18th January 2007
I felt very uncomfortable watching Big Brother (C4) last night. The evolving 'reality' of Shilpa Shetty's victimisation was difficult to view - just as the effigies of C4 executives being set on fire to in the streets of India (News 24) were threatening and desensitising. Where these just staged for the camera? Apparently Big Brother isn't available in India.
It is ironic that while we are being constantly told that the world is shrinking to a global village, our capacity to communicate effectively with one another in a spirit of openness and acceptance is increasingly curtailed. What disturbed me the most about some of the celebrieties participating in the programme was that their behaviour appears to validate ignorance as an intellectually acceptable position. In other words I can make huge assumptions about your lifestyle; I can be rude to your face and behind your back; I can imply that my personal views are the prevalent views of western society - and I can validate my anger by deriding your right to hold contrasting views. Worrying.
Psychologists tell us that prejudice is rooted in ignorance and our sense of fear of the things that challenge our experience or sense of identity. That's as true of me as it is of Jade Goody. Shilpa didn't endear herself to her fellow housemates with an initial relational style which was self-asured and at times, a little dismissive of others', but she was quickly reduced to tears by what, I felt, was systematic bullying by Jade. To draw attention to so many cultural differences and expose ignorance about other cultures whilst failing to honour another person's personal space and dignity is surely invidious racism? Shilpa may not have been called 'names' but her inferior status in the eyes of some of her housemates simply because she is not indigenous, white British and does not share similar preoccupations with them is clear. It has been implied that she is dirty; doesn't speak English properly; is a liar; a dog and should f*** off home. These are not expressions of acceptance or respect. They are a declaration of interpersonal war.
What's going on here?
The Christian faith has a lot to say about receiving other people with dignity. Jesus taught those who follow him to "Love one another" - not only because we have experienced the acceptance and love of God ourselves, but also because we are invited to love others as we love ourselves.
As Jade raged on, apparently increasingly out of control, about Shilpa's faults, I couldn't help but wonder if she was actually transferring her own feelings of insecurity and inadequacy onto the person in the house she felt most thratened by. Would her attitude towards Shilpa be any different if she felt comfortable and fulfilled herself? Would it have been different if Shilpa had shared a common social and cultural inheritance with Jade? Is difference quite so threatening when we feel accepted and secure about ourselves and others?
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