I, Consumer

It is when they see all these glitzy, glamorous and at times, sing along ads, that they come to know of the existence of a product.

In the 80`s and 90s when I was growing up there was only one channel. The 3 commercials which I can never forget:

1. Rafan Jelly Crystals - This featured some happy children and their mother making green, yellow and orange jello. I dont think there was a song but this commercial had a huge impact on me and my whole family because whenever we had custard my mother would add Rafan Jelly crystals to it along with cake and Fiesta and pineapple and it was really good.

2. Kiwi Shoe Polish - This one had a song which a very attractive school teacher with long black shiny hair who sang a question to her students: ``Pyare Bacho Kivi Kya hai?`` and then the children and I would sing back: ``Kivi ek parinda hai.. Kivi ek Parinda hai..`` But somehow they made this transition to shoe polish.

3. Life Insurance Policy: This one was weird but the song was very catchy. It featured a girl singing: Aye Khuda Mere Abu Salamat Rahain...`` And then after her song there was this mention that just in case her prayer is not answered there is always life insurance policy that will keep your orphan children singing after you are gone. I found that a bit disturbing but it was catchy.

Hopefully the future parents can brighten up their children due to modern Genetic TECH. When done on mass scale it may be far cheaper than and poor people can also afford. Even if its costly it may be cost effective in long term. Fairer looking people get good treatment and better job prospects. At this time may be only rich can afford to brighten up children but tech on mass sacle make things very cheap. Just 25 years ago very few people have even desk phone but now many has cell phone. Modern technology can make miracle.
Good morning and good luck.

Fair & lovely sponsors many of the pak india cricket matches specifically ....is it b/c pakistani hate darker dravidians of south india?

Cricketers, entertainers, even brides and grooms should start wearing those old Radiohead T-Shirts which said ``Im not a target market.`` :).
Good one Farheen. The NS5s galore alright.

Fair skinned , tall and HENCE handsome!! Isn`t this is the seed of apartheid that is implicit in the attitude of most of the Paki and Indi idiots!!!

Re:shah2

[.......is it b/c pakistani hate darker dravidians of south india?...]

Is that so? I thought Pakistanis hate the fair skinned, tall, aryan brahmins and rajputs in North India as their rivals.

What is so very shameful about product advertisement in Pakistan is the extensive use of western models. It is as if a white and blonde person gives a certain prestige and credibility to that product that a brown cannot. The amazing part is that these products are being promoted to a brown population. Why must a shampoo ad in Pakistan use European models? Why would I be more inclined to drink milk if I watched a blonde man drinking it too on TV? Is there a hidden hope in my mind that by drinking milk being promoted by that blonde man, I too will become like him – muscular, tall, blonde, white and operating a yacht in clear blue waters?

Sadly, advertisement agencies know their market. And so they know that our population is enslaved to the supremacy of a particular skin tone. They build their ads to tease the inferiority complexes ingrained in our very being. White is success, black is failure. The new MBA advertising manager in Pakistan who suggests using black models to promote a skin moisturizer in Pakistan will not only be quickly shown the door, he might also be shot at as he leaves.

Fair&Lovely is the most obscene example of our slave mentality and complexes. On my recent trip to Pakistan, I skimmed through a glossy copy of ``Youth`` magazine, which is geared towards Pakistani teens. At the back cover of that magazine was the full page ad of Fair&Lovely. Apparently Fair&Lovely was making trips to more than 250 colleges and universities in Pakistan , promoting successful life through fair skin under the shameless guise of providing educational scholarships to girls! What a shame!

Since most of the purchasing power for such products rests in the hands of a tiny affluent middle to upper-middle class, it is fair to say this class promotes such shamelessness rather than the ad makers who merely respond to market demand. It is a pity that this is the educated class as well!

a case for euthanasia


ahmedmadani sahib,

well said!....... all these people bit*%ing and moaning about the universally accepted standards of beauty are lazy and ugly people who are not willing to put in the hard work required to improve their looks and miserable lives .......... next thing you know, they will be claiming that fat is beautiful and women with moustaches should be allowed to appear in public .......

......... the fact of the matter is that -as you have so eloquently stated before- white (milky, i think you call it) is beautiful and black is ... well, black is black ........ i remember many years ago when my mother saw an african-american for the first time she clucked her tongue, shook her head sadly and said,`` becharay, allah taala nay in logon kay saath kitna zulum kiya hai`` ........ she was a kind hearted woman and really felt bad for people who had been treated so unfairly by god ..........

........ but now that we have chemicals and lasers and all sorts of science available to correct god`s shoddy handiwork, we should do what we can ......... most civilized people are doing it - millions and millions of chinese are getting their eyes fixed, most african american women have their hair straightened (can you think of any african american celebrity with kinky hair?), fat people are getting liposuction, women with moustaches are getting laser treatments, most men (other than desis) get their ear and nasal hair removed, people born with the mike tyson nose are opting for the nicole kidman look, flat chested women are taking advantage of the ``buy one get one free`` offers by plastic surgeons ............ and why not ! ......... there is no virtue in looking ugly if you can do something about it .........

.......of course there are some people, specially our less fortunate neighbors who live on the wrong side of the border, who are beyond repair ............. they make a good case for euthanasia .........

Re: # 7
Mr.Malik natural things are not shameless but it is wrong to say like that it is socially not correct in hypocrite world.
Now will you keep in mind being equal its better to be fair. Now I think peole can give all high thinking talks , people must be watched in their preference in life means marriage related things. Now colorcomplexion is overpowering thing. I have been told by people who had gone to usa and africa even dark women hope children are little lighter so thay have better life. And mothers love for children is greatest and pure.
Even people prefer white cat than dark cat and dark cat is considerd as evil cat. White cat can be seen in dark and they look good. I have two cats both white as milk. And people have asked me if they can white cat babies. I have to tell them I am not breeder of cats . I have fixed female cat so she keeps her beauty and has not to suffer and have litters one after other.
Now tell me any of our big well to powerful men and women marry darker spouces. Now unfortunately women have to make compromise and marry dark as otherwise they will be killed by relatives. Only men and women marry darker spouce if they are quite rich or famous and very very beautiful. Now if you are beautiful and dark you are photogenic in black and white photography. Obviously photographer must be artist rather than technician.Now there are extremely handsome men and women who are dark. Once somebody published here beautiful picture some indian activist Nandita Das she is dark as coal but she was best picture of female ethos. Now our pakistan men and women go to usa and marry wrong colored (white race) people. Most marry ugly white person but they will never married dark skinned African man or woman as Prof . Masadi explained many times they are oppressed people as general people have come to conclusion dark color is not good. Now if Imaran Khan or Mr.Rajiv Gandhi had married real african dark woman there would hardly be admiration for both them and their wives but contempt. Now cinema producer is putting money on line so he knows what is liked so they choose to make all people as much white as possible. Did you note most bad characters are dark skinned and rough looking.
Every man wants to marry their daughter to little man and everybody becomes happy if man is fairer than woman. Generally its quite easy for whiter man and woman to get married than dark being all equal.
Fortunately now modern high tech in this matter will solve problems as people can brighten skins as desired in next 30 years.
Now there is something wrong to apply color and appear fairer? Also its business and people are employed. I think people should be allowed do whatever they want so they feel they look better. Now I am old fashioned person but even I had to all my daughter lipstick, compromise.

I have not seen I, Robot. Is that why the point of the article escapes me?

and now....an ad from our chowk sponsors:

write a stupid post on chowk a day!!
chowk kaalay rang nooN gora karay!!
tay goray rang nooN chan warghaa!!

:-)

.......... this should solve the problem:




`Embryo Bank` Stirs Ethics Fears
Firm Lets Clients Pick Among Fertilized Eggs

By Rob Stein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, January 6, 2007; Page A01

A Texas company has started producing batches of ready-made embryos that single women and infertile couples can order after reviewing detailed information about the race, education, appearance, personality and other characteristics of the egg and sperm donors.

The Abraham Center of Life LLC of San Antonio, the first commercial dealer making embryos in advance for unspecified recipients, was created to help make it easier and more affordable for clients to have babies that match their preferences, according to its founder.

Ahmedmadani and Hamidm sahib – The standard of beauty and power has been ingrained in our minds thanks to being colonized until only a few decades ago. By white men. Yes it is true that being a white male in today’s world is an invaluable asset. You can be of average smarts, but people in East Asia, South Asia and Africa will treat you like royalty. In corporate world, you will have to exert less effort to prove your mantle than a similarly skilled brown skinned boy or even a white woman.

So if you are suggesting that we do away with undesirable traits like dark skin tone via surgery and other courses that new technology has afforded us, then may I suggest that we also find a cure for feminine specie as well. Women, regardless of whether they are white or black, earn far less than a man in ALL societies, including European and American........and in many eastern cultures they are considered a drain on resources.

Wouldn’t you agree then that Indian men are following through with your line of thought by not only selecting to mate with only fair skinned women, but also eliminating weaker sex in favor of stronger sex?

Let there be only white men in this world......for they are the ones who are truly blessed. The rest of us, including white women, are here to serve them.

Re: # 8

lolz. well said.

Re: # 9

``Now our pakistan men and women go to usa and marry wrong colored (white race) people``

um, was wondering where in the Qu`ran was it written that there is a wrong and right colored race of people?

....I lke Nandita Das more than Saira Banu any day
and for the less knowledgebale,Nandita is not only correct in her oulook but also look ...which is unlike western model or the arrogant persian descent aryans....

#14 by saminasha2 on January 6, 2007 10:09am PT
Re: # 9

``Now our pakistan men and women go to usa and marry wrong colored (white race) people``

um, was wondering where in the Qu`ran was it written that there is a wrong and right colored race of people?
[Reply to interact #14]

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Now what else can traffic stuck in one way traffic say...???