Posted on 03/16/2009 11:07:10 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Comic legend Jackie Mason is railing against accusations of racism following a performance in New York Thursday, where he referred to President Barack Obama as a "schwartza."
Celebrity gossip site TMZ.com confronted Mason with a camera on Friday over the flap. The celebrity gossip site reported that that the literal translation of "schwartza" in Yiddish is "black," but added that some say "it's a disparaging reference to African Americans, akin to the N-word."
Mason told a TMZ cameraman, "(I'm not going to answer) these stupid questions because you're trying to multiply me into a racist. I've called (people) a lot worse -- the Jews and the Italians -- I don't worry about what I call people and if it bothers you you're a moron. Everybody knows I'm a comedian and I don't dislike anybody."
Calling into question the jokes of black comedian Chris Rock, Mason, 77, suggested that he was the victim of double standards.
Mason said, "Why don't you ask him what he said about white people or the names he called George Bush … why don't you ask any black person? Why do you only ask white people? White people have no freedom of speech."
The exchange became more heated as the camera rolled on. Following some expletives, Mason said to the cameraman before closing his limousine door, "You're a lowlife trying to pretend I'm some kind of racist."
In a non-scientific poll of TMZ users, 76 percent of more than 20,000 votes sided with Mason.
Much like if I went to a party and it was “white guy” this and “white guy” that; I would think they were a bunch of racists. What does my skin color have to do with me being at the party trying to have a good time?
But yes, I take your point, the petard they are trying to hoist him on was his use of the term at all; not wither his usage of the term was out of context and unnecessary.
You said “retard”!
That’s OFFENSIVE!!!
;^)
I saw him on Leno one time talking about that. It was because, due to TV standards of the time, he couldn’t call people what he really wanted to call them. And anything ending ending in “uck” sounds close enough to something else.
I think I remember Adolph Caesar, a black actor, in “A Soldier’s Story” telling someone, “In Germany they’ll call you a schwartza.”
Yep.
“But as I also said, if it was just to say ‘black guy’ this and ‘black guy’ without reference to anything, then I would say it was ‘racist’ in the sense of ‘why you gotta concentrate on the guys race’.”
Yeah, I get your point. And I’d have to see the act to judge whether or not he was guilty of focusing on Obama’s race to excess. But I’d wager a dollars to doughnuts that if Mason had gone on and on, we’d hear about it in the article. They’d be accusing Mason of repeatedly spouting hate, of endlessly hammering the race point home, etc.
“I think I remember Adolph Caesar, a black actor, in ‘A Soldier’s Story’ telling someone, ‘In Germany they’ll call you a schwartza.’”
This may not be accurate, but I seem to recall seeing Third Reich posters banning jazz as “N**ger Musik,” or something to that effect. I think they probably had plenty of worse names to call blacks than literally “black”.
“You said ‘retard’!
That’s OFFENSIVE!!!”
I read on some random message board that they wanted to ban use of the word “retard” because name-calling like that implies it’s bad to be retarded. I don’t think I want to live in a world where it’s not bad to be retarded.
Not that retards aren’t fully human, or that they don’t possess admirable qualities beyond their mental capacity. Heck, I have no doubt many a retard could beat me in a foot race, if they were so inclined to do so. I’m simply sick of people trying to convince me that handicaps aren’t bad.
I actually had a half-hour long conversation once trying to convince someone that being deaf is, in fact, worse than being able to hear. I don’t care if Beethoven made beautiful music after he lost his hearing. If had the choice, I’m sure he’d have prefered to hear again.
I have a badly damaged leg from my motorcycle road-racing days.
But don’t worry, I’m NOT going to try to convince you that it’s “the same” or “better” than having an uninjured leg.
I KNOW I’d be better off if my leg was whole.
Of course he did. "Dey darker den us! Woof!!"
He needs to do something to revive his career
I guess axing the California Gov what his name equates to in German is totally out of the question. Same goes for a 4 star general during Gulf War 1.
You said it better than me. Some languages have descriptive words that other languages dont. In Yiddish, only one word is needed to say "black man" and it is schwartza. In English we need two words. As you point out, doesn't mean that the Yiddish word is racist.
As for the spanish, I think it's "hombre negro". Again, just as you say, no negative connotation of any kind, unless, of course, the Standard Liberal Agenda is in the air.
Oh man, do I like Jackie Mason...hooray for him and his comments about the hypocrisy of this crap.
I don't worry about what I call people and if it bothers you you're a moron. Everybody knows I'm a comedian and I don't dislike anybody." Calling into question the jokes of black comedian Chris Rock, Mason, 77, suggested that he was the victim of double standards. Mason said, "Why don't you ask him what he said about white people or the names he called George Bush … why don't you ask any black person? Why do you only ask white people? White people have no freedom of speech." ...Following some expletives, Mason said to the cameraman before closing his limousine door, "You're a lowlife trying to pretend I'm some kind of racist." In a non-scientific poll of TMZ users, 76 percent of more than 20,000 votes sided with Mason.Thanks 2ndDivisionVet.
Yes, it was a very funny line in that context.
FYI, Jackie Mason was interviewed on Mark Levin’s nationally syndicated radio show last night and blasted TMZ and anyone who would try to tarnish him as a “racist.” He held his ground and went on the attack.
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