If you're going to comment on an event, and it's easy to see it for yourself, I would think that you'd want to argue from an informed position. That's not a new standard. "Common sense" won't help you understand what Richards said or the tone in which he said it. And whatever witness and media accounts you're reading aren't getting the nature of the tirade across.
I realize that some folks, you among them, are offended by foul language, and that to you trumps anything else comedians have to say. That's fine; de gustibus non est disputandum. I find Rock and Pryor not only funny but insightful; comics can attack serious subjects in a blunt manner that a serious commentator cannot. Myrphy and Foxx are pretty shallow, but I still think they're funny.
But if you watched the Richards clip with the profanity bleeped -- for that matter, with the sound muted altogether -- there is no mistaking it for the comics you mention, aside from a few words in common. It was not a comedy act. It was verbal abuse. When he opened (at least the part caught on video) by harkening back to the lynch mob days, that was an early warning sign.
And I guess the Rap groups get a pass..I don't call them artist they are not at all..Just some hatefilled racist black people getting away with exactly what Michael Richards is being downed about
NOT THE SAME THING. That's the point you keep missing. Rap lyrics are (at least supposed to be) entertainment. If these rap stars got in a white person's face outside of that context -- say, if they stopped a concert and heaped racial abuse on a white fan in the audience, or lit into someone on the sidewalk -- there would be at least as much of a public and media reaction.
You're so hung up on the words themselves that you're missing the context. I can type "nigger" here; it's not the same as shouting it from my car to someone on the sidewalk.
Did you hear what the black men that were heckeling Richard said to him?I doubt it..You know we have a point that things build up and then we let all our guards down..things come out that we never meant to say...I for one am sick and tired of all the race stuff..I still think Richard is a very funny man..