I WAS initially amused by the letter by Mr Ravi Veloo ("Why pick on only Indian accent for cheap laughs on radio?"; April 7) that sparked off passionate responses from people about what would be an acceptable norm for mimicking a local accent.
I couldn't help but dismiss the letter when I first read it as another one from an over-sensitive minority, even if it is a minority group that I belong to.
Can't we just get along? Was there really any harm? Are we just being a real pain?
Upon reading the responses to Mr Veloo's letter last Saturday, and re-reading his letter, I began to feel sorry for Mr Veloo, and for myself too. There were certainly some kind souls who felt for him, some who rebuked MediaCorp, and certainly some who did not want to take things too seriously, like I did.
I can't help but feel that perhaps it is wrong to do so. To mock someone whether for colour, creed, speech, or even odour, is wrong and to condone it, unacceptable. To write it off as "good, clean fun" shows quite clearly that the MediaCorp spokesman did not appear to understand the sensitivities of a minority group.
N. Ranjan