Okay Seinfeldians, we've heard much about the recent controversy over the PR Day Parade episode--the protests to NBC, the boycott, and, finally the outcome: the ban, (which is a sad thing, in my opinion). Now, granted, I'm Canadian and admittedly don't know what the position is of Puerto Ricans in New York, or racial tensions in the city, but let me tell you something, I *am* South Asian, and much to the chagrin and, frankly, disappointment of a lot of my friends, I think that Babu Bhatt was *hilarious*! I also think Apu (of the Simpsons, of course) is a damn close approximation of convenience store operators. Should I be up in arms about the potrayal of South Asians as represented by Babu? Should I be starting a letter-writing campaign to ban episodes like "The Visa" or "The Cafe"? What's actually gained by these bans? Will there be sudden sensitivity proclaimed and all South Asians represented fairly, until the end of time, if Babu disappears from syndication? What about those people that Babu realistically represented? (I can name 5, right now, all in my parents social circle.) Will they feel slighted if Babu is banned?
You now, I'm very left-leaning in my politics, really. But I think the PR thing is taking things out of hand. Let me say that if it was an India Day Parade, I would've laughed my ass off, too! The flag-burning was an accident, to show Kramer's clumsiness, evoking all the great cigar gags of the show's seasons (remember his hair on fire? the cabin?) and to see him getting chewed out by Cedric and Bob, again. (Was you talking to me?)
What about the portrayal of India in "The Betrayal"? I can tell you that as I child, I, like George, "held it" to avoid the "bathroom". I mean, that was potentially offensive, I guess. But I haven't heard of any South Asian American protest or letter writing campaign to get that episode out of circulation. And what happens if we did? The episode simply becomes more notorious, that's all, it doesn't change anything, substantially. I liked "The Betrayal"--especially that part where Elaine crossed herself and then looked quite flustered as she tried to erase her gesture.
I really think there are more serious issues to organise around (I told you I was left-leaning) than the accidental burning of that flag, by a "hipster doofus".
As for Babu and me, we'll be eating some stringy shrimp in the near future.
ta for now, Syd.