Posted on 04/11/2026 3:46:15 PM PDT by Twotone
Ethnic humour has become one of those things we don't do well anymore, or simply won't do because nobody wants to lose their job. Back when it was still tolerated – about fifteen or twenty years ago – what was left of ethnic humour (as practiced by comics like Dave Chappelle or Chris Rock) was gatekept by a single, unbreakable rule: you can only make an ethnic joke if you're a member of the ethnicity that's the butt of the joke.
Now, of course, this is largely off the table because nobody thinks the risk is worth it anymore. I couldn't help but think of this while watching Whisky Galore!, the 1949 Ealing comedy whose every plot point, gag and character relies on an ecosystem of Scottish stereotypes. If you wanted to be offended by Whisky Galore! (and I don't know why you would, but this has become a popular leisure activity today now that nobody joins clubs or bowling leagues) you would have to run it through the latest oppression meter, which is to say you have to figure out if the film is punching down, up or sideways.
Whisky Galore! doesn't make it easy. It's a film by an American-born Scottish director, based on a book by a Scottish writer, produced by a Russian Jew for a British studio, and cast with Scots and Brits playing Scots. Even more baffling was that, while it did very well in the UK, it was a big hit in America (under the title Tight Little Island). I suppose the ultimate arbiter is whether a Scot would find it offensive. I'm one-third Scottish and none of me was offended by the picture, though I'm sure you could find someone somewhere north of Hadrian's Wall who was...
(Excerpt) Read more at steynonline.com ...
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I always thought blonde jokes were strange, as though the blonde race were stupid, it didn’t make sense, but it was allowed.
What do you call four blondes at a 4-way stop?????
Eternity...
We should have a sense of humor about ourselves, & these types of jokes usually have a little bit of truth in them. One of my father’s friends LOVED Polish jokes, & his name was Palowsky.
A guy at work one day said, “I got a great Polak joke...”
Another guy said, “Watch it...I’m Polish...”
The first guy said, “I’ll tell it slow...”
Archie Bunker may have revived the Polak jokes back in the seventies.
One day, I discovered a lot on my non-Cherokee ancestors were scattered from the Alps northeast to Lithuania.
Sorta hard to miss Poland when drawing that line...
oops...
lot on = lot of
Very funny film. James Robertson Justice went on to play Dr. Lancelot Spratt in the “Doctor in the House” films.
I’m part Cherokee and Scots-Irish...
I’ve been called a drunk Indian...LOL
As a big fan of Still Game, anyone who’s offended by Scottish humor is a numpty prrrrick!
Love watching Billy Connolly.
Whisky Galore!1949! Saw it on TV decades ago now have it on DVD!
Leonarda Jonie would beg to differ. She rips on everyone, especially Indians (the kind from India).
“Scottish logic: if it works, stop talking.”
wy69
Nicholas De Santo seems to have fun with ethnic jokes - you can find him on youtube.
How many blondes are actually blond? I’ve seen a huge number of them that must be spending massive amounts of money dying their roots dark colors.
Whisky Galore...wasn’t her sister in a James Bond movie?
I don’t know but there are a lot of fake blonds, when I first saw black women blondes (mostly blond streaks) I gave it some thought and decided that it works, blond is nice and for women in general anything that attracts the eye, serves them.
The Irish Joke Book
The Italian Joke Book
The Black Joke Book
The Polish Joke Book
The Jewish Joke Book.
They were compiled by someone called “Blanche Knott”.
I don’t have them anymore. Everyone gets so darn offended at every little thing anymore…And then there’s Blazing Saddles….. at least they haven’t been outlawed that yet.
Did you hear the one of the 4 Nuns going down the road in a van.
They came up on a sharp curv a bit to fast and flew off the cliff. Well sadly, they all died.
So they end up in front of the Pearly Gates where St. Peter is is guarding.
He calls Num #1 and asks her to confess and be cleansed before entering Heaven.
Nun #1 says- well sometimes I peep through the crack and watch Father John.
St. Peter tells her to wash her eyes with the Holy water and say 5 Hail Mary’s.
He calls Nun #2 for her confession.
Nun #2 confesses that at times she has stroked Father John’s member.
St. Peter tells her to wash her hands with the Holy water and say 10 Hail Mary’s.
All of a sudden, St. Peter looks over and sees Nun #3 and Nun #4 in a scuffle. Nun #4 grabs Nun #3 and throws her on the ground.
St. Peter- Jesus Christ, what in Heavens is going on?
Nun #4 blurts out- “ well I need to wash my mouth out before that Bitch puts her ass in that water!
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