--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our society strangely tolerates mocking…" description: "\"Our society strangely tolerates mocking Indians.\" — Neera Tanden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/neera-tanden-4361_indians_our-society-strangely-tolerates-mocking_1348489.jpg" --- # Our society strangely tolerates mocking Indians. ![“Our society strangely tolerates mocking Indians.” quote by Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/neera-tanden-4361_indians_our-society-strangely-tolerates-mocking_1348489.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/neera-tanden-4361_indians_our-society-strangely-tolerates-mocking_1348489.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/neera-tanden-4361_indians_our-society-strangely-tolerates-mocking_1348489.jpg) > “Our society strangely tolerates mocking Indians.” [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal attitudes often mock Indigenous peoples, revealing deep‑seated prejudice and cultural insensitivity. **In simple terms:** Mocking Indians is a societal problem. Key Takeaway Challenge stereotypes and promote respect. Themes prejudice culture justice Mood critical serious Type political social When to use this quote - education - policy reform - media representation Key Concepts sociology colonialism Questions to Reflect On - Why does mocking persist? - How can you confront cultural bias? A Different Perspective Changing attitudes requires systemic effort, not just individual action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Indians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indians/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) ## Related quotes > [He who mocks the fool, Is no less a fool himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahj-wilson/he-who-mocks-the-fool-is-no-less-a-fool-himself/) [Tahj Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahj-wilson/) > [The French are pretty thin-skinned. The few times I mentioned a French writer in 'City Boy,' the relatives would ring up in high dudgeon.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/the-french-are-pretty-thin-skinned-the-few-times-i-mentioned-a-french/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [“I strive to climb mountains, forge streams and oceans to find the unwelcome silence that mocks my existence; I must aim higher... ~VA”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-alison/i-strive-to-climb-mountains-forge-streams-and-oceans-to-find-the/) [virginia Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-alison/) > [“Only those who are great masters of jumping have the right to mock the obstacles on their paths!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/only-those-who-are-great-masters-of-jumping-have-the-right-to-mock/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Now, I can understand why the appearance of a man struggling violently, as it would seem, with an airy nothing, and calling for assistance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fitz-james-o-brien-2/now-i-can-understand-why-the-appearance-of-a-man-struggling-violently/) Fitz-James O'Brien > [If you're mocking anyone, make sure it's those at the top of the food chain, not the bottom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-parris/if-you-re-mocking-anyone-make-sure-it-s-those-at-the-top-of-the-food/) [Rachel Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-parris/) > [“Your dignity can be mocked, abused, compromised, toyed with, lowered and even badmouthed, but it can never be taken from you. You have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/your-dignity-can-be-mocked-abused-compromised-toyed-with-lowered-and/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Most of those mocking us and our works night after night have not reached the point of suggesting we are going to use those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reeves/most-of-those-mocking-us-and-our-works-night-after-night-have-not/) [Richard Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reeves/) > [Nobody is perfect,and nobody deserves to be perfect, Nobody has it easy,everybody has issues. You never know what people are going through.so pause before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nobody-is-perfect-and-nobody-deserves-to-be-perfect-nobody-has-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There is something very interesting about bullies that make them special. You see, a bully is a coward; the bully is terribly afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/there-is-something-very-interesting-about-bullies-that-make-them/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [I've never thought it was necessary to make fun of people - you can find fun in people without necessarily mocking them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-blount-jr/i-ve-never-thought-it-was-necessary-to-make-fun-of-people-you-can/) [Roy Blount, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-blount-jr/) > [“Doubt not the self O lion-heart, for those who call you crazy will one day worship you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/doubt-not-the-self-o-lion-heart-for-those-who-call-you-crazy-will-one/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [I know nothing more mocking than a devil that despairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-know-nothing-more-mocking-than-a-devil-that-despairs/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Mocking laughter from Hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gotthold-ephraim-lessing/mocking-laughter-from-hell/) [Gotthold Ephraim Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gotthold-ephraim-lessing/) > [“Your dinner is mocking me. I’ll kill it and eat it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/your-dinner-is-mocking-me-i-ll-kill-it-and-eat-it/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) ## More by Neera Tanden > [Between 2009 and 2012, 95% of the country's income gains went to the top 1% of earners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/between-2009-and-2012-95-of-the-country-s-income-gains-went-to-the/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [The Democratic Party, the policies that the Clintons and Hillary believe in, I feel like a living example of someone who benefited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/the-democratic-party-the-policies-that-the-clintons-and-hillary/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [So far Trump has done everything he could possibly do to pit Americans against each other, to sow division, to fuel distrust of American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/so-far-trump-has-done-everything-he-could-possibly-do-to-pit/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [I concede that, in the first 18 months of his presidency, Obama has not accomplished all that he campaigned on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/i-concede-that-in-the-first-18-months-of-his-presidency-obama-has-not/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [Would Americans really feel better with insurance companies deciding whether they or their parents get the care they need? Probably not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/would-americans-really-feel-better-with-insurance-companies-deciding/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [I think a core principle of the Democratic Party has to be a defense of equal rights for every American. At the same time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/i-think-a-core-principle-of-the-democratic-party-has-to-be-a-defense/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [How exactly was Johnson able to pass the Great Society legislation and the Voting Rights Act? Of course, he was a savvy deal-maker. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/how-exactly-was-johnson-able-to-pass-the-great-society-legislation/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [I never worked in the private sector for very long, I worked on childcare, afterschool, health care for people, increasing the minimum wage, increasing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/i-never-worked-in-the-private-sector-for-very-long-i-worked-on/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [Making smart investments in early childhood education could not only generate more than $7 of economic benefits over a child's lifetime for every dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/making-smart-investments-in-early-childhood-education-could-not-only/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [One really basic thing is to establish women's property and inheritance rights, so women can be their own agents within society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/one-really-basic-thing-is-to-establish-women-s-property-and/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [We don't have great answers to what jobs will look like in 10, 20, 30 years. And I think it's right for people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/we-don-t-have-great-answers-to-what-jobs-will-look-like-in-10-20-30/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act dramatically expanded child care provisions and Head Start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/the-american-reinvestment-and-recovery-act-dramatically-expanded/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [I think that Democrats have to think through answers we haven't in the past: How we are going to create those jobs? How should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/i-think-that-democrats-have-to-think-through-answers-we-haven-t-in/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [No doubt, there are plenty of men who have been fierce and laudable advocates for women's issues. But I know from my many years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/no-doubt-there-are-plenty-of-men-who-have-been-fierce-and-laudable/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [What can defeat health care reform? Polls - or more specifically, Democratic politicians misreading them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/what-can-defeat-health-care-reform-polls-or-more-specifically/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) [Explore all 112 Neera Tanden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) ## More Indians quotes > [Our nation was born in genocide when it embraced the doctrine that the original American, the Indian, was an inferior race. ... We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/our-nation-was-born-in-genocide-when-it-embraced-the-doctrine-that/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-two-principles-on-which-our-conduct-towards-the-indians-should-be/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [We did not know there were other people besides the Indian until about one hundred winters ago, when some men with white faces came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-joseph/we-did-not-know-there-were-other-people-besides-the-indian-until/) [Chief Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-joseph/) > [Where today are the Pequot? Where are the Narragansett, the Mohican, the Pcanet, and other powerful tribes of our people? They have vanished before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tecumseh/where-today-are-the-pequot-where-are-the-narragansett-the-mohican-the/) [Tecumseh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tecumseh/) > [“Should Indian adults attempt to use the California courts to bring such killers to justice, they invariably were frustrated because the law of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-stannard/should-indian-adults-attempt-to-use-the-california-courts-to-bring/) [David E. Stannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-stannard/) > [“Wherever the white man goes he attempts to impose the bases of his ordered civilization. He puts down tribal war, he wages truceless combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-lothrop-stoddard/wherever-the-white-man-goes-he-attempts-to-impose-the-bases-of-his/) [T. Lothrop Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-lothrop-stoddard/) > [“Because the Indians are planning to start war now, the common people want all of them destroyed so that they can live in peace;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-martin-boltzius/because-the-indians-are-planning-to-start-war-now-the-common-people/) [Johann Martin Boltzius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-martin-boltzius/) > [Land. If you understand nothing else about the history of Indians in North America, you need to understand that the question that really matters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-king/land-if-you-understand-nothing-else-about-the-history-of-indians-in/) [Thomas King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-king/) > [The Indians are a civilization wrought with culture and a beautiful, deep spirituality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cree-summer/the-indians-are-a-civilization-wrought-with-culture-and-a-beautiful/) [Cree Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cree-summer/) > [Where did all these damn Indians come from?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-armstrong-custer/where-did-all-these-damn-indians-come-from/) [George Armstrong Custer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-armstrong-custer/) > [“Just as the Five Tribes and others were formalizing their tribal governments and running their own programs, legal aid groups were helping nonrecognized tribes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-edwin-miller/just-as-the-five-tribes-and-others-were-formalizing-their-tribal/) [Mark Edwin Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-edwin-miller/) > [It is the simplest fact of Indian life: there are too many Indians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/it-is-the-simplest-fact-of-indian-life-there-are-too-many-indians/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [“The Indians must conform to 'the white man’s ways', peaceably if they will, forcibly if they must. They must adjust themselves to their environment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-morgan-u-s-commissioner-of-indian-affairs/the-indians-must-conform-to-the-white-man-s-ways-peaceably-if-they/) Thomas Morgan U.S. Commissioner of Indian Affairs > [The Indian is but a sketch in red crayon of a rudimental manhood. To the problem of his relation to the white race, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-indian-is-but-a-sketch-in-red-crayon-of-a-rudimental-manhood-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This is why Indians are thought to be stupid. They can't think, they don't know anything, they say. But we have hidden our identity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/this-is-why-indians-are-thought-to-be-stupid-they-can-t-think-they/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) [Browse all 549 Indians quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indians/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our society strangely tolerates mocking Indians.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neera Tanden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/our-society-strangely-tolerates-mocking-indians/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Indians" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/our-society-strangely-tolerates-mocking-indians/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/neera-tanden-4361_indians_our-society-strangely-tolerates-mocking_1348489.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/neera-tanden-4361_indians_our-society-strangely-tolerates-mocking_1348489.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/neera-tanden-4361_indians_our-society-strangely-tolerates-mocking_1348489.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our society strangely tolerates mocking Indians.” — Neera Tanden", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Neera Tanden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Our society strangely tolerates mocking Indians.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/our-society-strangely-tolerates-mocking-indians/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/our-society-strangely-tolerates-mocking-indians/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```