American Craphole

I don't watch American Idol. I never will. The thought of tuning in to watch a televised karaoke contest, just doesn't do it for me. The fact that these poor shlubs are willing to go on and be berated, even though they think they are good, makes it that much more sad, in my opinion. I hear enough about the show, as some people will just not shut the fuck up about it. It throws me a little, that people will actually call in or text in (whatever the kids are doing these days) and contribute. WTF? Really, you like that guy's version of a song he didn't write or compose so much that you must must must call in and let the producers of the show know. Also, I don't get the fact that there are judges to rate, but then people call in and vote. To use our president's language - who's the decider? Even more, I am baffled by the fact that these people who win, go on to tour. Its not that - these people are using the fame gained from belting out dolly Parton's Jolene well on television. Its that people will buy the tickets and go to the concert. I guess I just don't get it. I am not sure I want to get it.

With that said, I am not one to judge what people like and don't like - in my opinion if it rocks your world, keep doing it, unless it harms someone else.

But it has recently come to my attention that there is young Indian lad who made the show and continues to be on it. From people who have seen the show, I am also under the impression that this kid isn't very good, but somehow seems to keep getting the "votes" to stay on. I have read on other Indian-American blogs, that these individuals support this kid and that they keep voting for him, apparently despite the fact that he sucks.

I guess what I don't get is why. Why do we support somebody just because they are Indian. The people who vote for him, don't know him from a hole in the wall. I thought the point of the American Idol exercise is to determine the best karaoke singer, not the person who has similar physical attributes to you and comes from the same region of the world that you do. By their logic, black people, should vote for black contestants and white- white. I have found recently, that Indian Americans, support other Indian Americans, simply because they are, not because of who this person is. For every other race, we would decide who we like and dislike based on their individual attributes that we either support or don't.

I am all for knowing one's ancestry and where you come from, but where I come from, there are a lot of bad people and a lot of good people. To blanketly support someone because of their being Indian is ridiculous. I am a fan of Jhumpa Lahiri, because I like her writing. Not because she is Indian. I am not the biggest fan of Mira Nair because of the way she tells some of her stories (do we really need to include pedophilia in a light hearted romantic comedy, where everything turns out OK in the end.)

For example, if an Indian person who was involved in the riots in Bombay(I still call it that - thats the name of when I was born there, and that is what I will call it forever) and killed a bunch of Muslims, cause they are different, and came on the show, and sang just like this kid on American Idol, would people still vote for him, simply because he is Indian.

Maybe this is why I didnt connect with my Indian club in college. I liked some people. I wasnt one to want to hang out in a group of only Indians. I know too many people like that. I didnt have a single Indian groomsman at my wedding. I've been to parties of Indian people I know and only Indian people show up. How is this possible. I understand being able to relate from similar experience and backgrounds, but to think that only another Indian person can have an understanding is over the top.

At some point I think people have to be held for who they are and not gain because of where they are from.