Posted on 11/20/2006 7:03:27 AM PST by torchthemummy
Michael Richards exploded in anger as he performed at a famous L.A. comedy club last Friday, hurling racial epithets that left the crowd gasping, and TMZ has obtained exclusive video of the ugly incident.
(Excerpt) Read more at tmz.com ...
Whatever, I don't care.
It is really pathetic that some here are bringing up all manner of other situations in an attempt to dismiss the idea that what Richards said was bad.
Freedom of speech, double standards, heckler's statements, etc.; it boils down to Richards being a racist ass who doesn't deserve defending.
Michael Richards was not the first nor will he be the last to target a heckler's heritage (whether that simply be calling him an illegitimate "bastard").
The comment he made about "50 years ago" is more troubling than the use of the n word, as much as I may despise the use of that word modern society deems it permissible now more than ever. You will find far more songs (especially by charting artists) and films using that word than at any other era in American history. The 1930s films may have been racist in their depiction of black people put that word was not tossed around. Neither did it appear outside of perhaps some racist "Johnny Reb"-type songs.
Where do you work so I and others can do as Jerry Seinfeld did and go heckle you at your place of business?
bttt
He should just say it was a 'rap song'....he'll be fine.
When the media permanently shuns Robert "There are white n***ers too" Byrd, Hillary "F***ing Jew Bastard" Clinton, Rev. Jesse "Hymietown" Jackson, Rev. Al "Jew them down" Sharpton, Barbra "I feel like such a fa**ot doing this" Streisand and others, constantly reminding us of their transgressions maybe I'd care more.
Until then he is an entertainer who isn't always entertaining and the rest are politicos who have been absolved of their crimes.
I suspect it was recorded on a camera phone as recording those acts in a conspicuous fashion is probably illegal. So I doubt it was a true digital video recording device.
How many posters have denounced the "f****n' white boy" and "cracker" comments? We've had a lot of posts telling us how cracker really isn't a bad word but no denouncing of the hecklers?
Or were they permitted to use those terms because they are black?
How about treating people as people, not as members of races? If you are heckled by a man, defend yourself the same way no matter whether the heckler is a black, white or Chinese. Don't inject race into a situation where race has nothing to do with it, otherwise you are implying that race DOES have something to do with it--you are saying that it is worse because the heckler is black. He wouldn't tell a white heckler--"Hey stupid white guy, shut up. White, white, white, white!! Stupid M'fin'g White guy." Why does he treat a black heckler that way? It's because he sees the person's race as the most important thing, and his response implies that a black heckler is more nettlesome, less acceptable than a white one would be.
Comedians like to go after hecklers, and I don't have a problem with that. But try to do it in a way that is not tribal, but specific to the heckler. Attack what they said with a rejoinder to what they said, or if you are going to get personal, it should be about their weight, their clothes, their baldness, their wife's looks, their mother, etc. You get that guy as who he is, not as a member of a race.
Someday, it may be uncool to attack fat or bald people, but until that day, there's your line.
I get offended hearing 'KILL WHITEY'.....but yet the rap songs continue getting played.
They were just reacting - if they had started it they would have gotten in trouble... oh wait... nevermind.
Better yet, why don't you tell my your ethnic heritage so I can assess whether you are allowed to respond to my posts?
It is discouraging. I truly hope that these people are a small part of conservatism that is just vocal here today, otherwise it will be difficult to convince people of good will to join the conservative movement, even if they agree intellectually.
I'd say it is every bit as offensive. I find Rev. Al Sharpton's comments even more offensive than Jackson's (if only because I believe they actually incited violence). But I don't think either one justifies what Richards did. The video quality was really poor, but it sounded like he was practically foaming at the mouth---really lost it. I wonder if he wasn't on drugs of some kind, it was that bizarre.
I think you're right if you are implying that there is a big double standard for some people-- the media especially-- but that doesn't make it right. My immediate reaction was to wonder if this will get as much play as Mel Gibson's episode did, so I do agree with you that different groups and individuals get different treatment. Al Sharpton, in my view, has gotten away with more anti-Semitism than Mel Gibson ever committed.
I hope you agree, though, that the hypocrisy of others-- be it the media, the Jesse Jackson/Al Sharpton establishment, Hollywood-- in no way justifies defending what Michael Richards said. It was disgusting in every sense of the word. It was pure unadulterated hatred and viciousness.
I don't presume you are racist and didn't mean to imply it. My point is that we all have inherent prejudices of one form or another. It is part of the human condition. I live in the Caribbean, where the population of the locals is probably 95% black and they have a prejudice against blacks from certain other Caribbean countries. Prejudice doesn't necessarily have anything to do with someone's skin being a different color. We all make prejudgements; some good, some bad.
I think many conservative whites (I am one) get in their own way by not recognizing when someone really is being a racist. INTENT is everything in this case, not just a word. He was hatefully lashing out at another person and trying to demean him with hateful words. Period. It doesn't matter that someone else could use the word in a different context and not cause hurt feelings. What does matter is HOW and WHY this man used the word and what he wanted to "accomplish" with his rant.
We need to be able to distinguish between true hatred and th made-up crap of Jesse Jackson and the Rev Al. When it is true racist speech, with the intent to demean another human being, we have to say "That is wrong" and bring shame on that individual.
This guy is now officially Dixie-Chicked.
Yep. That's the racist pig. He should be locked in a cell with Kramer and let them duke it out.
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