terra firma

Parochialism, thy name is Australian Media!

Look at this headline in ABC online yesterday!
‘Untouchable’ becomes India’s first female speaker. Wow! I usually respect ABC for their content and editorial punctiliousness, but, man, have they been shooting themselves on their feet of late? Is it ABC or is it me that is unnecessarily sensitive, since I hail from India and am quite aware of caste politics up there?

Tell you what – India has had an ‘untouchable’ President way back in 1997 and a woman as a PM way back in 1966, symbolism be damned. They ruled because of their abilities, not because of their denomination.

And pray when will an elder from Arnhem land occupy Kirribilli house?

The report is superficial, asinine, disrespectful and simply an exercise in playing to the gallery. I listen to the ABC everyday, read online ABC everyday and watch the ABC news everyday. Whilst the biggest democracy in the world was at work, trying to elect its governement, ABC was missing in action, unable to cover this event of the decade. It was preoccupied with petty squabbles in the local councils (important, no doubt, but where is your image of being a balanced commentator on international affairs?), reporting sexual escapades of footballers and publishing photos of Ben Cousins’ middle finger salute.

It singularly lacked erudition and appeared like a little boy getting puerile pleasure out of someone else’s shame (of the fact that the caste system still exists).

They are obviously more concerned with China, because if China did not buy Australia’s mineral ores, then we won’t be celebrating missing recessionary figures by a whisker, would we?

The superciliousness with which the cat fight that the Rubina Ali’s (of Slumdog Millionaire fame) mother indulged in was gleefully reported, not only in written format, but also in video format!

Wonder if ABC only caters to the bogans who find such fare relishing and not to the sensitive and intelligent people of Australia and makes you wonder if they find nothing of importance in countries they don’t care about?