Letters: Celebrity 'Big Brother'

'Big Brother' reveals a savage side of our society - class hatred

Sir: Whilst I am appalled by the behaviour of the coven (Jade, Jo and Danielle), their bullying, language and crass stupidity I am equally appalled by some of the sloppy media coverage of the events in the Big Brother house.

This is not a race argument but a class war. Yes Jade did tell Shilpa to go to the slums but, in the context of her savage rant, it was not a racist comment but a retort. Jade believes Shilpa looks down on her and the working classes and was mocking Shilpa's "privileged" background. Jade was actually making a comment that she had more in common with Shilpa's poor Indian fan base than Shilpa herself.

Much has been made of the mimicking of Shilpa's accent as proof of the racist nature of the bullying, yet no mention has been made of Shilpa's mimicking of Jade's accent earlier in the week when the group were talking about whales.

I believe the coven shows a horrific side to our society, the culture that heaps rewards on individuals because of their singular talent for stupidity. I watch the programme and cringe to see the foreign housemates behave with such sophistication while our citizens show themselves to be deeply unpleasant.

Our media's hysteria over alleged racism serves us no better than the coven. It creates tensions and wounds unnecessarily. On the BBC world service reports from India were of burning effigies on the streets yet, on interview, the protesters' sole "proof" of the racism has been the Indian media's rehashing of the UK media coverage. Racism is a repugnant thing and should be tackled whenever it shows itself, but to confuse hateful bullying with racism does nothing to serve a truly worthwhile cause.

CHRIS MCGEACHIN

BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA

The daily drip, drip, drip of petty racism

Sir: The racist remarks directed at the Big Brother contestant Shilpa Shetty sound deplorable but surely can't have surprised anybody.

I work for a high profile FTSE-100 company, in a department with 3,000 employees. It's the highest-paying department in the company, with average earnings well into six figures; it's also 95 per cent male and 99 per cent white.

I regularly hear grossly racist language in my workplace, involving words such as nigger and coon. But it isn't those regular but still relatively rare remarks that depress me; it's the constant drip, drip, drip of low grade racism - the little "jokes", the snide remarks, the condescending and mildly derogatory remarks about other cultures.

That is the everyday experience of many people from minority backgrounds; little wonder that some feel alienated. Big Brother may have served a useful, if unintended, function by highlighting how things are in Britain today.

DOUG MAUGHAN

DUNBLANE, STIRLINGSHIRE

Sir: Recent events in the Big Brother house have only confirmed what many individuals from ethnic minorities know, namely that there is still racism and it now manifests itself with a degree of bravado.

British society needs to understand the hurt racism causes to the victim and that it is not always as overt as used to be the case. "Why doesn't she f****** go home?" "She doesn't even speak proper English." "They eat with their hands don't they?" Are these comments a reflection of British society?

This must not be dismissed as "ignorance" or the defence given that it is not "overt" as channel 4 would have us believe. This is what people from the ethnic minorities experience every day and yet people refuse to acknowledge what racism really is.

This is an important moment in this country's reputation. Jade or Shilpa? If the British public evict Shilpa it will signal to all that the language, the bullying, the intimidation are now acceptable and part of "Britishness". That cannot be right. Racism is getting a reality check. Ignorance cannot become the new justification or defence.

ZAFAR ALI

DIRECTOR SLOUGH RACE EQUALITY COUNCIL

Sir: I cannot believe the furore over what is happening in the Big Brother house. People who have jumped on the racism bandwagon should recognise the difference between racism and ignorance. All that has happened is that Jade is seemingly unable to have a calm, reasoned discussion and resorts to shouting and swearing.

There is undoubtedly a culture clash between Shilpa and other housemates. The clips we have seen on television show some of the girls occasionally mimicking Shilpa's accent, but if that is racist (which it isn't) then Shilpa is equally guilty as she rolled around laughing at Jade's pronunciation of "whale".

Jade's manner is just a reflection of her upbringing, whilst her attitude sadly reflects the rapid decline in the morals of our society, which through other reality programmes and mainstream shows such as EastEnders appears to show conflict, aggression and spitefulness is commonplace and acceptable. Shilpa on the other hand is not only softly spoken and eloquent but comes from a culture where respect for others is still valued.

Jade Goody represents neither me nor anyone else in our country, where 99.9 per cent of citizens are completely tolerant of all members of our society and and are totally against racism. It's about time senior politicians mounted a vigorous defence on behalf of the vast majority of the UK's citizens against our country's name and reputation being dragged through the mud by an ill- informed and divisive radical minority intent on portraying Jade Goody's unpalatable behaviour as both racist and typical of the UK.

ALAN LOWMAN

HARROW, MIDDLESEX

Sir: The reflection that the mirror of Big Brother holds up to our society reveals a nation of philistines. Programmes such as Big Brother have cultivated the vogue for celebrating and rewarding moronic behaviour.

On a recent holiday in India I noticed how television there did not rely on sex and lewdness, unlike contemporary British television. Even television advertising relied on cosy pictures of families and happy couples and children rather than seizing any opportunity to make some embarrassing sexual innuendo.

Puerile behaviour, ignorance and a lack of personal responsibility seems to be the motif for our times and one that has been encouraged through various powerful media. We have all stood by, complicit in the erosion of the things that lent common decency to our lives.

While Shilpa is being bullied and abused in the Big Brother house people across the length and breadth of Britain are being intimidated in their own homes and neighbourhoods by thuggish behaviour that seems to go without effective challenge or outraged comment. Indeed anyone brave enough to stand up to it runs the risk of being brutally cut down by those who feel they can behave, do and say just what they like.

GLYNIS REED

LONDON W11

Sir: Warwick Business School has an international reputation for excellence. We recruit high-quality managers from all over the world and train them to become business leaders. India is an emerging market and the calibre of candidates from the sub-continent is second to none.

I cannot stress too strongly the damage that Celebrity Big Brother is doing to the reputation of this country. How dare C4 let this insulting charade proceed simply for the benefit of their viewing figures? Shame on them and shame on Ofcom for allowing it to continue.

VINCENT HAMMERSLEY

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS WARWICK BUSINESS SCHOOL COVENTRY

Sir:Any form of racism should be condemned as totally unacceptable in civilised societies. The protests in India and the Indian community in the UK against the reported racist abuse of Shilpa Shetty are fully justified.

I hope the same people will also protest very loudly against the grotesque and inhuman discrimination against the millions of so-called "untouchables" by a large section of the Indian population in India.

STEPHEN CHANG

BICKLEY, KENT

Sir: The claim of racial abuse against the contestant Shilpa Shetty is a storm in a teacup. She has an agent who was aware of the the rough-and-tumble of Big Brother and she is being well paid. If the abuse had occurred in a restaurant, in the street or in a shop, then as a citizen I would be much concerned. Put yourself in an arena and then anything goes.

JOHN REBECCHI

TODMORDEN, WEST YORKSHIRE

Sir: Forget the fact that stupid comments from a stupid woman on a stupid television show are taking centre stage when there are more important things in the world to worry about - what we should be concerned about is that over four million people apparently regard this as entertainment. Humiliation as entertainment? We might as well go back to the good old days of dropping into Bedlam on a Sunday to laugh at the lunatics.

EMMA HITCHCOCK

LONDON SE24

Fertility clinic very far from hell

Sir: I am surprised that Fiona Sturges did not feel that she got the support she needed at Mr Taranissi's fertility clinic, ARGC ("My IVF and the clinic from hell", 16 January). My own experience at ARGC was entirely positive.

Mr Taranissi gave me and my husband all the information we needed to make an informed decision about the right treatment for us. He was a great support throughout our time at the clinic. Not only did he spend considerable time with me, he also returned my calls regardless of what time it was. It did not matter whether it was the weekend or outside of ordinary working hours, Mr Taranissi always seemed to be there for me.

The staff at ARGC were always friendly and supportive. That's not to say that at times the reception area wasn't a little chaotic, but this is because so many women want the expertise of Mr Taranissi and he is so determined to help all of them.

The only thing Mr Taranissi is guilty of is trying to help every couple that comes to his clinic to realise their dream of having a child. Maybe he should turn more women away so that he is not as busy and has more time for paperwork, but I could have been one of the women he turned away and I really couldn't imagine life without my beautiful little girl.

JOANNA TAYLOR

KINGSWOOD, SURREY

Germany takes lead in saving energy

Sir: The energy options before the Merkel government are very far from just the two simple choices Dominic Lawson (Opinion, 12 January) proffers: wind-power or new nuclear power stations. The European Commission's strategic energy review makes eliminating the wasteful use of fuel (an option that Lawson always conspicuously ignores) the first pillar of European policy.

The new German Presidency of the European Council is in a particularly strong position to ensure that energy efficiency does achieve the "number one priority" throughout Europe that the Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, accords it. For instance, the Merkel government has already put in place the most effective programme to improve residential-sector energy efficiency, designed to upgrade to contemporary energy efficiency standards all pre-1978 homes over the next 20 years.

This is being achieved by a mixture of grants, loans, tax breaks and regulations. As well as lowering the fuel bills of householders, and reducing emissions, the programme is providing thousands of new jobs in construction. It also cuts back the need either to import fuels, or to build unnecessary power stations.

ANDREW WARREN

DIRECTOR, ASSOCIATION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF ENERGY, LONDON N1

Cross-Channel spat

Sir: Can we now assume that President De Gaulle denied British entry to the Common Market out of spite for our refusal to let France join the Commonwealth?

DAVID WALLIS

CIRENCESTER, GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Slimming gum

Sir: Further to the article "anti-hunger hormone to help fight against obesity" (15 January), it is worth considering that although this new chewing gum will suppress appetite, better diet and more exercise will not only keep off the extra pounds, but, more importantly, help prevent heart disease, diabetes and even some cancers. Governments and foundations should be investing in initiatives aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles, such as designing communities where walking and cycling is encouraged, making fresh foods affordable, and creating opportunities for sport and other physical activity available to all.

CHRISTINE HANCOCK

EUROPEAN DIRECTOR, OXFORD HEALTH ALLIANCE, LONDON W1

Research needed

Sir: Tony Millett condemns the use of the Freedom of Information Act for pursuing trivialities at public expense (letter, 12 January). However, he demonstrates that he himself invoked the Act unnecessarily. The information he was seeking is freely available. Files dealing with the execution of convicted criminals of all nationalities - not just Nazis - in the British Zone of Germany are open to readers in the National Archives. Mr Millett could have found his way to this material without tapping into those public funds of which he is so solicitous by following his own advice to get out and research.

PATRICIA MEEHAN

LONDON SW19

Lead by example

Sir: BBC News this morning (18 January) interviewed a minister in his shirt-sleeves. If the temperature in his office was a few degrees lower and he wore a jacket or pullover there would be an enormous energy saving throughout his department. Don't do as I do . . . .

N T SHEPHERD

BRISTOL

Lords by lot

Sir: Why does Mark Thomas assume that "democracy" means turning the House of Lords into a second elected chamber of career politicians (letter, 18 January)? Mr Thomas claims to be part of "the great unwashed", so why not let them into Parliament and fill the upper house with members of the public, chosen by lot?

CHARLES SCANLAN

LONDON NW8

Heath's legacy

Sir: Philip Hensher ("Who wants a museum for Edward Heath?" 16 January) has left out the most salient point. Should the museum go ahead, residents of the Close would not be continually disturbed, as presumably to commemorate Sir Edward most aptly, the museum would only be open for three days a week.

MICHAEL QUINN

BASINGSTOKE, HAMPSHIRE