Tuesday 26 August 2008

Big Brother (not the reality TV show/programme)

The other day I read a scary Cif (Comment is free) on the Guardian website:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/aug/18/terrorism.civilliberties

The whole sorry story left me feeling very angry, ashamed and scared. I am angry and ashamed that the great British people (and I include myself in this) have allowed the Government to literally scare us into passing these laws that have allowed the "authorities" these almost unlimited powers. I am selfishly scared for my family, friends and loved ones. I am terrified that there is absolutely nothing to stop this from happening to any one of us. What can I do, what can any of us do?

Dhara suggested I post a blog about this and at first I did not feel compelled to do so, simply because other then to say the above what else can I say? I read the following Cif today. The on going onslaught against all our civil liberties has left me feeling so powerless that I decided to post this blog.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/aug/26/civilliberties.labour

Finally on a slightly lighter note (as the above really does leave me feeling so frustrated that I just don't know what to do, other then to retain a sense of humor and hope in the face of adversity) when Roopa was flying to visit us in Dallas, I wanted to check whether her flights were on time. The website I found actually tracked her flight and provided me with a map of where her airplane was en route....Big Sister is watching you! Jigna

Wednesday 20 August 2008

Team GB – and in particular the WOMEN

I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the XXIX Olympiad. The 2008 Olympic Games are being held in Beijing, China right now, and I have been struggling with my views and feelings about China’s human rights record, Tibet etc, so I have started to note down some of my thoughts: however I realise that my views are sometimes contradictory and my arguments are not nuanced enough, so I will save them for a blog post at the end of the Olympics, when I have a had a chance to think some more.

This post is a special mention to the glorious Team GB. Third in the medals table today? Sixteen gold medals and thirty six medals overall at the time of writing this post. Who’d have thought it!?! The Great British Team has certainly proven to us and the world what they are capable of. Bring on London 2012 I say

However, I do have an issue with so many of the BBC commentators. Why why why do so many of them insist on referring to the Team GB women as ‘girls’??? It makes me so mad. Do the men get referred to as boys? No. It’s derogatory and infuriating for the listener.

I am not a sportswoman, but I know that in sports, as in most other avenues of life, women have to struggle that little bit more for recognition – why do sportswomen get comments and questions on their outfits (e.g. the Williams sisters) why do women have fewer opportunities to compete (as explored by Kira Cohcrane in the Guardian)

This attitude completely builds on and compounds stereotypes about females being weak young things who are not capable of activity - the other day I ran a canal boat into the bank – and two louts started yelling something about female drivers. I cannot drive a car, never mind a boat and you know what – that’s ok – cos that’s me. I should have laughed but it made me so mad. Not all women would have done that! Just me! And that’s ok! One of the best drivers I know is my little sister – yes she is much much better then quite a few of the male drivers I know but the fact is that she is a great driver.

My point is that it is not shocking that women are good at things – sports, driving whatever. People are different. And as far as the sportswomen in team GB they are women – treat them with some respect for they have surely earned it.

Monday 4 August 2008

Trans atlantic dentist story

We finally went to the dentist, here in Dallas. Wooley had to make an emergency appointment due to his wisdom teeth, like with anything if it was not urgent we probably would not have bothered! Anyway so the receptionist asked him where he was from and he said "Britain", she said, "Oh I thought you were from England" Boom boom! 

Weirdly a friend also went to the dentist around the same time, and was talking about going to Vegas with her British friends, and the hygienist asked her about our teeth, they have a stereotype here that British people have bad teeth, due to the NHS, she defended our teeth! The other day I was in a lift with some people who were talking about a British girl in their office (I didn't know them, it was not my office building) they commented on how nice her teeth were despite her being from the UK. 

I went to the dentist also, the hygienist cleaned my teeth for nearly 2 hours, well it has been a while! She did a very thorough job. The dentist commented on how nice my teeth were, they should be after all the years of orthodontic work, which was on the NHS, by the way, so I really do think the NHS is great! Anyway he has a a little camera he can put in your mouth to show you your teeth on a TV screen, very hi tech and probably not something all NHS dentists have? Although Mandeep is thinking of getting one.

So I am trying to do my best to break down these stereotypes, but with a TV show on BBC America called "Britain's worst teeth" I fear I may be facing an uphill struggle? Jigna