I WAS initially amused by the letter by Mr Ravi Veloo ("Why pick
on only Indian accent for cheap laughs on radio?"; April 7) that
sparked off passionate responses from people about what would be an
acceptable norm for mimicking a local accent.
I couldn't help but dismiss the letter when I first read it as
another one from an over-sensitive minority, even if it is a
minority group that I belong to.
Can't we just get along? Was there really any harm? Are we just
being a real pain?
Upon reading the responses to Mr Veloo's letter last Saturday,
and re-reading his letter, I began to feel sorry for Mr Veloo, and
for myself too. There were certainly some kind souls who felt for
him, some who rebuked MediaCorp, and certainly some who did not
want to take things too seriously, like I did.
I can't help but feel that perhaps it is wrong to do so. To mock
someone whether for colour, creed, speech, or even odour, is wrong
and to condone it, unacceptable. To write it off as "good, clean
fun" shows quite clearly that the MediaCorp spokesman did not
appear to understand the sensitivities of a minority group.
N. Ranjan