Is “VIP Culture” Really Absent In The USA?

The recent hue and cry over Shahrukh Khan’s detention at a US airport – for security reasons – has highlighted the lack of “VIP Culture” in the USA, which means that the US government officials do not offer any special treatment to anybody, no matter how much big celebrity or VIP he is. While defending its action, the US Immigration Department has said that Shahrukh’s detention was a must in the context of certain rules and regulations. At the same time both the US as well as the Indian media have come up with a list of prominent American personalities (such as Bob Dylan and Al Gore) who were treated by the American government officials in the same manner as they would have treated an ordinary American citizen, despite the fact that both Al Gore and Bob Dylan are noted celebrities, and that too in the USA itself. Once Al Gore – a former Vice President of the USA – was detained at a US airport while boarding a flight, as he had skipped certain security checking formalities. Legendary singer Bob Dylan was detained by cops for questioning while he was wandering in a lonely New Jersey shore (however, the cops were reportedly too young to know who he was).

It is really appreciable that celebrity status or political clouts do not help any person having any preferential treatment in the USA. This praiseworthy American culture gets more prominent when we compare it with the situation that we have in India, where even petty politicians manage to enjoy special favours in various situations, that too in a manner as if it is their natural right. And as far as the undue advantages enjoyed by the celebrities (film stars, cricketers, prominent politicians, etc.) is concerned, the lesser we talk about it, the better. I hope the “Shahrukh” incident will help our celebrities to realize that while they may be “icons” in India, in other countries they are simply nobody. And therefore they should forget about getting any special treatment the moment they step on a foreign soil.

However, while evaluating the incident, a different thought came into my mind. While it is certainly true that the US government officials do not show any special treatment to the celebrities and politicians, does that necessarily mean that there is no “VIP Culture” at all in that country?

After all, isn’t it true that the business magnets and corporate Tsars hold huge influence in the USA, so much so that sometimes they even largely influence government decisions and policies? And is it really believable that the US government officials do not show any special favour to these people?

The US Immigration officials did not show any undue favour to their former Vice President. Fine. But could they have been equally tough if it were Bill Gates in Al Gore’s place? Would any cop have dared to detain Steve Jobs for questioning, if he were found wandering in a lonely street? Well, with due respect to the US government officials, I cannot help having some doubts.