Racism is certainly part of the human condition. If you are a Chinese citizen of Malaysia, discrimination against you is codified and permanent. In America, white people are in mortal danger if they are seen in many areas of U.S. cities and towns. And blacks are not trusted by whites. You mentioned Shilpa, her travails and triumphs. But lately a new social/political message has come from elite opinion-shapers in Britain, and again Shilpa is the focus. Two "mainstream" papers have published broadsides against her. In one article, the reporter Judy Rumbold spewed vitriol worthy of Jade Goody, and even suggested it was time for Shilpa to freak off home. In another piece, some jerk named Ian Monk stated that Shilpa was entirely a British media creation, and nobody ever heard of her before Celebrity Big Brother. And the billion or so South Asians who had known her since 1993? Hey, those brownies aren't "people"; they are just potential bombing targets and collateral damage. The new political stance (Gordon Brown, tough guy?) is white, all right; black, get back; brown, lay down. If Shilpa can be trashed, what about the Pakistani baker or shop-keeper, the Indian doctor? Born here, you say? Citizen...eh? Well, keep your mouth shut and your head down. If you get beaten up on the street corner, don't call a cop, or you will be considered a terror suspect. That is the new reality, and it filters right from the top.
