Alrighty then, SRK was detained at the airport in the USA for a while. So what? Yes, that's exactly my question. So what? My apologies to any die hard SRK fans, but I never cared much for him anyway, but that's besides the point. Over the last few days, a lot has been said about this incident. I have heard reactions similar to mine, like "So what?" all the way to, "How dare they". Here's my few cents on this nonsense issue.
Whether this is a publicity stunt synchronised to perfect timing of his new release "My Name is Khan" or not, I don't know, don't care. What baffles me is how the heck do we expect an emigration officer to know who SRK is. I am pretty sure he wouldn't even be able to locate India on a map, leave alone know SRK. Well, assume that he did know him. What entitles SRK to escape any security check? Ok, so it could be his name KHAN. Again so what? The Americans have more than enough reason to be weary of Khan and Abdul and every other Mohammad. Call them paranoid or psychotic or whatever, but also remember that there has not been another attack from an outside source since 9/11. We on the other hand, keep getting pounded.
I have been detained at the airport in Indianapolis for close to two hours, for whatever reason. I was NOT offended and I let them do their job without complaining. So what makes SRK different from me? Well, yea, he is a celebrity and I am not (yet). Ok, so most people in India know him, but who the heck knows and cares, in the USA? Why should they? If a very random man lands in Mumbai and at the emigration counter says that he is a very famous Hollywood actor, would we just let him bypass the checks that the others are subject to? Oh well, coming to think of it, we just might. Our pot bellied, greedy officers might even drool after him for a photograph and an autograph. That's where we are different from them in the west. They have learnt from at least few of their mistakes. We have learnt nothing.
After 9/11, every single airport in the USA have adopted different security measures, which keeps on developing. These checks and methods are still in existence and like I said, there has not been another attack from outside. Touch wood. Here, first bombs rip through commuter trains, on the roads and everywhere else. The Taj and CST get attacked and yet, there are absolutely zero security measures in most of the railway stations I have visited. I frequent central station in Chennai. I have never been checked or frisked even once. There is one x-ray machine for the millions of people who travel, and it is not functional. Forget the station, even recently when I flew to Pune for some official work, I carried just a small carry on bag, that had a lighter, match box, razor, scissors and toothpaste. As far as I know, all these items are banned onboard a plane. So where is the security. Don't tell me that the x-ray machine at the airport could not detect my scissors? We just care less. That's it. In place of me, it could have very well been someone else, with the wrong intentions. We however don't miss a chance to raise our voice and make a big deal when someone as insignificant as SRK is put through some extra security check.
Either ways, SRK made it to American soil and even made a few million bucks, showing his hairless face and dancing and what not, on Independence day. He even managed to say, "I don't feel like stepping on American soil anymore, but it is the love and affection of my fans that will make me come back." Aaaawwww. How thoughtful of him. At the end of the day, our system still has a lot of lapses, and we largely remain unsafe. I am not saying that the USA is a much safer country, but as far as external threat goes, YES, they are safer.
Things wont change over night and there probably is no one right solution. But a change will slowly begin when we learn to treat everyone equally, and put everyone through the same procedure, irrespective of who they are in society. No extra privilege or special treatment for any celebrity or politician. If I am asked to wait in a queue, they will do the same. If I am going to be frisked, they will too. But, are these just Utopian wishes? Probably.
Whether this is a publicity stunt synchronised to perfect timing of his new release "My Name is Khan" or not, I don't know, don't care. What baffles me is how the heck do we expect an emigration officer to know who SRK is. I am pretty sure he wouldn't even be able to locate India on a map, leave alone know SRK. Well, assume that he did know him. What entitles SRK to escape any security check? Ok, so it could be his name KHAN. Again so what? The Americans have more than enough reason to be weary of Khan and Abdul and every other Mohammad. Call them paranoid or psychotic or whatever, but also remember that there has not been another attack from an outside source since 9/11. We on the other hand, keep getting pounded.
I have been detained at the airport in Indianapolis for close to two hours, for whatever reason. I was NOT offended and I let them do their job without complaining. So what makes SRK different from me? Well, yea, he is a celebrity and I am not (yet). Ok, so most people in India know him, but who the heck knows and cares, in the USA? Why should they? If a very random man lands in Mumbai and at the emigration counter says that he is a very famous Hollywood actor, would we just let him bypass the checks that the others are subject to? Oh well, coming to think of it, we just might. Our pot bellied, greedy officers might even drool after him for a photograph and an autograph. That's where we are different from them in the west. They have learnt from at least few of their mistakes. We have learnt nothing.
After 9/11, every single airport in the USA have adopted different security measures, which keeps on developing. These checks and methods are still in existence and like I said, there has not been another attack from outside. Touch wood. Here, first bombs rip through commuter trains, on the roads and everywhere else. The Taj and CST get attacked and yet, there are absolutely zero security measures in most of the railway stations I have visited. I frequent central station in Chennai. I have never been checked or frisked even once. There is one x-ray machine for the millions of people who travel, and it is not functional. Forget the station, even recently when I flew to Pune for some official work, I carried just a small carry on bag, that had a lighter, match box, razor, scissors and toothpaste. As far as I know, all these items are banned onboard a plane. So where is the security. Don't tell me that the x-ray machine at the airport could not detect my scissors? We just care less. That's it. In place of me, it could have very well been someone else, with the wrong intentions. We however don't miss a chance to raise our voice and make a big deal when someone as insignificant as SRK is put through some extra security check.
Either ways, SRK made it to American soil and even made a few million bucks, showing his hairless face and dancing and what not, on Independence day. He even managed to say, "I don't feel like stepping on American soil anymore, but it is the love and affection of my fans that will make me come back." Aaaawwww. How thoughtful of him. At the end of the day, our system still has a lot of lapses, and we largely remain unsafe. I am not saying that the USA is a much safer country, but as far as external threat goes, YES, they are safer.
Things wont change over night and there probably is no one right solution. But a change will slowly begin when we learn to treat everyone equally, and put everyone through the same procedure, irrespective of who they are in society. No extra privilege or special treatment for any celebrity or politician. If I am asked to wait in a queue, they will do the same. If I am going to be frisked, they will too. But, are these just Utopian wishes? Probably.
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