Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW Vol. 5 Num 362 Sat. June 04, 2005       Letters to Editor "Local guests not allowed", "foreigners preferred" Zeenat Gulshan "Local guests not allowed", "Foreigners preferred" these are phrases we unfortunately come across in our own country. I'm really at a loss for words here. I don't even know how to react to such blatant discrimination. We complain that foreign embassies and people of other countries discriminate against us, the holders of the 'green' passport, but what about us? We discriminate against our own race and fellow countrymen, how can we even think to point finger at others? Shouldn't we remember that when we are pointing one finger at someone else, three are pointed straight back at us? I'm not saying that it justifies prejudiced behaviour but I just find it shocking and appalling to come across such terms in our own country. Many well-established 'clubs' hold the policy of not allowing 'local guests' and most landlords seem to 'prefer' foreigners. Just the other day I was reading in The Daily Star about a senior citizen being mistreated by a local girl at an embassy here and this is exactly what I refer to. Some of the people of our country who work for these embassies often seem to think that they are 'better' than the rest of the 'Bangalis'. I just don't get this attitude and/or behaviour. If we keep looking down on ourselves how can we expect others to have any respect for us? Why do we all accept these discriminatory policies or behaviour right. Why are terms and phrases like that allowed to be printed? I guess the 'Raaj' still dominates us whether we admit it or not.