Why outsourced is racist

Our society strangely tolerates mocking Indians. There are never, for instance, ads attacking outsourcing to Ireland with Irish actors, even though that country has made a major push to become an outsourcing hub.

Or imagine an ad featuring Hassidic Jews and klezmer music and the outrage that would generate. Or remember the storm of condemnation that rightly rained down on Senator Bob Corker for his racially-tinged attack on Harold Ford. Yet, similar treatment of Indians seems to be perfectly acceptable in many quarters. Senator Obama quickly apologized to the Indian community. Udyan Khanna, vice-president of India Forum Inc, a non-profit organisation based in Baltimore, said he watched the first episode of Outsourced and didn't have any problems with the show.

But this is not a documentary," he said. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Already subscribed? Log in. Forgotten your password? Want an ad-free experience? Rather than letting all those jokes fall flat — and worse, fall racist — why not just give us a hint that Todd, mostly a well-meaning, non-annoying guy, has his blind spots?

If the sole American white man is acknowledged in the pilot to be the occasional dolt, what will viewers do? Will we lose interest in the show?

If Todd is more unpleasant than the show lets on, so is America. In Outsourced , America is a hollow place, inhabited by jerks. You can be the president. Or a scientist. Or you could even invent novelties, like this … Maybe no one needs this [ Todd pulls out plaque with breasts in a bikini top on it ], but in America, no one can stop you from making it.

This is the definition of freedom. This is Jingle Jugs. Outsourced has much more critical things to say about America and Americans than it does about India.