Days after incumbent US President Joe Biden endorsed Kamala Harris as the Democratic Presidential candidate, party supporters on social media are divided over the electoral campaign in the run-up to the Presidential race.
The ongoing debate between Democrats has been over the rechristening of Kamala Harris as ‘Lotus’ and ‘coconut tree’. For the unversed, the first name of the potential Democratic Presidential nominee translates to ‘Lotus (Kamala)’ in Sanskrit.
As such, it makes sense why a section of Democrats wants ‘Lotus for POTUS’. Another group of Democrats are referring to Kamala Harris as a ‘coconut tree’ and designing social media campaigns along those lines.
There’s a battle going on between coconut trees & the lotus among “South Asian” wala’s and the lotus is taking some hits…even though it’s literally what Kamala means…lol! pic.twitter.com/VDWKheLkA0
— Suhag A. Shukla (@SuhagAShukla) July 25, 2024
Interestingly, the reference to Kamala Harris as a ‘coconut tree’ is not due to her South Indian ancestry.
It has something to do with her May 2023 speech during the swearing-in ceremony of Commissioners for the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics.
During her address, Kamala Harris was heard saying, “My mother used to — she would give us a hard time sometimes, and she would say to us, “I don’t know what’s wrong with you young people. You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?” (Laughs).”
Kamala Harris: "My mother used to give us a hard time sometimes and she would say to us, 'I don't know what's wrong with you young people. You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?' Ha ha ha ha." pic.twitter.com/aGMFCGgKt6
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) May 10, 2023
Use of coconut emoji for Kamala Harris is racist: Democrats
Since then, Kamala Harris has been synonymous with ‘coconut trees’ in political spheres. Now, some Democrats and their supporters have taken offence to the use of ‘coconut’ to refer to the potential Presidential candidate.
“If we’re keeping it buck, coconut is a slur (calling a South Asian person coconut is akin to calling a Black person oreo)— so maybe while we’re in the initial stages of this excitement, folks can swap out the coconuts for a lotus since Kamala means lotus in Sanskrit,” wrote one Imani Gandy.
If we're keeping it buck, coconut is a slur (calling a South Asian person coconut is akin to calling a Black person oreo)—
— Imani Gandy (Orca’s Version) ⚓️ (@AngryBlackLady) July 24, 2024
so maybe while we're in the initial stages of this excitement, folks can swap out the coconuts for a lotus since Kamala means lotus in Sanskrit. 🪷
“It doesn’t surprise me to see so many white progressives putting a coconut emoji in their bios now as a racist slur against VP Harris (“ fell out of a coconut tree”), it doesn’t surprise me, but it still makes me sick to my stomach,” claimed another Democratic Party supporter.
It doesn’t surprise me to see so many white progressives putting a coconut emoji in their bios now as a racist slur against VP Harris (“ fell out of a coconut tree”), it doesn’t surprise me, but it still makes me sick to my stomach.
— Howard ✡. 🟦🇮🇱 (@HowardA_AtLaw) July 19, 2024
Another Democrat alleged that the coconut emoji used about Kamala Harris was a ‘slur’ and insisted on the use of the term ‘Lotus’.
@RealLyndaCarter please consider replacing that problematic coconut 🥥 in your profile with a lotus 🪷. Being called a coconut is considered a racial slur. We’re using a lotus 🪷since the name Kamala means lotus flower. 💯 #LotusForPOTUS https://t.co/sO7gLQiRxm pic.twitter.com/idC7uOijSd
— 🪷Melanie 🇵🇦 Says People Get Ready 2024⚖️🐝💛 (@JoyRoseM) July 24, 2024
One Ryan tweeted, “Now they mad about the coconut emoji and claiming it’s a racial slur against Kamala Harris like it ain’t just a reference to a quote said by her…”
now they mad about the coconut emoji and claiming it’s a racial slur against kamala harris like it ain’t just a reference to a quote said by her… pic.twitter.com/ADQgatIsQ7
— rayn 🇵🇸 || hotd era (@rxynstrm) July 24, 2024
Coconut not a slur, Lotus associated with BJP: Democrats
While one set of deranged leftists was busy categorising ‘coconut’ as a slur, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Indian fans of Kamala Harris found a new topic for outrage.
According to them, the use of the term ‘ Lotus for Kamala’ is worse, given the association of the flower with the Narendra Modi-led-BJP. For the unversed, the lotus is the election symbol of the Bhartiya Janata Party.
“Nah, Kamala literally means Lotus in Sanskrit/Hindi so that connection is fine (eg. LOTUS for POTUS). But the symbol itself is hella problematic bc it stands for the extreme RW hindu nationalist party BJP in India, so avoid the emoji,” one Poushali Bhadury
Nah, Kamala literally means Lotus in Sanskrit/Hindi so that connection is fine (eg. LOTUS for POTUS). But the symbol itself is hella problematic bc it stands for the extreme RW hindu nationalist party BJP in India, so avoid the emoji.
— 🌈Poushali Bhadury পৌষালী ভাদুড়ী🏳️🌈she/her (@Saichukan) July 25, 2024
One X user tweeted, “The bitter irony is that Imani has directed ignorant Kamala supporters to use the lotus emoji when that really would cause issues because she’s of Indian descent and in India, the lotus is a symbol of Hindu nationalist fascism under Modi’s BJP.”
He was seen using the ‘coconut emoji’ in his profile name.
The bitter irony is that Imani has directed ignorant Kamala supporters to use the lotus emoji when that really would cause issues because she's of Indian descent and in India, the lotus is a symbol of Hindu nationalist fascism under Modi's BJP.
— unironically a wolf 🥥🥥🥥 (@Dormiyusaur) July 25, 2024
“Coconut is a joke not a slur for South Asians. But the lotus is the symbol of the BJP, the Hindu nationalist right wing party, of India (our version of the GOP). Neither has any negative context for Kamala Harris, but lotus is the one I would rather avoid,” wrote one Sravani Hotha.
Coconut is a joke not a slur for South Asians.
— Sravani (శ్రావణి) Hotha (@SravaniWrites) July 24, 2024
But the lotus is the symbol of the BJP, the Hindu nationalist right wing party, of India (our version of the GOP).
Neither has any negative context for Kamala Harris, but lotus is the one I would rather avoid.
Another Desi brazened out, “I don’t want the BJP IT cell to appropriate Kamala Harris or bask in her reflected glory. So I am wary of the lotus. That was their little jingle in the 90s in Hindi. We have to bring the Lotus flower and make BJP successful. (It rhymes in Hindi but it sounds a bit clunky here).”
I don't want the BJP IT cell to appropriate Kamala Harris or bask in her reflected glory. So I am wary of the lotus.
— SchrodingersCat (@ManyWorlds1Cat) July 24, 2024
That was their little jingle in the 90s in Hindi
We have to bring the Lotus flower
And make BJP successful.
(It rhymes in Hindi but it sounds a bit clunky here)
“For curious folks, the lotus is the symbol of Modi’s BJP, the current Hindutva (Hindu nationalist) ruling party of India who have a lot of ethnonationalist tension-stoking and harsh right-wing policy to their name. So yes, would not be a good look for Kamala’s campaign,” wrote another X user.
For curious folks, the lotus is the symbol of Modi's BJP, the current Hindutva (Hindu nationalist) ruling party of India who have a lot of ethnonationalist tension-stoking and harsh right-wing policy to their name. So yes, would not be a good look for Kamala's campaign. https://t.co/Yh4MGcK3eI
— mond 𓂫 (@lynquynparque) July 25, 2024
Another Desi tweeted, “Crazy how people here act like saying coconut in regards to kamala is a racial slur but are using the lotus emoji for her how stupid do you have to be to decide a lotus emoji is unproblematic for an indian women in politics omfg”
crazy how people here act like saying coconut in regards to kamala is a racial slur but are using the lotus emoji for her 😭 how stupid do you have to be to decide a lotus emoji is unproblematic for an indian women in politics omfg
— everlark daughter | fulltime rhaenicent warrior (@galeslander) July 25, 2024
Conclusion
The ongoing debate over ‘coconut’ and ‘Lotus’ reference for Kamala Harris shows how leftists in India and the United States are distant from ground realities.
Instead of focusing on real issues such as unemployment, rising housing costs, mental illness and gun violence, Democrats are finding trivial issues to outrage on social media. Their favourite pastime seems to finding ‘racism’ and ‘fascism’ in places where they don’t exist.
This goes on to show how leftist hysteria and mental gymnastics know no bounds when it comes to politics.
