Hasta La Gadget!

 It was 2003. The year of “Love Actually,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and “Elf.” Three iconic blockbuster films with predominantly white casts and a meager sprinkling of diverse faces thrown in to move the plot along.

And then, like a unexpected gift from the cinema gods above, came “Bend It like Beckham,” a movie that had one thing all those other theater-packing, Hollywood hits didn’t have.

Jess Bhamra. A brown girl like me.

When I first saw the trailer for the film, I thought, “Beckham … What a strange name for a brown girl.” 

It wasn’t until I sat down with my younger sister to watch the movie that I understood ― this was a film that about the immigrant Indian experience. Jess, wasn’t just the nerdy best friend, the submissive shy girl, or the exotic temptress (all tropes that are far too common for Asian women). She was the main character ― a girl with many layers and quirks, whose long braid came loose, a girl who had a knack for getting what she wanted.

And this wasn’t the kind of movie that played only at the South Asian theater in my hometown in Rockland County, New York. “Bend It Like Beckham” was an unexpected global smash hit. It was something people at school were talking about. So much so that once, when I reluctantly answered the eternally infuriating question, “Where are you really from?” the person who asked responded with, “Oh, like ‘Bend it like Beckham?’ Yeah, I know all about that.’”

In the movie, Jess Bhamra, played by the English actress Parminder Nagra, is an 18-year-old budding soccer star from London who desperately wants a chance to play her sport. She joins a local women’s team (with a conveniently smoking hot coach). When her parents, Sikh immigrants to the U.K., find out that she’s playing, they’re furious and ban her from the field.

The rest of the film has all the elements of a beloved romantic comedy ― a grand, colorful wedding, a sudden change of fortune, and of course, a scintillating kiss in an airport.

Now, there are a few differences between Jess and me. Her family was Sikh, mine is Christian. Her family is likely from Punjab, while mine is from a state much farther south in India, called Kerala. She speaks a language at home that my family wouldn’t understand. She was raised in England, with its imperialist history of subjugating Indians, and I was raised in America, with its own racist history of discriminating against Indians. (I guess some things are sadly universal.)

But while it’s important to note that not all immigrant experiences are the same, my 14-year-old self couldn’t help staring at Jess on the screen and seeing a kindred spirit. I felt incredibly confident that Jess would know what it’s like to be constantly confused with the other brown girls in her class. Jess would know what it’s like to run through her mom’s kitchen like it was on fire, to avoid having the smell of chicken curry cling to her clothes. Jess would know what it’s like to love your immigrant parents fiercely, protectively, and still be frustrated beyond belief when they aren’t able to float freely between two cultures the way you can.

What I love the most about “Bend It Like Beckham” was that the heart of the problem ― the reason why Jess’ dad is preventing her from doing what she loves ― is not because his culture is strange and backwards and oppressive towards women or because he is a foreigner unwilling to mingle.

It was racism. Jess’s dad had his own dreams of playing for an English team. He was once part of a cricket club, but the men on the team had made fun of him, and eventually kicked him out. 

The experience taught Jess’s dad a hard truth. Along with adjusting to a new language and culture, he also had to learn how to navigate through a society that didn’t always see him as one of their own. He didn’t want his daughter to feel the shame of that rejection. 

This kind of plot line, this truth that pervades the life of immigrant families and at times, defines how they interact with the majority culture, was only possible in “Bend It Like Beckham” because this movie was not just about visibility on the screen, but also about representation behind the scenes.  The film was produced, written and directed by Gurinder Chadha ― an English film director of Indian descent.

This is why we need to make sure people of color make it to writers’ meetings and boardrooms even before the cameras start rolling ― so that our experiences are added to the conversation about what it means to be a human being.

Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, editor-in-chief of MuslimGirl.com, spelled it out perfectly during a panel at The White House’s first United State of Women Summit.

When asked, “How do we empower the people we call the voiceless?” she responded:

“One of the most important things for us to do to amplify those voices is to pass the mic whenever we have it,”Al-Khatahtbeh said at the summit. “If there’s someone that can speak to a lived experience that you cannot, do not take up that space, do not speak on their behalf, let them speak for themselves.”  

If there’s someone that can speak to a lived experience that you cannot, do not take up that space, do not speak on their behalf, let them speak for themselves.
Amani Al-Khatahtbeh

So even though “Bend It Like Beckham” is a movie about a brown girl that’s bizarrely named after a rich white man, even though it perpetuates the idea that Indian women need to be saved from their family’s culture and properly assimilated into the West, this moment was a milestone for Indian girls of my generation. For the first time in my life, I saw an echo of myself on the screen. 

So my South Asian sisters, let’s give credit where it’s due: Before Kelly Kapoor on The Office, CeCe Parekh on New Girl, and Alex Parrish on Quantico, there will always be Jesminder Kaur Bhamra. 

This essay is part of the HuffPost Voices series “When Representation Mattered.” The series highlights stories from people of all racial backgrounds, religions, abilities, ages, sexual and gender identities on what representation means to them. To submit your story (in written or vlog form) for consideration, email representationmatters@huffingtonpost.com. 

Past blogs in the series:

When Representation Mattered: On Truly ‘Seeing’ Yourself In Pop Culture

Dear Hollywood, I May Be Invisible To You, But I’m Very Real

What I, A White Man, Want Everyone To Know About The Power Of Black Women

I Grew Up In Europe, But Found My Blackness In African-American Culture

How Ilana From ‘Broad City’ Taught Me To Be Unapologetically Bi

How Aaliyah Helped Me Love Myself More As A Black Woman

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

When Brice Ehmig encountered a homophobic preacher on the campus of Florida Gulf Coast University, she decided to fight back with music.

Ehmig, who is in her fourth year at the university, began drowning out the preacher’s anti-gay remarks by playing “Amazing Grace” and other songs on her bagpipes, as seen in the video above. The preacher, who was wearing a “Jesus Saves From Hell” T-shirt at the time of the Aug. 19 incident, appeared visibly agitated by Ehmig’s presence, but continued his spiel, which included comparing being gay to bestiality. 

The political science major, who hails from Dunedin, Florida, told the Daily Record in an interview Tuesday that she’d seen and experienced “too much tragedy in the LGBTQ community to let a man in cargo pants tell me I am the embodiment of sin.”

As it turns out, the preacher is a regular presence on campus, which inspired Ehmig to “to stand up against these false prophets spewing bigotry.”

In an interview with Eagle News, the university’s student newspaper, Ehmig said she hopes students and faculty “realize that he does not represent religion,” and she didn’t think the preacher should be kicked off campus.

She went on to add the following: 

“People should be honest about their feelings and if you have a creative, non-violent way to protest, go for it.”

H/T Towleroad 

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

It’s increasingly common to find classrooms filled with the blue hue of computer and tablet screens. Early education or postgraduate work, there’s a shift towards technology-driven, or at least technology-aided, schooling.

The need for a computer, tablet or other device can be costly for some parents. While students don’t necessarily need the most cutting-edge technology, even basic laptops can cost hundreds of dollars.

Parents on a budget may be able to turn to the school itself for help. Some schools offer students free access while in class, others let students borrow or rent devices that can be brought home. Particular school districts even offer access or technology assistance programs for homeschooling families. However, if you decide to purchase, there are many ways to save money on necessary devices.

First though, you may be asking yourself why it’s important that your student have access to a tablet or computer. Technology is becoming increasingly popular in the classroom and there are some important things to consider.

Changing how we teach students. Across the country, school district superintendents are signing the Future Ready Schools District Pledge and vowing to create and lead a culture of digital learning. There’s also ConnectED, a federal initiative to ensure 99 percent of American students will have access to a broadband connection by 2018. Private partners have pledged to give over $2 billion worth of hardware, software, access to content and free wireless phone service to the ConnectED cause.

How might all this technology help today’s students?

A study published in the January 2014 issue of the Computers and Education Journal found that high school students were able to understand abstract concepts of space and time better with 3D simulations on a tablet than with traditional teaching methods. Students that are computer literate and learn to use technology to stay organized, conduct in-depth research, and collaborate with fellow students can also use these skills in college and their professional careers.

What devices might students need? Laptops, tablets and smartphones are the primary devices that many students use. However, some students may also need a graphing calculator for classes or standardized tests.

Some schools have a one-to-one program and issue students a laptop or tablet that they can bring home. There could be a hefty cost to replace a stolen or broken device, but you may be able to pay for a protection plan with a lower repair or replacement deductible. Other schools let students borrow devices while in class, or let students bring their own device.

Not every school offers free electronics to students and even if yours does you may want to buy a device. The school-issued devices are often equipped with built-in internet filters and students may need to agree to only use the device for school-related activities. While the upfront costs of purchasing a device are understandably higher, you won’t need to return it and it can be used during summer breaks and subsequent years at no extra cost.

Saving money when purchasing your own tech. If you decide to buy a tablet, laptop, or graphing calculator, you may be able to save money by timing your purchase and comparing prices at several retailers.

• Find discounts during annual sales. August can be one of the best times to buy a laptop or tablet because of the back-to-school sales. Some manufacturers release new models between June and August, meaning you could get an even better discount on last year’s models. Another option is to wait for Labor Day sales in September. If you can find something to hold your student over in the meantime, you might be able to get a great deal.

• Use retailers’ outlets. Manufacturers sometimes offer older models, open-box items, and refurbished electronics for a discount at their online outlet sites. The product might even be as good as new, but can’t be sold at full price because the box is damaged. Check back often because the sites frequently post new items.

• Look for student deals. Some software companies and electronics manufacturers offer student discounts to high schoolers, while others restrict the savings to current or incoming college students. Research policies from manufacturers as well as online retailers. Compare them with your local stores’ policies and keep these extra savings in mind when comparing prices.

• Educational discounts for homeschooling parents. Homeschooling parents may be eligible for manufacturers’ educational discounts even if their child doesn’t qualify for a student discount.

• Check for deals every day. You can check sites that post roundups of the day’s electronics deals. You could also go directly to online retailers to see their frequently changing deals on computers and other electronics.

• Shop at resellers. If you’re looking for a particular type of tablet or laptop, search far and wide for the best price. There’s no guarantee that buying directly from the manufacturer is cheapest. You might be able to get a better deal from another website or a brick-and-mortar retailer.

• Trade-in old devices. Some retailers will give you store credit for your old cell phone, laptop, tablet, video game console, or other electronics. It’s a good option if you have a device that’s just gathering dust in a closet or on a shelf.

• Buy used. Consider purchasing used electronics for deep savings. They may be older and slower than the latest model, but that’s not always a problem. For example, some standardized test administrators forbid test takers from using some of the latest model web-enabled graphing calculators. You can find used items online, at garage sales, and in local Facebook buy/sell/trade groups. If there isn’t a warranty or guarantee from a reputable company, determine the device’s quality before making a purchase.

• Always check for coupons and rebates. Whether you’re shopping online or in a store, always check for coupons and discount codes. Researching the store’s name plus “coupon code” will often result in a list of sites that’ll show you latest codes. Also, search for the product’s name plus rebate and you might find extra savings from the manufacturer or retailer.

• Consider budget laptops. There are various affordable laptop options available for as low as a couple hundred dollars. Although these less expensive options may come at a compromise of performance or storage capabilities, they can be well suited for basic tasks for students.

Where you find the best deal can depend on what you’re looking for, the time of year, and one-off promotions. Consider all your options and weigh the pros and cons of buying an older or used device.

Bottom line: Understanding technology is a necessity for many of today’s students and professionals. Ensuring students have access to technology at home could help them excel at school, and may be a requirement at times. While some devices can be costly, there are programs and opportunities that can help you save money if you know where to look.

Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa’s financial education programs. To follow Practical Money Skills on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PracticalMoney

This article is intended to provide general information and should not be considered legal, tax or financial advice. It’s always a good idea to consult a legal, tax or financial advisor for specific information on how certain laws apply to you and about your individual financial situation.

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

We shared the first deal on these Rubbermaid FreshWorks containers a few weeks ago, and on several occasions since, and you guys have bought thousands
of them, to the point that Amazon has often killed the deal within hours of our posting it. So if you’ve missed out on Amazon’s previous deals, or loved yours so much that you want to buy more, the two-pack is back on sale for $17 today, down from $20.

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Some things are sacred. Some things should only be touched by the meaty, all-knowing fingers of the men who know them best. Some things are just so pure and sacred and special that they’re worth getting all worked up over.

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