Xenophobia towards India is nothing new in America; in recent years it has increasingly been replaced by jealousy, wariness and trepidation towards globalization and outsourcing, and respect for the achievement of the Diaspora living here. But ignorance about India and its ways continues to persist, as demonstrated by Fox News anchor Glenn Beck, who, in remarks on his show last week and in a column on its related website, shows how poorly some Americans understand the country.
Beck, a comedian-turned anchor, went on a tirade on medical care in India in a weak attempt to damage the healthcare reform bill on Capitol Hill and, likely, also to disparage the recent foreign policy success of the Obama administration at courting India; he went on to lambast the country with an appalling sense of humor that made it apparent why he quit the comedy stage for the safer harbor of being an anchor on Fox, where at least he cannot get rotten eggs thrown at him.
India, admitted Beck, reduced cost of a medical operation, citing a case from a SEIU worker who had gone to India to do hip replacement surgery, but compared it to buying a Gucci bag on the street for $4, asking "do you think it will hold up like the $3,000" real thing.
The case was of Karlyn Zimbelman, an American who received successful medical treatment in India because she couldn't foot the $40,000 bill for hip replacement surgery that she would have been forced to pay in the United States. The total cost of the surgery and 13 days of medical care in India cost her between $12,500 and $16,500, with travel and other costs.
Beck ran a video testimonial from Zimbelman, who said: "I think the American health care system is excellent, but I just think it's so expensive. Where's the money going?"
To that Beck offered his own glorified version: "The best I can figure is all that money goes to high-tech hospitals and doctors who studied at Harvard rather than Gajra Raja Medical School. Oh sure, yeah, you know, it's weird. You can buy a Gucci bag on any New York street corner for like four bucks. No different than the $3,000 real thing. They're identical!"
He then continued: "And yes, some of that money winds up in the pocket of that skilled doctor to offset the 20 years of schooling he endured and loans he took out. Oh, and some of it goes to the 1 million SEIU workers in the health care industry, that have good American-class lifestyles, maybe a couple cars, great union benefits and homes with things we like to call flush toilets."
The bigotry, or more likely Beck's ignorance, implied that India does not have indoor plumbing in homes, and continued with his attempt at crass humor by shifting his scorn curiously at the river Ganga.
"I don't want a discounted doctor. I don't want discounted wages. I don't want any of this stuff. If I wanted to live in India, I'd live in India. I want not the Indian lifestyle, I want the American lifestyle. I'm sure – no offense to India – I'm sure it's beautiful and everything. I've heard especially this time of year, especially by the – you know that one big river they have there that sounds like a disease? Come on, it does. I mean, if somebody said, 'I'm sorry, you have a really bad case of Ganges,' you'd want Cipro."
Glenn relished pointing out that India's per capita income is $1,016. United States per capita income is $27,000. A doctor in India earns around $5,760. The U.S. average is over $150,000.
Beck was not finished though, and decided to draw a few more countries into his line of wrath and rant. Arguing that SEIU had the interests of the rest of the world in mind, Beck speculated that new jobs created will likely "come from India, China, Pakistan, Copenhagen, however these people on television are pronouncing these stupid countries' names."
Beck's vitriol quickly spilled into a backlash, with ridicule pouring in. On MediaMatters, a response read:
"LOL - was I the only one who confused Indian-Americans with American-Indians and thought that he had made a "dots versus feathers" kind of statement?"
Another response read: "The funny thing is, Glenn, that India's middle class is actually doing better than America's middle class. The reason is simple. Quite a few of our white and blue collar jobs have been sent there. Do they get paid less? Yes, because their cost of living is lower. But on the difference, those in corporate power have saved enough money gutting the American middle class of jobs that they can pay you to say pretty much whatever they tell you to. You are a part of what's trying to wreck America, Glenn, and I like to think in your more lucid moments you are aware of that. And ashamed."
There was even discussion on Indian call centers; the response shows the sea of change that has taken place from a few years ago when there was angst and hatred against outsourcing: "The Indians I have spoken to over the phone were much nicer then the call centers I reached that were located in New Jersey."
Perhaps one response best summarized Beck's attempt to analyze India: "I wonder how many Indian doctors studied in America. Beck is phony and he wears thin. His ratings are falling as people are finally starting to see through him as the true rodeo clown that he is."
Condemnation from Indian-American groups started to come in as the story went to press. Reports, said Bhavna Shinde of Forum for Hindu Awakening, in a communiqué to News Corporation and Fox News, protested the insensitivity of frivolous and derogatory reference to the river Ganga, and urged greater sensitivity to faith sentiments. She has also reportedly sent a communiqué to Federal Communications Commission on this issue.
