Tittering and tottering over respect - An issue of debate

I happened to hear about the incident with Sharad Pawar and the Aussies. I am not a sports buff. I was once an avid cricket enthusiast but with all the instances of match fixing and some of my favorites removed from the team turned me away from the scenes up front.

I also watched in on You Tube to make certain for myself what happened. I became interested in the issue and what the journals and journalists all over the world especially in Australia and India would say. It was an eye opener. Definitely.

The issue being very simple. The Aussies behaving in a typically uncivilized fashion and Sharad Pawar playing it quiet on stage but brooding over it in private. It was actually quite decent of Mr.Pawar not to create a scene onstage.

Mate : GET THIS MESSAGE STRAIGHT. Winning or No winning. Minister or No minister. I shall not stand upto any manhandling of my person. I know when to get offstage. If you are f****** impatient, get off the stage to be photographed. DONT TOUCH ME.

The arguments were on one hand : righteous anger. The traditions of the host country. The manhandling of an minister and the highest official of cricket in India.

The other side : Typical Indian Journalism. " Oh!! We are so stuck up!! We should allow anybody the run of the country.!! What tradition! What culture!! Man!! Are we dumb!! Why cant we be more like..."

The issue here for a student of journalism is NOT the actual incident but the reaction and the justification. Most Indians do the mistake of being overly obsequious to visitors from other countries : Mere cricket players they may be. Red Carpet treatment, As though the Gods have descended on the earth.

When the Hockey team returns after a victorious haul there will be no media to even welcome them into their own country.

I found this review the funniest of all :

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1063679

It is by Anil Dharker.

He describes the event. Criticises local traditions(""Man!! Why do we need them for??"""" Call your dad, Hey Bhola come here fella"). Goes on to equate Indian and Aussie sporting aggresiveness to the respectfullness in their attitudes and finally stumps the Indian team as never-be-able-to-win-dressing-room-fellas.

I really really really dont get his point here. What does he mean by equating boorish qualities to excelling in sports? YOU ARE A FREAKING BULLY. That really does NOT qualify you to be a topper in sports. This is what Dharker does.

He says, "It is the competitiveness that runs through their blood. Their boorish uncivilized way they deal with that pushes them onto top of things. They will do this to their own minister. No question. They win becos they are like that".

Sorry Mr.Dharker. That was a good try though.

First of all. Why cant Indians win anything? Because they are respectful? OK. Do this thing at the Lords. You will get canned mightily and there will be D singing on the top of the roofs with everybody else that Aussies are ......

When you are in a foreign country, go ahead and give respect to the traditions they observe there. In America, you maybe be royally British. But if you stick up ur nose too high, it will be bitten off. Germany : Have you forgotten the episode with the Chancellor and Bush?

So behave like ambassadors and good one at that. You are representing a country. A continent. Carry more of your pleasanter( though difficult to get) expressions and make an impression. A positive one.

Know who you are dealing with. What is disrespect and what is not. Playing cricker is your only job. Do some background research when you are not at it. When touring a country, make sure you read up everything about it.

Males walking shoulder to shoulder is very common in Asia. Call them gay and you will be a freaking ------- for life.

Culture and tradition are to be respected by the citizens of a country first. "Look at this little fella. He is calling his dad a overgrown pig" is not amusing. You would not want that. Respect is inbuilt into every action in India. Respect that. For Heaven's sake :BE PROUD OF IT!!!

Anyways. The incident was to be regretted. Lets hope that in the TRUE spirit of the game, we forget it and move along. After all, arent these the eccentricities that make the game truly watchable?

Good show Mr.Pawar and Aussies.

As for Indian journalists, What else is there to say then they are Indians. Forgive them!!!

Sorry Mates!!!