The ongoing row over the racist remarks being directed at an Indian actress in a British reality show makes for interesting reading, both because it shows how much the world abhors racism, as also because it illustrates that despite this overt abhorrence, racism continues and persists in almost every part of the world, and in every section of society.
I mentioned the Holocaust and the Inquisition primarily because they are something that I expect everyone might at least know something about, if not about both, then at least about the former. But they are not the only examples of racist prejudices turning to murderous intentions; rather they are perhaps amongst the few that are more prominent. Racism needn't be seen only as a prerogative of the Caucasian race; on the contrary, racism was and is practiced by each and every race on this earth, against each other.
But, it is a different thing to just voice one's opposition over something, and quite another to do something to tackle the beast by the horns. Simply stating one's outrage and one's dismay at racism rearing its head doesn't quite serve any purpose other than to illustrate that racism exists. But that isn't enough.
And this is where comments like Mr. David Cameron, leader of the Conservatives in the
In other words, viewers have the option of sending across the message that they don't approve of racism by simply switching off the offensive show, showing that racism isn't cool, rather, that it's plain odious. Broadcasters will soon have to either crackdown on the offenders or lose out on valuable customers (and even more valuable advertising revenues). And what they will do, should they be forced to, is any body's guess.
4 comments:
You do have a point there, Reddy. We can switch off the TV. But what's more important is that there should a change in the mindset of the people.
In a nation where racism rules(it is said that dual citizenship does exist in England) knowing that racism is wrong and wanting to abolish it is much ore important than temporarily ignoring the issue.
Ms. Shetty no doubt would have had to put up with a lot during the past few weeks. Knowing fully well that this may be merely yet another contrived reality, we must be happy that this has again bought the issue under the spotlight. I hope some of us back in India will have the courage and the will to introspect while we point fingers at the English.
Look the difference in the treatment meted out to a gori mem/saab on the roads and an African citizen and you'd know what I am talking about. Vivek, you and I are fully aware that so may of our temples have doors closed for certain "categories" of citizens.
I wonder if it'll take some casteism on the hugely popular(!) Big Boss to put it under spotlight..
I am not endorsing or saying that racism, in all its forms, is absent from India; on the contrary, I have been explicitly saying that even those who allege racism against them are guilty of practicing the same against other sections of society.
It is sad, and deserves not just academic debates, but solid action to be taken.
Hi Vivek.I was gonna write about what David Cameron said too but I forgot as I had a few too many points to remember.I completely agree with him actually.Its indeed amateurish on our part to promptly generalise and call Britishers racist.
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