A couple curious questions about ethnicities

[Phait]

I've just been curious, so don't read too far into it.

 

- "why are so many casinos run by Native Americans?"

 

Speaking of that, where's the money come from and what's the incentive to the casino (or ticket lottery) to give away money?

 

- "why are so many gas stations run by Middle Eastern/South-Asian immigrants?" Would it be naive to wonder if they have family in the oil biz?

[Ani]

I remember a lot of the scandals pertaining to the Native American gambling establishments and their exemption from taxation on reservations. The scandals became a huge ordeal in the 70's and went all the way to Federal Supreme Court on a few occasions.

 

Also, keeping in tune with the African American movements, the Native American movements followed right behind in a fight for equality. After success in a war to have ethnicity declared as a minority; Native Americans qualified for government grants/funding for education, business, and all other things available to minorities. Coupled with the benefit of being tax exempt; grant monies and government funding for businesses established on reservations became the breeding grounds for gambling profits. A lot of very public court actions ensued; in and out of the headlines almost daily.

 

The uprising of Native Americans was disturbing to many families that shared the Native American heritage. I, personally, have Cherokee blood in my ancestry, and had any the tribes creating such a ruckus declared themselves as having been a descendant of the Cherokee tribe; I probably would have disowned my heritage. As it was, the Cherokee Tribe never (at least to my knowledge) displayed their heritage in an ill manner for public exploitation; I was/am still proud to claim my Native American ancestry.

 

The Kansas City Chiefs used to do the Tomahawk Chop to cheer the team on and there was even a huge scandal that broke out that banned KC Chief fans, and also the stadium, from bringing in or selling huge foam tomahawks for fans to exhibit during the games. The Indians filed suit stating that it was a mockery of the Native American rituals....

 

Anyway.... whether it's Native Americans, African Americans, Asians, Women, Gays, or what have you pushing the envelope on being the minorities.......... prejudice will never cease and people will always be seeking ways to try to elevate one group of people above the other until ALL people bury the hatchet once and for all.

 

 

I dug up the old tune Cherokee Nation, just for old times sake, and it's amazing how many people that I would never have guessed as sharing the Cherokee heritage. Pretty cool to see some of the names that popped up.

[YOUTUBE][/YOUTUBE]

[tim_7string]

 

I've just been curious, so don't read too far into it. - "why are so many casinos run by Native Americans?" Speaking of that, where's the money come from and what's the incentive to the casino (or ticket lottery) to give away money? - "why are so many gas stations run by Middle Eastern/South-Asian immigrants?" Would it be naive to wonder if they have family in the oil biz?

 

 

I can answer the first one.

 

Native Americans enjoy sovereignty on their reservations, which means that the tribal leaders can establish their own laws regarding their citizens. Because of this, not all rules apply there like they do elsewhere. For example, cigarettes are not taxed there, so they are much cheaper.

 

Back in the early '90s, Indian Country (a term given to describe all Native American reservations in the USA) were allowed to have casinos on their reservations. Even if it was illegal in the state the reservation existed in, on tribal land itself, it is not illegal.

 

The reason there are so many? Simply numbers. There are a lot more Indian reservations with casinos than legal non-reservation casinos.

 

And I am a Native American myself (Turtle Mountain Ojibwa, otherwise known as Chippewa).

[BlueStrat]

 

- "why are so many casinos run by Native Americans?"

 

 

Because Indian reservations are considered by treaty to be sovereign nations within a nation. AS such they are not subject to the same state and federal restrictions we are. They can sell cigarettes and in some cases liquor tax free, sell fireworks that are otherwise illegal, and provide gambling establishments. In some places (like Washington State) the tribes can make deals with the state, buy land not on reservations, declare it reservation lands and build casinos on it.

 

Money comes from people who go to the casinos to gamble. We have about 4 tribal casinos within 75 mikes of where we live. And casinos don't 'give away money', they give away winnings but take in far more than they pay out. Gambling is always in favor of the house, not the gambler, which is why casinos are always expanding and growing in number and gamblers are seldom rich.

 

 

- "why are so many gas stations run by Middle Eastern/South-Asian immigrants?"

 

 

Because being in business is valued more highly in some cultures than in others, and businesses like gas stations and convenience stores provide immigrants with an easy and plentiful entry point into business, with franchises being relatively easy to get and not too expensive.

[tim_7string]

 

The Kansas City Chiefs used to do the Tomahawk Chop to cheer the team on and there was even a huge scandal that broke out that banned KC Chief fans, and also the stadium, from bringing in or selling huge foam tomahawks for fans to exhibit during the games. The Indians filed suit stating that it was a mockery of the Native American rituals.... Anyway.... whether it's Native Americans, African Americans, Asians, Women, Gays, or what have you pushing the envelope on being the minorities.......... prejudice will never cease and people will always be seeking ways to try to elevate one group of people above the other.

 

 

There is a similar sort of controversy surrounding the name of the local university's sports teams. They have been known as the Fighting Sioux for decades and a lot of people are not pleased that there are Native American people that are offended by the name. Apparently, it is in the works for it to actually be changed now. Unfortunately, whether the name changes or not, it will do nothing to reduce prejudice and racism against Native Americans around here. If anything, if it does change, I'm expecting it to cause more outright racism and hate crimes.

 

Further complicating things is the fact that the logo itself (which depicts the profile of a proud Native American warrior's face) was created and designed by a Native American from my reservation. He also attended the university years ago and got an art degree.

[Phait]

Thanks BlueStrat!

[Duddits]

 

- "why are so many gas stations run by Middle Eastern/South-Asian immigrants?" Would it be naive to wonder if they have family in the oil biz?

 

 

If they had family in the oil biz, they wouldn't be running gas stations. It's similar to immigrants driving taxis. It's not because they have relatives in the car industry.

 

(Edit: I see others answered the question while I was writing mine.)

[Billster]

As far as the indian casinos, it's a beautiful thing after what happened to the Native Americans. For all the restitution efforts, the casinos allow people to literally hand them money.

[BlueStrat]

I dug up the old tune Cherokee Nation, just for old times sake, and it's amazing how many people that I would never have guessed as sharing the Cherokee heritage. Pretty cool to see some of the names that popped up.

 

I have to laugh (not at you or this video) but it seems like half the people I know all claim Cherokee blood. It's always Cherokees, too... never Cree or Kickapoo or Cheyenne or Blackfoot or Seminole....those Cherokees must have had access to a Viagra mine or something!

[UstadKhanAli]

For the record, I just wanted to say that some of my best friends are Native Americans and Middle Eastern/South-Asian immigrants.

[ggm1960]

 

I have to laugh (not at you or this video) but it seems like half the people I know all claim Cherokee blood. It's always Cherokees, too... never Cree or Kickapoo or Cheyenne or Blackfoot or Seminole....those Cherokees must have had access to a Viagra mine or something!

 

 

Here in IA if you could prove some distant Meskwaki heritage you'd be gettin' a fat check from all those casino profits! Yeah, they were actually trying to track people with indian blood down to give them money.

[ggm1960]

 

Anyway.... whether it's Native Americans, African Americans, Asians, Women, Gays, or what have you pushing the envelope on being the minorities.......... prejudice will never cease and people will always be seeking ways to try to elevate one group of people above the other until ALL people bury the hatchet once and for all.

 

 

+1.5 Trillion.

[Magpel]

Of course, the companies that are hired to build and run the reservation casinos--same ones that did Sun City, in the case of the famous Mohegan Sun-- reap about 90% of the profits (if not more) but that 10% is still a pretty hefty sum for the 500 or so living descendants of the Pequot (Fox Woods casino).

 

The cool thing about casinos is that the odds only need to favor the house a wee little bit. Most casinos, I believe, keep less than 8 cents on the dollar in slots. Blackjack, played properly, favors the house about 51-49.

 

The incline need not be steep--all monies roll their way eventually because of the cardinal truth of gambling--the only thing harder than walking away when you're up is walking away when you are down.

 

I have a taste for casino blackjack--think I am about even for my career by virtue of a couple of big nights and a honed ability to walk when I am up 50% of my stake, even if it is early and the fun has only just begun. I've also had some costly nights on which I lost control--even a few very recently when I was stuck on a cruise ship for three days! That was ugly.

 

Most of my gambling has been at reservation casinos--but I've seen the ones in the SoCal and the northwest. While not exactly dirt floor, they are pretty modest, neighborhood affairs compared to the two big guns in Connecticut--Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods, two of the most lavish casino resorts in the world. They are a 3 1/2 hour drive from me, making them the closest casinos to my house, which is a good thing, a good protective buffer.

 

NY had been debating reservation casinos in the Catskills (my neighborhood) for about decade. My feelings, as you might imagine, are mixed. I think I am happier without...

[russrags]

 

- "why are so many gas stations run by Middle Eastern/South-Asian immigrants?" Would it be naive to wonder if they have family in the oil biz?

 

 

Because OUR country will let a foreigner come into the USA a start a business and operate TAX FREE for 5 yrs. When that time is up, they move on to another store, but bring another relative of their's into the country, they get the same deal.

 

It's a BIG Loop Hole, and our own citizens who run small business's have to do it the hard way.

 

 

Russ

Nashville

[BlueStrat]

 

Because OUR country will let a foreigner come into the USA a start a business and operate TAX FREE for 5 yrs. When that time is up, they move on to another store, but bring another relative of their's into the country, they get the same deal. It's a BIG Loop Hole, and our own citizens who run small business's have to do it the hard way. Russ Nashville

 

 

That's an old urban legend that isn't true. http://www.snopes.com/business/taxes/immigrants.asp

[blue2blue]

 

I've just been curious, so don't read too far into it. - "why are so many casinos run by Native Americans?" Speaking of that, where's the money come from and what's the incentive to the casino (or ticket lottery) to give away money? - "why are so many gas stations run by Middle Eastern/South-Asian immigrants?" Would it be naive to wonder if they have family in the oil biz?

 

In the case of the first, you couldn't have been too curious. I had thought the treaty arrangements that are seen as giving some Native American tribes quasi-autonomy within their treaty lands was common knowledge and has no doubt already been discussed thoroughly above.

 

 

With regard to the latter, that's kind of like suggesting that because tortillas are round and pizza is round, they must taste the same.

 

Around here, many of the independent gas stations are owned by East Asians. Where's the connection?

 

One somewhat more pertinent connection is that immigrants are drawn to businesses where they perceive prejudices against them will be a minimal obstacle. So various convenience businesses, particularly franchises or small businesses (like corner markets) with a relatively small buy-in are a frequent investment vector for them.

 

One unspoken assumption you seem to make is that gas stations were benefiting from the price run up of the past few years. Some may well have been, but for many, they are simply at the mercy of their contracted suppliers.

 

I got to know a youngish Korean guy who worked for a long time to buy a gas station in my old neighborhood. He was a great guy, really fixed the place up (as nice as any suburban gas station), kept an eye out to for trouble (at an intersection where it frequently happens). He bought the station because of its contracts with a major gas brand. But he said they started squeezing him and never stopped until he could finally get out of the contract and find a better deal with a no-name supplier. It meant he became one of those stations (it's still a nice, clean, landscaped off-brand station).

[blue2blue]

I have to laugh (not at you or this video) but it seems like half the people I know all claim Cherokee blood. It's always Cherokees, too... never Cree or Kickapoo or Cheyenne or Blackfoot or Seminole....those Cherokees must have had access to a Viagra mine or something!

And they all had Navy Seal training...

 

[D Charles]

I watched the vid, but how in the hell did Winston Churchill get some Cherokee blood?????

 

I wrote a novel with a Cherokee character in it, got my knowledge from two books that are suppose to be true to Cherokee history; 'The Education of Little Tree,' and 'Walk in my Soul.'

[Labrat636]

I have to laugh (not at you or this video) but it seems like half the people I know all claim Cherokee blood. It's always Cherokees, too... never Cree or Kickapoo or Cheyenne or Blackfoot or Seminole....those Cherokees must have had access to a Viagra mine or something!

 

Maybe it is beacuse the Cherokee lived or worked closer to / with the white people than did other tribes. I too have Cheorkee blood. My great-great-grandmother was full blood Cherokee.

[Richard King]

I did lots of business with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux http://www.ccsmdc.org/ when I lived in Minnesota. Their gambling facilities started with a small bingo hall in a trailer and grew from there. When I first started doing business there they only had the bingo hall. By the time I left Minnesota in 1996 they had expanded to this: http://www.mysticlake.com/index.html , a casino/hotel/entertianment complex that rivals many in Las Vegas or anywhere in the country. A very large portion of the profits are distributed to the members of the community. Gambling has been quite good to the community and to those businesses that served the community. I was selling and installing satellite systems at the time (big dishes) and found that word of mouth was my best advertising in the community. I installed one system and things grew from there until I was doing about 25% of my total sales within the reservation on an annual basis. At the time the local cable company refused to service the reservation (not enough people on a per mile basis), so I was happy to step in in their place.

[Magpel]

 

That's an old urban legend that isn't true. http://www.snopes.com/business/taxes/immigrants.asp

 

 

Good catch, Blue. 'ppreciate it.

[rasputin1963]

I recently had to fill out a form allowing my apartment complex to check to see if I had a criminal record...

 

I don't, so it was my pleasure to fill it out.

 

One box on the form said RACE:____________ (White, Black, Hispanic, etc.)

 

I scribbled a "W".

 

The very next field said: IF HISPANIC, CHECK HERE:__________

 

 

I just thought that was strange. Why after already indicating if one were Hispanic, would we be asked that question a second time?

[spokenward]

 

I just thought that was strange. Why after already indicating if one were Hispanic, would we be asked that question a second time?

 

 

It is this sort of thing that makes me wonder if I really belong to a union of 50 states. That question would reasonably be considered a violation of the Fair Housing Act in IL. That is federal law.

 

There is an exclusion for:

 

 

However, housing need not be made available to a person who is a direct threat to the health or safety of others or who currently uses illegal drugs.

 

 

That's it. That's f'd up. No one should fill out a form like the one you described.

[Hard Truth]

- "why are so many gas stations run by Middle Eastern/South-Asian immigrants?" Would it be naive to wonder if they have family in the oil biz?

 

Recent immigrants and the next generation often form coalitions to help newcomers from their country of origin get employment in their businesses or obtain help in establishing new businesses. These coalitions range from professional organizations (ie. The Yemeni Grocers Association) to informal family groups. Since the earlier arrivals have obtained expertise in a particular trade, they encourage the new arrivals to work in that field. By organizing their businesses around family groups they can gain advantages by putting the whole family, including the children, to work, avoiding overtime and other labor laws. Generally after a couple of generations the kids attend college and leave the familly business, but in some cases businesses stay in the familly for many generations.

 

Which ethnicities go into which businesses seems to follow regional patterns.

 

Where I live:

Irish-residential building construction

Korean-dry cleaners

Armenians-flowers

Yemenite & Palestinian-small grocery/liquor stores

Filipinos-hotels and hospitals (employees, not owners)

Indian/Sikhs-taxis, small motels and hotels

[Jeff da Weasel]

Why after already indicating if one were Hispanic, would we be asked that question a second time?

 

Very simple. You can be black (or white or other race) and also be hispanic. If a person primarily identified him/herself as being black, for example, it doesn't preclude the aspect of being hispanic.

 

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget currently defines "Hispanic or Latino" as "a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race".

 

And now you know.