Should it take Shilpa Shetty's Experience on 'Big Brother' to Get People's Attention on Euro Racism [View All]

Here is the story so far... Don't think it has played as much in the States as internationally...




London/New Delhi, Jan 18 (IANS) The billowing racism row involving Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty took on a new dimension with the sultry beauty herself saying that she indeed was a victim even as British leader Gordon Brown called the much publicised slurs "unacceptable".


"This is unacceptable. Thousands of British people have already condemned it," British Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, the Labour's prime minister-in-waiting, told reporters in New Delhi.

"India and Britain are bound by shared values that support fairness and tolerance. We are against any form of racism or intolerance," Brown stressed at a joint press conference at the Taj Mahal Hotel here with Indian Finance Minister P. Chidambaram.

"There is no strain on ties between the governments of Britain and India. Nor is there any strain between the people of India and Britain," Chidambaram said after launching the India-UK economic and financial dialogue in New Delhi... http://www.teluguportal.net/modules/news/article.php?storyid=28794

Jade Goody, unaware of the controversy brewing around her, continued to make allegedly racist comments - calling her housemate Shilpa "Poppadom".

In scenes shown on Channel 4, Jade was asked to explain the nickname she used for the Bollywood star. She said that while talking to Danielle she wanted to use an Indian name and the only word she could think of was an Indian food... http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6355389,00.html

...Whipped up by an internet campaign, the protesters claim that Shetty is being victimised and bullied. Shetty, 31, broke down in tears after allegedly being taunted about her skin colour, accent and cooking.

Syal, 45, who stars in The Kumars at No 42, said: "What this treatment of Shilpa has done is remind a lot of Asian people in Britain of the type of uncomfortable treatment they've received themselves over the years. This is bullying."

The alleged abuse involved Jade Goody, 25, a regular reality show performer, her mother Jackiey, Danielle Lloyd, 23, a former Miss England, and Jo O'Meara, formerly of S Club 7... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/01/17/nbb17.xml

Video
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/news?ch=61492&cl=1697734&lang=en

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyvZWoQ39wM


Let's see... Riots in France didn't do it... Terrorist acts by disgruntled Muslims in Britain didn't do it...
Ah well... Big Brother (definitely!!! ) :sarcasm:

On a personal note, I have constantly been shocked at the racism I have seen firsthand across Europe. While America is no picnic, the decades of progress have been substantial. I am afraid it may be the rest of the world that needs to catch-up now...