Jun

22

30-minute rant

June 22, 2008 |

We disconnected our cable service 30 months ago and have pretty much not watched television during that time. It is a welcome relief, and the time freed up has been more than gobbled up by more enjoyable pursuits such as Jugalbandi.

We get most of our news on the internet and we are not missing out on anything critical. One of the positive fringe benefits of not watching Cable TV is that I don’t have to chance upon Rachael Ray (RR) even by accident. On the flip side, some newsworthy stories don’t make it to our radar screen unless it comes about in conversation.

One such story involved RR (imagine that !). :D

A few weeks back, Dunkin’ Donuts (DD) pulled out an ad which featured RR. Nothing altogether earth-shattering about the fact that they took an ad off market or that RR was the protagonist, its happened before. The interesting part is - Why did they pull out the ad?

The ad apparently featured RR wearing a scarf that resembled a “keffiyeh”. So all of a sudden RR and DD were portrayed as apologists for Terrorists. The person with such a fertile imagination; none other than right-wing nutjob Michelle Malkin (MM). I first saw a few snippets of this woman speaking a few years ago. Crass. Loud. Low on facts, and high on stupidity. If you thought Ann Coulter is bad, this woman is worse.

The sad part of the story is that capitulating to such illogical, puerile, and vindictive statements only emboldens those who oppose the First Amendment rights of the Constitution. These are the same morons who say “if-you-don’t-support-the-war-you-are-unpatriotic”. DD could have taken several different stances. For example, they could have responded by stating that the US Military uses Keffiyehs right now in Iraq. It is a very light-weight, multi-functional piece of clothing. What does that make our own military?

Since the beginning of the War on Terror, these keffiyeh, usually cotton and in military olive drab or khaki with black stitching, have been adopted by US and troops as well. Their practicality in an arid environment, as in Iraq, explains their constant popularity with soldiers. Soldiers often wear the keffiyeh folded in half into a triangle and wrapped around the face, with the halfway point being placed over the mouth and nose, sometimes coupled with goggles, to keep sand out of the face. (Source: Wiki)

Maybe DD just wanted the controversy to go away. But ignoring it would have also made it go away. Now MM is smirking and we are all that much worse off.

The sadder part of the story is lot of people believe rabble rousers such as MM. The mainstream media helps perpetuate this nonsense by playing it over and over again. They salivate at such opportunities. Let’s kindle some passions, let’s milk it they say. And we are that much more worse off.

Repudiate so-called pundits like MM and the mainstream media which promotes them. Promote good debate, not noise.

-Jai

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SPEAK YOUR MIND

30 Comments so far

  1. Elizabeth on June 22, 2008 7:55 pm

    Yes, I read about this. It’s just incredible the things people choose to make a fuss about.

  2. Simply...Gluten-free on June 22, 2008 8:13 pm

    Seriously, it amazed me what nonsense people have the time to make a fuss over! I agree with you wholeheartedly.

  3. nags on June 22, 2008 8:25 pm

    i know i am missing the whole point here but u guys dont watch tv???? gosh!! each time i come here i am left feeling more and more guilty and crappy for my unhealthy diet and now my watching tv too..

    sigh.. that’s all i can do :D ;)

  4. Jen Yu on June 22, 2008 8:33 pm

    I agree with you - people/corporations are too afraid to fight the good fight. No one wants to stand up for what is right anymore because it is too much trouble. Nutjobs like MM and others who disseminate false information and hatred and aggressively prey on fear can run roughshod over the population because they count on the passivity of the likes of DD and RR. It’s too bad. :(

    it almost seems like some of these guys would like to get sued. gives them more publicity. more notoriety. while they may lose the lawsuit, they can write two books - one about their trauma and the other about their grandmas’ trauma. and these will show up on NYT best seller list. -j

  5. Jen Yu on June 22, 2008 8:33 pm

    oh, and we don’t own a brain rot box (i.e. tv) :)

  6. manggy on June 22, 2008 8:39 pm

    Wow, that is a shame. I know it sounds corny but we had a real opportunity to learn from each other and embrace the others’ culture. It’s what leads to knowledge and self-improvement. Ignorance drives nations apart.

  7. sushma on June 22, 2008 10:37 pm

    Hey bee i guess u guys hv taken a very good intiative by not using the TV. i hate TV now because which we just glue infront of it and do nothin not even converse with each other.

  8. Miri on June 22, 2008 11:00 pm

    Our dish antenna turned in a dust storm a month back and we havent had TV since then, the company hasnt bothered to send a technician to right it inspite of a complaint. We have also not missed it and not bothered following up….and realised suddenly that we have almost stopped watching TV. I couldnt think of one sitcome I follow or one news channel I watch. and this inspite of being at home now….!

    No one today is bothered about making a point or changing people’s views, they are only bothered about losing eye balls, and seeing how many people actually listen to and believe the rubbish that Coulter spews, I dont blame them!

  9. arundathi on June 22, 2008 11:09 pm

    lol - gotta feel bad for RR - trying in her 30-minute nonsense to teach something and stirring up so much controversy!

  10. Manisha on June 22, 2008 11:38 pm

    You folks are lucky - we still have to get the absolute basic cable to have cable Internet. Not that there is anything left on basic cos they moved everything to ‘digital cable.’ I miss weather channel the most especially when I have a tough time falling asleep.

    As for Ray, Malkin, Coulter: they all have one thing in common. Upper storey vacant.

  11. Pelicano on June 23, 2008 12:20 am

    There was a time when I noticed that the TV was the focal point in too many living-rooms. I had heard of times when people used to talk, play board games or cards…I removed my single set to the study. If I have a few people over to watch a rented film, we go in there. Otherwise though, I don’t have it easily-accessible as an excuse for entertainment, and watch it rarely myself. A lot more can be accomplished with music (or nothing) playing. It’s absence, I believe, helps to peel a facade placed over reality.

  12. Alka on June 23, 2008 3:04 am

    Hey guys,
    I was surprsied to read that such people do exist in Today’s world ,who by choice don’t watch idiot box!
    I remember ,during my school days,here in India,there was only one channel on Tv,and watching that on sundays was a luxury.Rest of the days we just have so many outdoor activities.Life was fun then….But nowadays kids r just hooked to cartoon channels and are deprived of their innocent childhood plays.I wish i could be firm in this stand and say goodbye to Tv Woes …..Nice writeup ,good job done !

  13. sia on June 23, 2008 3:26 am

    jai and bee,
    plz check this site… looks like this pic is from ur site.
    http://foodfantacy.blogspot.com/2008/06/dudhi-halwa.html

    thanks sia. another person had alerted to this site couple of days ago. the very first post on sweet idlis has our picture. we added a comment hoping that the picture would come down. it is brazen to add another post and ignore our comment from the previous one. -jai

  14. OhioMom on June 23, 2008 4:02 am

    The whole thing is a slight of hand card deal, distract us from what is really important with ‘fluff’ while the real deals are under the other shell.

  15. enjay on June 23, 2008 5:09 am

    Why does such rabble rousing not surprise me anymore? Oh, maybe because I grew up with similar stuff back home in India. And by all accounts, its getting much worse. Even in the more progressive parts of the country like Mumbai, starlets continue to offend people by not wearing enough clothes and artists continue to offend people by painting things other than cows peacefully grazing in a pasture. We the people are now defined by what offends us.

    The only time it catches my attention anymore is when somebody fights back. (I wish we could link to stuff in comments).

  16. Asha on June 23, 2008 6:05 am

    It is silly! I didn’t notice that scarf until they made a big deal out of it. RR irritates me too, she is so loud, I have stopped watching her.

  17. Pooja on June 23, 2008 7:08 am

    we don’t have idiot box in our home since we got married. It eats a lot of time, and stopped our creativity by doing so :D. who loves the cooking shows where ingredients are half cup cheese and 2 cup oil ha ha ha….
    I was about to say what Sia said already. I just left a note on his/her blog.

  18. Pooja on June 23, 2008 7:11 am

    so the target is achieved for Bri.Kudos to both of you . I am glad that you started this for dear bri.

  19. Mona on June 23, 2008 8:05 am

    This world is full of ridiculous people, and the nornal poeple being not more than just 30 % of the whole world population. I do not know what they are tying to say by doing such things but its sick!

  20. Cham on June 23, 2008 9:10 am

    Seems people re concentrating on what RR wears … That was so ridiculous …

  21. Latha on June 23, 2008 10:42 am

    I read about this! Its sad that no one wants to stand up for the real thing anymore! Sad and makes my blood boil! Media just feeds this kind of stuff!

  22. Kalai on June 23, 2008 7:06 pm

    I heard about this before, too… The things that people can make an issue of is just unbelievable at times! Just insane!

  23. Vaishali on June 24, 2008 8:01 am

    Hi Jai & Bee,

    We had our cable disconnected about 18 months ago when I was hospitalized during my pregnancy. We still have not got it connected yet and surprisingly do not miss it at all.

    The funny part is we have not many friends visiting us because we do not watch TV. They would have preferred if we had a cable connection. They rather watch TV than have a good chat. Even my parents who were visiting the baby were not happy with this. Whenever I call home they still ask me if we have decided to get our cable back.

  24. shilpa on June 24, 2008 8:53 am

    The first time I said I hate RR to one of my colleague, she looked at me as if I was from another planet. After it repeated a couple of time with different people, I thought I am just weird becos I hated her. So I started watching her shows and also tried to convince myself that I like her. But I still don’t get the point when she chops spinach and says “Ohh that smells heavenly in here” !!!. Another thing is, she acts as if she is getting all ingredients from fridge/pantry and whatever she needs are just in the front rack, easily available to grab!!!.
    But I like some things about her - The speed with which she cuts veggies. I have seen some other chefs who are s-o-s-l-o-w. Her garbage bowl concept which is really a time saver.

    Anyway…RR’s scarf is an issue?? they got to be kidding….

  25. Nabeela on June 24, 2008 2:07 pm

    The reaction to the ad really pissed me off too. It’s like since I wear a hijab, I am a terrorist. People have actually said that to me, more than once.
    P.S: I don’t have anything against Rachel Ray. If I was put on a TV show, I’d probably end up babbling too from nervousness. Not everyone is camera friendly, you know.

  26. Jamie on June 24, 2008 3:56 pm

    Hi Jai and Bee…I read about this Rachel Ray issue the other day and I just had to shake my head. It’s sad that the media even gives coverage to such simple minded people such as this Michelle person who can make a connection between a piece of everyday clothing and a terrorist. People like that just like to hear themselves talk.

  27. Happy Cook on June 25, 2008 5:12 am

    I hav eno idea whow this infamous RR is so can’t say anything about it. But about not watching tv. Yeah i know about that.
    Hare we do have to make a sonsious decesion not to watch tv some evening. Then one os talking, listening to music reading a book, hust the simple things in life one enjoys when there is no TV.
    Don’t get me wrong i do love watching tv.

  28. Johanna on June 25, 2008 6:10 am

    It is scary that there are people stirring up such unnecessary tension (although RR is not known in my part of the world) but it heartens me to see some of the discussion about it on this post - nice to hear the opinions of some reasonable people

  29. bhavani on June 25, 2008 10:27 am

    hey jugalbandits

    your point is well-made. wish you would also send your short rant to a newspaper as a letter to the editor or an op-ed piece.

  30. cynic on June 25, 2008 7:18 pm

    Heinz (of John Kerry fame) caved too - this time over gays.

    thanks cynic.

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