"Stop Laughing. Its Not Funny!" (Joseph Farah Slams Cultural Obscenity Alert)

Worldnetdaily.com ^ | 12/04/2006 | Joseph Farah

[goldstategop]

"Stop laughing. It's not funny."

Those were the solemn words of Jerry Seinfeld during his visit with David Letterman in his effort to rehabilitate the image of his co-star, Michael Richards, aka "Kramer."

Richards, as you know, flipped out at an L.A. comedy club and began screaming racial epithets at some black patrons. It was an ugly scene captured on video, and the actor has been apologizing ever since – doing his public penance for a truly shameful exhibition.

Watch 'Kramer' grovel on Letterman show

The "act" has ignited a national debate on the use of the "N-word." But, having viewed the video, I'm wondering why that's the only source of concern.

Apparently, judging from all I've heard and read about this controversy, Americans are only outraged about Richards' use of the racial epithet.

While I share deep concern over the use of this ugly word, there were a few other words uttered in that monologue that offended me just as much. And I'm wondering why no one cares about the way I feel.

I hardly think I'm alone in America feeling like I am surrounded by hate speech, hostile offensive language used everywhere – in comedy clubs, on television, in movies, on the street, on commercials, even in books and magazines.

There's so much discussion and debate about racist talk. How about a national debate about language that is just as offensive, if not more so, to millions of Americans – profanity, obscenity and vulgarity?

I heard some of that in Michael Richards' primal screech. That apparently didn't bother the Rev. Jesse Jackson. It didn't bother the doyennes of political correctness. It didn't bother Jerry Seinfeld and David Letterman.

As a society we've become so conditioned to hearing this filth that it may seem like a lost cause to protest it – to even point out the hypocrisy and irony of outrage about one kind of offensive speech while ignoring another in the same comedy bit.

I know. I know. It's not "news" when a comedian uses profanity, obscenity and vulgarity in his routine. In fact, it would be news – as in unusual – if one didn't.

But I'm not talking about news. I'm talking about standards. Why should we care when one group is offended and not care when another group is?

Can someone answer that question for me?

I know I speak for millions of Americans who are still offended by filthy language, people who don't want their children exposed to that kind of hate speech. But our concerns aren't worthy of debate? Why? If the "N-word" is controversial because it offends people – and I agree it is – why is the "F-word," which offends even more, not worthy of debate?

Why are boycotts not being called against comedians and TV shows and rap groups and record companies and others in the popular culture who employ not only this one obscenity, but countless profanities and vulgarities?

Where is the outrage for this kind of pollution of our moral eco-system? If we acknowledge that shockingly offensive words need to be curbed, how about those shockingly offensive to me and millions of other Americans who try to live by the standards of biblical morality?

Wouldn't it be wonderful some time to see a comedian or an actor or a record company producer or someone in Hollywood apologizing to millions of Americans for taking God's name in vain?

Wouldn't it be refreshing to see someone from the popular culture apologizing for using obscene or vulgar language that would never have been permitted in the presence of women and children a generation or two ago?

Is political correctness the only standard that means anything any more?

How about good manners?

How about civility?

How about the moral standards of millions of Americans? Shouldn't they be respected?

[goldstategop]

Every one has been focusing on Martin Kramer's use of the N-word. Every one has overlooked the F-Word and other terms that can be collectively term an expression of cultural obscenity. You know, language that would make sailors blush and that ought never to be used in the earshot of women and children. THAT kind of language. No one seems offended or outraged over filthy language. We should. Where are the good manners? The civility? Respecting the moral standards of millions? We can begin with a national conversation about restoring etiquette in our national - particularly cultural life. Its about high time.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[zimdog]

If the "N-word" is controversial because it offends people – and I agree it is – why is the "F-word," which offends even more [...]?

If Joseph Farah feels he can make such as statement as breezily as saying the grass is green or the sky is blue, it says far more about the "attitudes" of his social circle than it does about dying civility.

[goldstategop]

Silly me. I thought gutter talk was always taken as the sign of a crude and unrefined mind. Yes, we've come a long way, baby!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[CBart95]

Just get over it.

A billion Islamic extremists have vowed to murder you and they are coming for you now.

Do you give one sh*t what some actor said to some bum?

[goldstategop]

I could care less about the N word. I do care that we're exposed to cultural sewage far more harmful than racist trash talk. A people's survival is also dependent on the strength of their moral character.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[zimdog]

I thought gutter talk was always taken as the sign of a crude and unrefined mind.

I'll take a foul-mouthed sailor over a noose-bearing Klansman any day.

[donna]

The f-word is a fighting word. It can cause road-rage and get people shot. I find it just as offensive as racist language.

[taxesareforever]

I wonder why the Rev.Jackson appears to be more offended over the use of the N word than over the use of the word "god" in all the television programs? You would think a man who uses the title "Reverend" would speak to spiritual matters more than civil matters.

[goldstategop]

A lot of people find obscenity offensive. Yet according to the doyennes of political correctness, in particular the ACLU - THAT is free speech about which we can do nothing.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[CBart95]

Yeah Yeah.

Are you deliberately excluding the current Pope in his reference of your precious quotation?...as it applies to Islam?

[goldstategop]

I'm fascinated over people missing the forest while seeing the trees in front of them.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[zimdog]

The f-word is a fighting word. It can cause road-rage and get people shot. I find it just as offensive as racist language.

In Joseph Farah's world, the "F-word" is more offensive than racism.

[goldstategop]

I do think Islam in its present state is evil and genocidal. If its a Religion Of Peace, we have yet to see evidence of its professed peacefulness. So my quote is rather apopros, wouldn't you agree?

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[donna]

The n-word and the f-word mean the same thing.

[goldstategop]

They both are offensive. What I'm put off at, is liberals are outraged over the N word while polluting society with far more toxic products.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[zimdog]

The n-word and the f-word mean the same thing.

Maybe you're thinking of different words. A Wikipedia search for "n-word" and "f-word" can help straighten things out.

[zimdog]

When the "F-word" becomes shorthand for the very real history of slavery, lynching, and racism, I will consider that it may be "more toxic" than the "N-word".

[CBart95]

If it's ok for the Pope, who am I to care?

I applaud your choice and your civility.

Persevere.

[HelloooClareece]

Banning a word is unconstitutional. Period.

That being said, if Richards' use of that word gets the recipients a big payday then I should consider suing rap artists for calling me a "bitch" and a "ho".

[GSlob]

"How about a national debate about ...profanity, obscenity and vulgarity?"
Well, profanity, obscenity and vulgarity {PO&V} are, among other things, major tools of scientific investigations [what else do we say or hear when something fails?]. Profanity, obscenity and vulgarity are equally indispensable in many other walks of life besides science. Why, didn't His Excellency the Vice President properly and deservedly apostrophized Joe Biden? The trouble with PO&V is that they have themselves become trite and vulgar, while they ought to, and deserve, to be applied creatively.