Racism over Protocol?

Today’s news: Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, former President of India, father of India’s nuclear programme and one of the most respected and loved public personas of the country, insulted by a bunch of airline crew who “randomly” picked such a public figure out to be frisked. Hah!

Their response in defense of such pathetic behaviour is merely that it’s all company policy!! Do they actually believe that nobody realized he was a former president and not to mention a person who actually created India’s nuclear programme?!

In light of past reports from people who have traveled to the United States, racism, or in this case “religionism”, is a well known habit with the country. I wouldn’t be surprised if the country has a national unwritten policy of behaving this way to all Muslims for their actions ever since 9/11 sure seem to indicate that. Sardars were targeted for a long time for wearing turbans. Anyone with an Abdul, Mohammed or Khan in their name is still targeted, no matter how long they’ve been living in the US or how much of dollars they’ve pumped in to keep the US fat and well fed.

Coming back to Dr. Kalam, an unfortunate explanation for this pathetic display is that he was pulled out for his name, the fact that he was a former President be damned. I can understand if they frisk random politicians. Some of them need to put in strait-jackets before they board. Not surprisingly, the politician in question here was acquitted, but that’s a different story.

The airline in question in Kalam’s case, incidentally, has issued a statement that the former President wasn’t insulted by their treatment. Not raising a ruckus over it was just pure Kalam, his total disregard for protocol was well known during his stint in Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Saddest thing about all this is that apparently this whole episode happened in April. It took 3 months for the report that CISF folks reportedly filed the same day, to see the light of day!

Wonder how the US would feel if the same treatment was meted out to former presidents of their country? Now wouldn’t it be interesting if George Bush was frisked and strip searched in say… Egypt!