Most of the British people will be in support of Shilpa Shetty. In my opinion the Entire Big Brother show is complete pile of crap. If this one event leads to the end of Big Brother then all I can say is it could not have been soon enough.

What you have to remember also is the type of person/persons that has made the raciast remarks towards Shilpa. Jade and her mother are litteraly one step up from cave men.... they are just complete mindless iggnorant slobs who are a disgrace to the British people. Both of them should be charged with Racial abuse and infringment of human rights.

I am absoloutly disgusted at their behaviour. On the other hand The Big brother organisers and Channel 4 must have known it was bad chemistry... putting two Morons in a room with a person from another culture is like sticking a box of matches next to a stick of dynamite.

So the Bosses at Channel 4 should get it in the neck also and the entire show banned from Public Television.

Regards

Simon

Dear Gotham

Your last sentence is why I always read, and usually resonate with, what you write.

love, Heath

Hello Gotham and Everyone,

Racism is alive and well and living in all of us, and, whether or not we act on it, is a conscious choice we have to make every day in relating to each other.

Racism is real, it is now. There is racism in India, in Africa, in China, between people of the same race, There is racism in the USA, UK, France, everywhere, all the time. It has always been and most likely will always be, we have not been able to find a way through our racist tendencies.

I always come up against my own learned racism everyday, in how I look at everyone and everything in the world around me, it is not that I am racism free, it is that I choose not to act from the racist perspective that was presented to me as a child.

God, if we were able to be at all honest with ourselves, in this world, we can see, smell, touch, breathe, swim, in the racism that colors and forms the shape and texture of our Nations and our cultural societies, and, that, racism dictates our actions towards one another.

Really, racism does rule, still.

have a great day, all, ruth

Dear Ruth

Racism is not alive and well in me, I have to make a conscious effort to understand it in other people, and I know plenty of other people like me. Racism may be common, but it doesn't rule.

love, Heath

Hi Gotham,

I live in the UK but I haven’t watched the Big Brother show with Shilpa. I have read about it, however, and I discussed it with some friends yesterday who have watched the show and were disgusted with how racist people were.

From what I’ve read, however, the comments people made didn’t seem to be necessarily racist, which is why Channel 4 haven’t done anything about it. Whether there’s racism there or not is open to interpretation I think. But there’s definitely bullying going on.

I have watched the Big Brother series in the past from time to time because I found it interesting to observe the group dynamics. And from what I can see there’s always someone who gets singled out and bullied, and it has nothing to do with the color of their skin.

It’s pretty clear as well that the producers of the show put people in there that they know will cause a lot of arguments and drama. And then on top of that, they offer them large quantities of alcohol from time to time in order to create a really drunken mayhem. It was interesting to observe this show in the beginning but I now find it quite unbearable to watch, it’s just so manipulative and negative – it creates an environment which brings out the worst in people. It makes me wonder why anyone in their right mind would want to go on this show.

What I find most amazing about this show, is that when people get singled out and bullied, they usually decide to stay when they can leave the show whenever they want. If I was Shilpa I would leave in protest. But it seems that most people who are coming on this kind of show are doing it because they like to get a lot of attention and if they get singled out maybe they actually feel good about it on some level because they know they’re at the centre of attention.

It’s ironic, but that’s how it goes with this kind of show, this bullying drama will turn Shilpa into a very well known celebrity in the UK and it’s going to give her a lot of lucrative opportunities. If she hadn’t been bullied people would probably soon have forgotten about her like they’ve forgotten about everyone that’s been on this show except if they’ve been at the centre of very ‘memorable’ and ‘entertaining’ events.

A lot of people forget that it can be fun to be different and that it can give you a lot of attention at times which isn’t necessarily bad. For Shilpa, I think this situation is going to prove to be a ‘blessing in disguise’.

Peace,

Lars

Hey Gotham!
Let it all out bro! It wouldn't surprise me if you came back as an NFL linebacker in your next life putting the (big) hit down on the quarterback!

You know, Gotham, you and I have something in common - but everyone on IB knows your "famous" name, whereas I hide mine. Fame is such a useless pain in the keister, hey? There have been many times I have thought to change my name to Jones or Smith, so much grief it brings. The funny part is I am not related to the man who made this name famous. Far from being born rich, my actual life experience has been quite the opposite.
Your post on this subject struck me, however, because of the racist terminology. So here's the amusing story behind it: I met a fellow at a coffee shop once who was an indie film producer. He mentioned he was looking for some actors who were black. As I was acquainted with a young man who was looking for work at the time, I gave the producer his telephone number. Later, I saw part of the script that included this offensive term, as applied to an oil sheik. Horrified, I called my friend, who was also a muslim btw, and warned him of the situation. Apparently he really needed the work. Someone told me later I was listed on the credits as an executive co-producer or something of the sort. That's what "fame" can do for you. What an embarassment, huh?
If you have kids, have you ever thought of how it will affect their lives as well? I suppose there are some advantages, maybe. Think of how angry they might get towards you someday if you took it away from them - as in you "messed their whole life up forever", or took something away from them they had a right to own, which, gee, I guess would be the case.
So, I think I just recently figured out I have a son and I don't know what to do about it. What a kick in the gut. (sorry if this is off-topic).

Hey Gotham,

You don't have to worry about what you do. You are simply a reflection of the consciousness of whom ever you are interacting with. They are creating you in their reality. If you are being a prick (standing up for your self) it is because of them not you. It's all in divine order part of the learning process. When you are not the most pleasant agreeable person you are actually being a great Guru and teacher. So don’t judge your self, because if you do you will end up judging others, and if you do that you will find out why they are like they are through direct experience.

What you really need to ask yourself is why are you creating them and these situations? Sure in this instance it might have happened so you would write this bog and I would respond with this post.

We all know that people start to use labels to separate themselves from others. This denial of the true self is the result of the illusion of scarcity. When people deny you are their own self they can treat you worse and don’t need to give up something they might be attached to.

If people see you as separate then they do not need to give or treat you like their own self. Which you really are, and they are in fact denying their Self, which causes them to actually feel worse.

We need to conquer the Illusion of Scarcity with the Truth of abundance on this planet.
We need to conquer the Illusion of Scarcity with the Truth of abundance on this planet.
We need to conquer the Illusion of Scarcity with the Truth of abundance on this planet.

My mother always said, stay out of fights, avoid conflict, but always stand up for your self and the truth. She also said be fair and kind to others, and help them out.

Great model

Now in this situation at the hotel, you failed to see you’re Self in the manager. You also did not practice non-resistance. If you had, everything would have played out differently.

Let see if we can wip up a new and similar experience for you again (I’ll just turn a few dials here on the matrix generator) and see how you do this time. Then you can share it with us.

Ask your self

WHAT WOULD HIGHER CONSCIOUNESS DO ?

Always see your self in others! Not so easy sometimes.

We should remember if we respond to racism or racists by attacking them, we are in fact subscribing to the very same Illusion they are caught up in. We are just as guilty as them denying our true self in them.

Racists and racism are not attacking you they are attacking an illusion in their minds, so don’t take it personally. If you want to end racism, destroy the illusion of seperation with the words from your mouth, compassion, and example.

And no it is not always easy, if it was you would never aquire depth of soul.

racism is real and damaging...it comes from ignorance and insecurity and stupidity..i think.....usually...those who are of higher intelligence see people for who they...not for their color, creed, religion, wealth, education, cars, houses, and so forth..yeah! some of those damn brits are nasty bigots..my ancestors are from that region..Ireland...they experienced nasty bigotry...religion-based...hear me out!...if u are racist...stop it..right now! i so decree! u will be free when u do! yeah!

good news -- the Big Brother show sponsor has withdrawn, to protest the racism shown towards Shetty -- http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2553651,00.html

I show some footage of Shilpa's so called discrimination on you tube.
I do n’t know much about her.Hoewever, with all due respect I think she was big DRAMA Queen on big brother.Lot of people like me just can't stand her.

Having just come back from the UK-I watched one episode of Celebrity Big Brother. I never watched or watch Big Brother when I am/was in the UK, as I'm not a huge fan of reality TV, but this has become mainstream entertainment in Europe and now in India-from what I have seen over the last five years-and you can't seem to escape it sometimes.

Racism is unacceptable at any level-and I agree with other fellow bloggers that this will not/should not be tolerated by British channels and the British public if aired during prime-time viewing. As a result we are seeing recompense. However, what do people want/expect from a set-up situation where you put different personalities together in one room-who have to live together eat together etc. Lord of the Files scenarios, come to mind.

Some British Asian like Meera Syal have spoken out about the abuse-but I hold some of them responsible for fuelling the stereotypes on British Asians, which your average Joe in Britain will see. I’m constantly being asked here in India whether I grew up in Southall. To which I usually reply that not all Punjabis living in the UK live in Hounslow or Southall and work at Heathrow airport. Racism is due to ignorance lack of exposure and I personally think is fuelled by TV/Media outputs that stereotype cultures and races.

The exchange apparently has caused a soaring in the ratings-which one week ago were down by 50 %. Now people are getting excited about the exchanges-and have been enticed to come back and see what the next instalment holds. First Shilpa Shetty claims she has suffered racist abuse and apparently has just retracted her statements, saying that Jade is not racist. I don’t think Jade would even know how to spell it-let alone realise what she’s saying.

Most of the Celebs on the show are not well known anymore or at present, are trying to raise their profiles. Why would a Bollywood actress want to appear on a UK British reality TV show-could it be the $680,000 (£346,000) that she's getting paid. Initially, she kept crying at the drop of a hat-and no-one really understood why. Jade Goody and Danielle Lloyd, are typical Celebs in that they came from no-where and now earn between them an estimated 20 million pounds. The point is that you may think these are spontaneous outbursts, but actually you’re not quite sure if they are acting or not. I saw one argument between Shilpa Jade and Danielle, where all three ended up hugging eachother, not quite sure why they started arguing in the first place.

There's an interesting point made in the Guardian that if you put together people from different walks of life-and see how they ultimately interact-you are bound to get such situations. Shilpa Shetty will get lucrative contracts out of this-and will become a better known celeb in the UK now-perhaps her initial motivation for doing the show?. At first no-one knew who she was-but she will leave with a Hello spread and several interviews behind her.

Interestingly, when my cousins from India come to the UK-they will use the word ‘Paki’ at the drop of a hat. They once went into a newsagent’s in London where I was living and said this is a Paki shop. I explained to them that wasn’t really politically correct and you can’t use that term in the UK-it’s considered racist. I have heard young people in Delhi walk into a room and say to their friends ‘Hey Ni@&er, wassup?’
There’s an interesting rundown of TV’s most offensive words:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1647375,00.html

Here is how they describe Paki:

Paki
Racial abuse which is generally considered very offensive. Not offensive to some if taken into 'ownership' by British Asians/Pakistanis and used peer to peer. However, some (white) people think it is non-offensive to talk about going to the Paki.

At the end of the day-if it highlights underlying societal issues (that most people don’t want to admit to) then that's a good thing. However, what do you expect from someone like Jade Goody-who thought East Anglia was abroad? I’m pretty convinced that Channel Four knew what they were doing in putting these people together in a room. The sad thing though-it will be business as usual and all the players involved will end up having a group hug and walk away half a mill richer.

Maybe they outsmarted everyone, creating a frenzy of attention and controversy.

There's been some hugging/apologising/retraction of statements and making up now-so all is well in the world of reality TV again!

On a lighter note from big brother, here is a clip from one of the tasks they had to do. It was "battle of the tribute bands" and the brilliant Jermaine Jackson led the Jackson Five tribute band.

Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcRQqlLltu4&mode=related&search=

Gotham,

I think I expressed myself badly at the end of my post #5, I hope that I didn’t come across as defending the actions of the bullies (or the racists as some perceive them). I think bullying and racism are horrible things, but I was just questioning why Shilpa was choosing to stay on this mad show.

I think I’m right in thinking that she’s going to get a lot of media attention when she comes out of this show (she’s already everywhere in newspapers and on the news in the UK and India) and that if she has suffered in the BB house she will actually gain a lot from it. It’s a crazy world we live in, isn’t it?

I think one of the interesting points you were making in your post here, Gotham, if I’ve understood it correctly, is that you don’t think it’s always fun to be from an ethnic minority but overall you’re happy to be perceived as different at times because it makes your life more interesting and dramatic. You seem to be someone who loves living on ‘the edge’ and have lots of drama and excitement in your life. I guess everyone wants to have an exiting life, but you seem to be up for anything and to be quite fearless. If you were just a regular white guy, or the model son, you would probably find it boring, am I right?

I grew up in many different countries so I can relate somewhat to the feeling of being different and having an ambiguous sense of identity. But like most of the friends I have that are considered to be outsiders in some ways, we all think it wasn’t always nice to be different while growing up (kids usually want to be like everyone else), but as adults life is far more interesting when one has had a slightly unusual life. It makes you see things differently and it makes life more fun.

I was once at an airport in Paris when someone stopped me at the gate because they thought my hand luggage was too big and the person spoke French with me (it wasn’t a problem because I spend most of my childhood in France). Then a Swedish stewardess (I was going to Sweden) got involved in the discussion so I read to her the guidelines I got in Swedish from her company’s website (my parents are Swedish), then an English speaking person came around and got involved in the discussion so I started to speak English to him and since the French person in the discussion couldn’t speak very good English (unsurprisingly!) I had to translate to him what the others were telling me. I think that after a while all the people in that discussion were looking at me a bit strangely and wondering exactly which country I was from!

The most fun I have, though, is when I meet people from Pakistan and I ask them a few questions in Urdu and they always look so shocked! (I lived in Pakistan for 18 months as a teenager)

I haven’t always liked to be different in some ways but it’s made my life challenging in very interesting ways, and that overall life has been more fun this way.

Take care,

Lars

speaking of racism.....

did anyone hear Riya Sen ( who potrays the role of abishek bacchan's wife in Dhoom, if I am not wrong ) say that the 'Dhoom's make up artist was so good that he could make an african look pretty'?? I don't think she realizes how racist her comment is, neither do most of the indians when they make comments like these.