Posted on 11/04/2006 2:04:45 AM PST by twinself
A city worker was under fire last night for penning an essay that uses ethnic slurs to describe Polish-Americans and calls their Brooklyn enclave in Greenpoint "even uglier than the morons who work there." David Langlieb, a 23-year-old Parks Department project manager, defended his work as "satire."
"I live in Greenpoint, I'm half Polish, I have nothing but love and fondness for the Polish community," he said. "If you take what's there out of context, of course it's incredibly offensive."
But Frank Milewski of the Polish-American Congress, who read Langlieb's entire essay, called it an "an out-and-out insult" and was horrified the author referred to Greenpoint residents as "vermin."
"When you insult somebody you don't cover it up by calling it satire," he said. "The Nazis used to talk about Poles and Jews as subhumans and vermin."
Councilman David Yassky (D-Brooklyn), who represents the neighborhood, said "my eyes pretty much popped out of my head when I read this."
In a piece for his alumni magazine at Haverford College, Langlieb wrote that "communities like Greenpoint are a dying breed in America, and thank God for that."
Greenpoint's main problem, he wrote, was "Polish people infesting its rowhouses."
Langlieb described a Greenpoint "of the future" that will be filled with lawyers and investment bankers "after the vermin are gone."
"This was aimed at certain Haverford graduates who move into cohesive communities with little interest in giving back to those communities," Langlieb insisted.
Warner Johnston, a Parks Department spokesman, said Langlieb's "views do not reflect the views of the agency, he is writing as a private citizen."
Langlieb's mother, Arlene, called the essay "tongue-in-cheek" - and noted members of his father's Polish-Jewish family died in the Holocaust.
She said her son, who was an editor at his college paper, "likes to get noticed."
"I remember the time he did an editorial about my cooking," she said.
...but the decent realize it is likely just low-class and potentially libelous.
What a shame that these Polish-Americans don't display the same strength and resilence. Even if the essay wasn't too Swift (sic), it's sad that they felt threatened by such writing. :-( Too bad the spirit of such gallant heroes as Casimir Pulaski seems to be lacking in these folks.
What Polish-Americans?
The guy who plays Borat is named Cohen, is himself Jewish, and so can get away with that
Potentially libelous? LOL! And you are one of the "decent" people I suppose? Tell me, are you decent if you are on the Houston City Council and pass laws taking other people's property or demanding that they conform their businesses to how they imagine you should? With no regards to the damage is causes?
hehehe.. if you mean FR, I "came onboard" nearly a decade ago. I recall the black background days of FR, in a past incarnation...but I stand guilty as charged regarding lack of clarity and conciseness.
I think the point is: if you're Polish you can make fun of Poles; Irish, the Irish; a Jew, the Jews. Mr. Langlieb is Jewish, so his satire should've been directed at his own. Otherwise, it's clearly meant to be insulting; or do you think vermin is a satirical term of endearment?
Your papa used to call you a vermin :( ?
>> Your papa used to call you a vermin :( ? <<
Of course not. However, it's quite clear that the writer in this article (the guy who was fired) was adopting a character for humorous or satirical purposes.
Ever read Swift's "A Modest Proposal?" Google it if not.
"However, it's quite clear that the writer in this article (the guy who was fired) was adopting a character for humorous or satirical purposes."
Somehow I doubt It but after all he wasn't talking about me, so If you guys like that then no big deal indeed.
Are they...
Stupid,
Ignorant,
Dishonest/deceitful, or just plain
Evil
I doubt the members of the Houston City Council are retarded. I believe there are other motivations behind their actions rather than excusable stupidity....one cannot help one's intellectual gifts or lack thereof, but the other possibilities are worthy of blame, as they can be fixed. You let off the HCC too easily, it would seem.
And yes, as a matter of fact, I am decent...and find the terminology you used to be coarse and disrespectful to people who are mentally retarded.
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