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This month's Goanet operations sponsored by Mrs. Daisy Faleiro ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hi Gabe Thanks for your post. And now, just a very quick response from me. I have never watched Big Brother because it is definitely not my kind of TV but I have a rough idea what it is all about. Re the current furore, I'd say that, I followed the subsequent TV footage closely and also what some of the press has said. My view is that: 1. The issue was more about class than race although there definitely was a racist edge to it. The four working class women could not cope with the well educated middle class Shilpa and a wealthy celebrity actress at that. But also, Shilpa knew little about UK working class culture and also perhaps about the nature of the programme. Hence, there was a considerable class and cultural dissonance. Some of the things said by the WC women was clearly indicative of sheer ignorance and prejudice. However, I am unclear how Shilpa actually got on to this programme. 2. I first heard on the car radio about thousands of people ringing in to complain that Shilpa had been at the receiving end of racist bullying. That so many ordinary Brits could do this unsolicited is indicative of a general liberal tone in Britain without dismissing low level racism always round the corner. 3. I am impressed by the observation that no ethnic minority person is buying any bull about racism. The message is clear to all and sundry that there is no place for racism today. Of course this was reiterated strongly in the live Parliament debate. I therefore think that this 'spat' on TV will be fruitful and productive for the better. 4. Gordon Brown had his work cut out for him on the India visit. Increasingly, the UK needs India as a major trading and entrepreneurial partner and it is really nice to see India/Indians with power at the elbow. At present, the UK is the fourth or fifth major industrial power in the world. That India will do better than this, hopefully within my lifetime, gives me immense joy. That this should also happen despite all the plundering that Britain did in India is already a reason for celebration for me. 5. The people demonstrating in India and burning effigies need to be reminded that India has an utterly dreadful record for caste-based racism. India reeks of caste-based racism and needs to sort this out before lecturing anyone else about racism---a reminder for Goans in Goa and the Diaspora too. Just a few comments as I believe that people on Goanet would like some quick thoughts on the matter from the coalface. Cornel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gabe Menezes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994!" <goanet@lists.goanet.org> Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 5:58 PM Subject: [Goanet] Shilpa Shetty racism row escalates;Indian Govt gets in on... **** http://www.GOANET.org **** > The Times of India Online > Printed from timesofindia.indiatimes.com > World> Rest of World > Shilpa Shetty racism row escalates > Rashmee Roshan Lall > [ 17 Jan, 2007 1952hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ] > > LONDON: The controversy over alleged racism towards Shilpa Shetty by > fellow-contestants of a British reality TV show escalated on Wednesday > with Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Indian government weighing in, > albeit with cautious platitudes and a further 10,000 complaints > flooding into the television regulatory authority and Channel 4. >