A follow-up from my previous post due to new incoming articles on the net.
I think we can safely divide the people who cared enough to comment to articles on SRK's detainment into three main groups: (1) Members of minority communities who have seen/heard/experienced/had family members or friends went through the same thing in the western countries or specifically in America... whether they're aliens (that's what non-US citizens are called in America and Japan) or US nationals, (2) Empathic and sympathetic people... usually those who travel/read a lot, or meet up with foreign visitors occasionally/regularly in the course of their work or daily lives, (3) Those who don't care a whit but feel that others should know what their thoughts about it are, most of which are made up of much crap and has no necessity to be dispersed about in public in the first place.
See, I want to make one thing very clear to anyone who bothers to read this post. When you say SRK has blown things out of proportion, step back and evaluate the incident. Who actually picked up the issue and made a big ruckus out of it? The journalists, of course. From the so-called respected TV channels/newspapers/etc.
Then who made a 180 degree turn and eagerly documented comments from those who accused SRK of making a big fuss out of nothing? Yep, the same journalists who had a field day stepping over each others' toes to be the first to report the incident on the day it happened. Welcome to real-time reporting courtesy of the 24-7 internet mechanism.
Times like this when I, an engineering student, hate technology. It has a tendency to disrobe us of our humanity, transform us into these cold and calculating creatures. I think it's this 'faceless' edge the net gives us that makes us think we can write whatever about whomever in whichever site we want. See, it's already succeeded in transforming the untalkative me into this blabbermouth who can't stop talking, or rather.. typing, in comment sections of other people's posts and my own blog.
I dunno where I'm going with the content of this post, just feel like ranting. I doubt whatever I, or anyone else, write about it will change any part of the world, especially not the US superpower. What.. do you think the immigration/custom officials and their higher ups are having secret meetings right now to discuss what the rest of the world thinks of this incident? They don't give a frell's arse what we think about it. That's the way they're running the country, for friggin sakes. Who are we... Third World occupants, and me muslim and female to boot... to question them and tell them they're running it wrong.
Tell you what... let's follow the examples set by Salman Khan, VGS from Bangalore, yasmin from abu dhabi, Jit from the ol' US of A and Jay from India. Let's treat all injustices meted out on us by Uncle Sam as a no big deal. Let's all just sweep everything under the carpet, shall we? And the next time, if our next door muslim neighbour went missing during his vacation to America, we should just shut up and mind our own business. I mean, come on.. the guy must have been planning to nuke the US and got caught while entering the country. But hey, if he's planning to carry out terrorism, why did he bring his family along? Oh! Must be coz the entire family are suicide bombers in disguise. Right. Well, that's that then.
I got the comments (blue font) I pasted below from here.
Calig, Los Angeles, CA, says: SRK is HUGE, to not know him is to not know what's going on outside your own country. Maybe if the USA would pull its collective head out, you'd realize this. But besides that, here is a guy who is being hassled for no reason other than having the "wrong" name and the "wrong" color skin. This is prejudice pure and simple. He did nothing suspicious or illegal. And it most certainly doesn't happen to white Americans when we travel abroad.
[19 Aug, 2009 0008hrs IST]
Jim Prince, New York, says: Looks like most people have completely missed the point. Of course, no movie star or politician deserves any special treatment. However, in United States and other Western Countries like U.K. there is a huge undercurrent of racism/profiling. It is done under the guise of law and order and security. Most people, most of the time are not discriminated. However, when you who do get discriminated, you recognize it right away. For minorities, be it black, hispanics or Muslims, these incidents are extremely humiliating and the person tends to remember it for life time. Which in turn feeds the hatred and resenment. With the weapon of law and order, often innocents are arrested, jailed and their lives completely destroyed. Blacks, hispanics and other minorities who are often pulled over for minor or no traffic violations are well aware of these facts. No one is encouraging special treatment for VIPs but under the guise of haulting terrorism, in Mr. Khan's case What you see now is the humiliating, arrogant actions, which affect the minorities psyche at a very deep level. No one, including the President of India, is safe from it.
[18 Aug, 2009 1935hrs IST]
VGS, Bangalore, says: I think in all stupidity of ours a whole - we are blowing this issue out-of-proportions. As a country they have complete rights to check someone's antecedents and precedents. Just because Shahrukh has been a Megastar in India, he would mean nothing to an American security agent at airport, he was nothing more than a rich traveller going thro' gates to his First class seat. At an individual level I agree and empathize with Sharukh for the ordeal he might have gone thro' and I am sure with his maturity he should accept that these are part and parcel in life. Also a way the God brings in some humility in us.
[18 Aug, 2009 1651hrs IST]
yasmin, abu dhabi, says: The writer has well scriped the events and well the episode was blown out of proposition. Shahrukh Khan should have shown self-restraint as it is obvious that Muslims community is maligned therefore, always be ready for events like this. We, as a nation treat our luminaries as demi-gods and take their lives as an integral part of our living. This atttitude needs to be changed. Every nation has a law and nobody is above the law of the land. Having said that, in parallel lines, US is paranoid after September 11 and many innocent people are victimised to the non-chalant and ruthless attitude of the immigration authorities. Life goes on and events occur at distinct stages in the world. They have to move on and so does Shahrukh khan. He needs to behave more maturely as every individual brings their own share.
[18 Aug, 2009 1528hrs IST]
Jit, USA, says: It was awesome.. Indians should understand that there is no one greater than the security of the soil. We should frisk their celebrities like they did, but not only the celebrities, every person who enters the country should be given the same treatment. Give them a huge welcome when they pass the security checks, not before that.
[18 Aug, 2009 0453hrs IST]
Jay, India, says: Excellent Article,, everyone should understand this and SRK is no exceptional.. out of 100, if 10 are facing the same detention then why SRK is an exception ?? why people are taking this issue so seriously because he is a superstar in India ???? There is a moral lesson behind this which everyone should learn that rules apply to 'everyone' in US and the same steps should be taken in India to stop the terror entering from outside,, I am not against SRK or any other superstar but we should treat all human equal,,Everyday we see many people gets detained for 2-3 hours for the same questions and why there is a big deal when the same queries are asked to SRK >>>>
[18 Aug, 2009 0426hrs IST]
Reddy, USA, says: Be a bit more rational and mindful of human rights. I am just another common man but i am very unhappy that I need to go through nonhuman and disrespectful procedures at airports. Sure, airport security personnel are professional, and I do not have any objections with them doing their duty. However, I do want them to make their procedures proficient and more respectful. If they took 66 minutes and a phone call from Indian Diplomat to verify Mr. Khan's identity, you can imagine how frivolous, mindless, and utterly useless the procedures they currently follow. I am not asking for VIP treatments, but efficient procedures. In your Zeal to ape US, don't follow mindlessly.
[17 Aug, 2009 2243hrs IST]
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