Cricket and racism

Ah, how can anyone resist writing on such a wide topic. It seems like there is nothing else to talk about with this racism controversy about and it appals me that anything can be given so much importance. Cricket is just a game, played for and to give amusement. What is all this racism, and so much fuss about it. One writer specially astonished me by comparing Ricky Ponting with George Bush and his actions with those or Iraq. If the writer was trying to be humorous, all I can say is these comments don't amuse me at all. And the worst part of it is that a lot of Indians seem to be encouraging him. Some people thankfully said that the comparisions with George Bush and Iraq were out of place but that is seriously an understatement. I would have loved to comment on the analogy but I find myself lacking for want of words.

All these characterizations of Australian players as cheats is just hype. The media loves controversies, and it loves it when they are there in cricket, an immensely popular sport. But I think this controversy has been taken a little too far. What really touched me is the way the umpire, Steve Bucknor was treated. Okay, the guy made a lot of mistakes, he's above 60, and lets say India lost a match because of him. So, what? He was deeply humiliated, and will have a hard time getting back into umpiring, and people took to the streets to protest against him. This spirit of patriotism, specially prevelant in the middle class impresses me a lot but it always seems to be employed in the wrong areas. Indian people are willing to burn effigies for the sake of a cricket match and yet fail to protest for simple needs like housing, unemployment in the country. Why isn't the spirit directed into more constructive work. Burning effigies of Bucknor on the streets and showing its rage, the same middle class fails to protest for simple human needs such as pavements, or even clean water in parts of the country (with the former available nowhere). No, I'm not a hypocrite, I have participated in such rallies, but do they get any media coverage, or any support? Forget it.

The Indian middle class jumps to the support of its country in matters of cricket, national flags, anthems and other patriotic things. But will it ever try to make the conditions in the country more livable for the masses? No. The money given to the Indian Cricket Team could just as well have been given to those less fortunate. The amount of money BCCI has is a disgrace, and seems to show that cricket is given more importance than human life.

If this had truely been a just a continuation of a fight India has led against white superiority, I would have appreciated it. But when we are so eager to carry out Nuclear Deals and cooperate with those same whites and fight so vehemently against the Chinese and Pakistanis, its just silly. If India challenges white superiority in cricket, the world is not going to become a better place to live in. Had India actively fought the U. S. and other European countries and looked for friendship with China and Pakistan, I would have been proud of the stance. I'm proud of it still, but the amount of importance its being given leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Most people believe I'm unpatriotic. Me, I just don't like patriotism as practiced by the great indian middle class.