Shilpa Shetty, an Indian actress, has won Celebrity Big Brother. Somehow, after all the controversy last week about alleged racist comments by Jade Goody and her cohorts, where people were asking if this was a mirror onto racism in Britain, now we have the answer.
I have to confess I didn’t watch it. I wanted to, but was appalled by what I read. At best it was bullying: aggressive and vindictive. Many were saying it was racially motivated. I wanted to watch, and see for myself (and maybe there was a little to voyeurism there too!), but it just seemed to endorse the awful way Channel 4 handled the whole episode.
I think it wasn’t so much as racism, but just plain ignorance. The three young girls in the house really couldn’t understand Shilpa or the culture she comes from. They didn’t understand how she could have servants, what kind of houses they live in, or how or what they eat in India etc. But isn’t that the root of all kinds of intolerance: Ignorance? We don’t do it that way, and we don’t understand why others wouldn’t do it the way we do. It’s not so much about colour of skin, or the accent we have, but the difference in our cultures. And when others don’t understand that, often they tease, poke fun, ridicule, bully or worse. And that really IS racism.
But now the good old British Public have voted, and have shown what they thought of Jade, Jo and Danielle … and Shilpa, who responded with dignity, poise and grace.
Perhaps this episode does show what Britain is like: there are undercurrents of racism in our society, but most people are appalled by that and will stand up for the marginalised & oppressed … as long it is at the safety of the end of a telephone! Some good news after all.
Hey, you beat me to it on blogging on Big Brother. I thought this season brought up a lot of interesting issues for debate within Christian circles. Just to throw them out there:
- judgement: It was interesting to watch the “celebs” try to defend themselves against accusations of either complacency or bullying. Danielle, Jade and Jo were guilty of bullying as you say (sin of commission), but pretty much most of the rest of them were guilty of the sins of ommission (not actually doing anything about it). It made me think of the judgement promised throughout the bible for all people (Christian and non), and how people might react to God on that day. Just as people say God will have a video tape of everything we have ever done, Big Brother had video footage of all the wrong-doings of the housemates. Kinda interesting. Even in the face of overwhelming evidence, people will deny their wrongdoing. Watching Jade pour out excuse after excuse just made things worse.
- Religion. The only two housemates worth talking about (with perhaps the exception of Dirk ‘Faceman’ Bennedict) are devout, religous people. Jermain is a devout, peace-loving Muslim. Shilpa is a devout, active Hindu. Apparently she brought idols of the gods she worshipped into the house. It made me reassess my stereotypical views of Islam and Hinduism.
Jermain is a wonderful advert for Islam, being practically the only Muslim I have seen and liked (I seem to have met my fair share of dodgy ones!). He could teach us Christians a few things or two.
Shilpa was simply amazing. Again, I felt she put us Christians to shame with her maturity of character, control over her emotions, kindness, etc.
Although not strictly biblical virtues, her elegance, sophistication, education, intelligence, manners and general grace were such a refreshing change from the crude, foul-mouthed, porno culture girls which Western society seems to pride itself in. A fantastic witness for Hinduism.
I believe the New Testament terms for people like Shilpa and Jermain would be “God fearers”: devout men and women who worshipped God in their own way but were technically pagans (non-Jews) and outside of the covenant.
Mmmm, maybe I should have posted this on my own blog…
maybe ignorance is not bliss after all..?
thanks alastair for the comment. Once again you say a lot of thought provoking comments.
One of the interesting things for me has been the different reaction from Jade and Jo. Jade when she saw the film was horrified, and although she did say she wasn’t racist, she did she how it could be seen that way. She has also subsequently appologised (although you could say that was suggested by her advisors). Jo on the other hand has been consistently in denial, defensive, and sees it all as a cynical manipulation by Big Brother. Although i am not a great Jade fan at all, it does evoke sympathy and compassion in me, when she is so open and congruent.
Not sure what i think about God showing a video tape of what we have done … i used to believe that, but can’t really see why that would be the case, especially when all our wrongdoings have been removed “as far as the east is from the west”. I am not saying there isn’t a judgement, but just not sure it is going to be like that!
Totally agree about Shilpa and Jermaine, although i have met some fantastic muslim’s whose faith is sincere and real, and who are fine human beings. Grace and peace would be two biblical words i would use of both of them.
Indeed Paul.
Haven’t seen/heard much about Jo, apart from something I read which said she was “ripped apart” in a post-BB interview.
From what I saw of Jade, she seemed more concerned about her career and celeb status than actual remorse for being a bully to Shelpa. Her reaction was “Oh My God, I look like a racist, my life is over”. I didn’t see any reaction like “Oh my goodness, I have done such a terrible thing to Shelpa.” To be fair, I don’t really expect that sort of thing from most people unless the Holy Spirit convicts them of their sin…
I seem to remember a long time ago reading a systematic theology textbook (Grudem) and he pointing out that there is a tension in scripture between God revealing stuff in judgement, and stuff being forgotten about (ie. “covered by the blood”). I did a quick search through the NT and came up with this:
1 Cor 4:2 Now what is sought in stewards is that one be found faithful. 4:3 So for me, it is a minor matter that I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4:4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not acquitted because of this. The one who judges me is the Lord. 4:5 So then, do not judge anything before the time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the motives of hearts. Then each will receive recognition from God.
Seems to be the closest statement I can find to support the “video tape” theory. I do note that the context here seems to be more about who is vindicated and thus rewarded than any general disclosure as such.
(Actually also interesting is when Paul says that us saints will participate in the final judgement of angels and the world. So does Jesus judge us first, and then we along with him judge everyone else? )
Just seen the Message paraphrase of the above scripture:
So don’t get ahead of the Master and jump to conclusions with your judgements before all the evidence is in. When he comes, he will bring out in the open and place in evidence all kinds of things we never even dreamed of–inner motives and purposes and prayers. Only then will any one of us get to hear the “Well done!” of God.
Seems like Peterson captured the sense of the passage well.
Have to disagree with alastiar re ‘pagans’ - the tymology of the word suggests ‘country dweller’ as opoosed to the urban Romanesque religion of Christianity. Nowadays pagan would mean someone following a nature based spirituality and probably one who is not of the Abrahamic, monotheistic faiths - so technically a muslim is not a pagan, unless we are choosing to use that term in its incorrect and derogatory sense of someone who is not christian.
thanks again for the comment alastair. I do agree about Jade … but i think there was something more there than with Jo. I think Jade was shocked with what she saw herself doing … whereas Jo just blamed the channel 4 editing.
Anyway, onto more weighty matters: the video tape theory. I don’t deny at all that there will be an exposing of our motives … but i see that more about the weighing of what we have done in line with 1 Cor 3 … those things that will last when tested with fire (done for the glory of the kingdom?) and those that will be burned by the fire (done for our glory?). I just don’t see a video tape being played, and i wonder if it is more an invention of Christian preachers to bring about good christian behaviour. It seems to me it is more about fear (gosh what would that be like!), rather than love & grace … which are the real things to bring about change. That’s my take on it anyway.
andrew - thanks for the comment. Interesting stuff. I think you are correct to draw attention to the language we use of others, especially those outside the christian faith.
Andrew - thanks for your comment. I think we are using the word in different contexts. I am using the word in the historical New Testament/Jewish way. I am pretty sure in that context the word means “non Jew/Christian”. However I think I get your drift…the primary meaning of that sense of the word must be a polytheistic believer, which would rule out the term being applied to a Muslim. Cheers!
thanks for clarifying your meaning of the word alastair. I think you are probably right, but it is maybe found more in the Old Testament, rather than the NT, where I think the Gentile would be used more.
It does raise interesting point of how we speak of others who we don’t agree with. In the news today is an Islamic school who have books that describe other religions as “worthless”. They are removing the books as they are causing offense.
We may not agree with everything from some of the other religions, but I do think we have a obligation to speak with respect.
There was a TV prog about the life of Jesus, the New Testament and a quest for the truth which ended up by sugetsing that there may be a link between the teachings of Jesus and Hinduism, as follows:-
The thee wise men came fron the east but the bible and related documents do not say who they were or where they came from;
There are years of his youth missing from the chronicles;
His teachings do not conform with those of jewish or other local religions of the time but they are those of hinduism, which was 3000 years old at his birth.
There is an ancient christian style religion in southern India which predates the european explorations and there is a shrine containing a muslim and unknown person in Kashmir.
Thanks Anon. There are constantly a number of speculations going around about the life (and death) of Jesus; I have not heard this one or watched the program. I have to confess i am a bit skeptical … not so much about jesus getting some of his thoughts from another religion, but it just doesn’t ring true to me. It just seems so speculative. And i am not sure what difference it makes, even if it was true. Jesus clearly integrated things he learnt in life into his Jewish worldview, and presented a God, and a way of living that is totally unique in all religious teachings, in my opinion.