Posted by on Jan 18, 2007 in Big Brother, prejudice, racism | No Comments

I am ashamed

My friend John, from Kerala, emailed me. ‘What are you telling me now, about sending my son to England for his university education?’ he asks.

What indeed?

Big Brother is the worst form of reality TV, and it has revealed the worst form of reality – racist bullying. Shilpa Shetty is a Tamil actress who is mid level in Bollywood, and who has been enduring comments of ignorant, ugly and intentionally unpleasant import during her time in the Big Brother house.

I am ashamed. I cannot excuse people – ‘celebrities’ – two decades younger than myself, who have privilige, income and – presumably, opportunity to improve themselves, acting in such a bigoted, cruel and stupid fashion. We are supposed to be wiping out racism and sexism by promoting appreciation of other cultures and understanding of diversity.

This is not the Britain I want to live in.

To John, and all the other people who have made me welcome in India over the years, I can only apologise and say that this DOES NOT represent Britain as a whole.

And for the first time in my life I shall go and vote for a Big Brother candidate – and hope that Shilpa will win the contest, because that’s the only way that I can see that we can redress the awful impression this ghastly ‘entertainment’ has made across India.

Vote for Shilpa!

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