Race of the Races

The other day someone asked me if I thought people from a particular country were 'Racist'. Interesting question I thought. I do have a theory on racism, especially since I belong to a people who are on the wrong end of the world's prejudice at this stage. Everyone is Racist! It may not be nice to hear but its true. Stereotypes exist at all levels of society across all geographical regions. It's like a brand that you're born into. Analogous to this would be something like Marlboro chocolates. Irrespective of quality, they're going be associated with cigarettes and parents are going to keep children away from them. Some people are crass and lack social grace and thus tend to exhibit their racism in a more vocal, public and sometimes violent way. I personally have been called a "Paki" a few times in the Western 'Developed (clearly not mentally in some cases)' world. At first I would find it offensive but then found it amusing and interesting that a country hellbent on destroying mine now finds the reference to it's citizens as a global derogatory word. Fun! So if now people call me Paki, I smile, because they know no better, and Pakis well - I guess every country has its collective karma.

I took up a boxing class at University in the States and was paired with this guy from Buffalo, NY - Nice guy, we had a good chat while punching the daylights out of each others boxing mitts. After class he introduces me to his friend, a stereotypical redneck (See, I'm racist too) hillbilly. Mr. redneck asks me where I'm from? "Delhi, India". "Man, is that in Africa?". "Do you guys like, carry guns around with turbans on?" - This coming from a citizen of a country where carrying guns seems to be the National Pastime. I don't blame him - his worldly knowledge seemed to end at the score from the Yankees - Philly game the previous night. What made him tolerable was the fact that he was visiting and didn't study at my Univ. He's not racist, he's not dumb, he's ignorant - no education can fix that other than the one delivered back home.

On the airport at Amsterdam, I've just boarded my plane to New York. I take my seat by the window and pick up the magazine and start reading it. This girl sitting next to me is part of a party of 4 and is looking at me quite suspiciously. Then she gathers up her courage and asks me "Do you speak English?" - "No, Einstein! I'm admiring the paper quality of this magazine". Turns out she wanted her sister to exchange seats with me. Chivalry and manners fortunately have no race so I gladly offered. Racist? Nah.. Ignorant!

Back home, Indian students get beaten up in Australia and the country is up in arms. Taxi walas are beaten up in Mumbai because they're from out of the state and that is acceptable. Is our media patriotic? Are we as a country united in the face of adversity? Ha.. No! We are 1.2 billion hypo critic monkeys.  In my work life, I have met some grossly incompetent expatriates who are given preference over locals. One of my Managers once explained to me, "They like to see a white face, hear the accent" --- That's what TV is for!! This is work, money. Tell the stockholders that we're hired a monkey because of race and see what happens. What a racist guy! Well, no he's not - his opinions are based on what he sees and since he cares to accept them like a brainless mule, he deems himself ignorant!

So, ladies and gentlemen, are you racist? Or ... Are you ignorant??