jackie Mason being the most recent and well-known. Shouldn't it be that way for jibes about Asian Indians?

Let's go one step further. Notice that New York state conducts driving license tests in Spanish, but in no other minority language. Recognize that proud Denny's restaurants will provide $1 billion in jobs and benefits to blacks in the next seven years. And appreciate the grand-daddy of them all: Being labelled "anti-Israel" is a hangman's noose for any U.S. politician.

These group-specific phenomena educate us on how to become socially relevant and politically counted. As a pluralistic society, the United States functions on the basis of interest groups: People defining themselves on a foundation of shared heritage or interests. Such group-definitions permit political balancing and progress with peace. And groups that don't define themselves are, well, Indianized.

That's a major reason why our various cultural organizations are important; they help us define ourselves. Thereby, they stimulate pride of identity and foster self-esteem amongst Asian Indians. With this beginning, we should adopt a policy of cohesion. As much as possible, do business with other Asian Indians. Put up with a little inconvenience if need be; but recycle that Asian Indian dollar! Ensure, however, that the Asian Indianness is not just skin-deep; in other words, the person exalts true Asian Indian values of competence, integrity and trust. Given the abundance of Asian Indian talent providing top quality services, no reason exists for compromise.

This is not a question of tactics. Rather, it's a question of survival, like other recycling programs. Only this time, something personal is at stake: our self-respect and identity.