When will Micheal Richards stop apologizing?

Uncle Leo

pjny wrote:

The real problem is that too many people - including all the so-called activists that have gotten involved - are focusing on the word "n*igger," and that is NOT the main issue.

1. Michael Richards has no business using the word n*igger - TRUE

2. In the context of the situation, the word was used in a hateful and malicious manner - TRUE

3. In the heat of the moment, people can blurt out widely used hurtful words and stereotypes - TRUE

# 3 is why screaming the word n*gger, while very wrong, doesn't necessarily in and of itself make the man a racist.

HOWEVER...

"50 years ago we'd have you upside down with a fuckin' fork in your ass...that's what happens when you interrupt the white man, don't you know?"

This train of thought goes well beyond your average attack in the heat of the moment. Neither a desriptive accounting of a lynched man, nor this aura of white supremacy are in the everyday lexicon of American stereotypes about black people - or any other group for that matter.

He had this in him...it may have been buried so deeply that his only racist actions were subtle and he may not have even been very aware of it, but what he expressed here goes way beyond a little bit of bias coming out in a rant.

BRA-VO!

We have made that word the test for whether or not someone is a racist. If Richards had just made the fork in the ass comment, we'd probably be called PC for thinking he was racist (I guess we sometimes are anyway).

Here is why I feel the word is "overrated" in determining racism:
1. When the word is used, the context is never introduced. Regardless of the context, the user is immediately determined to be a racist.

2. A person can say the most ridiculous, repulsive, racist shit, but if (s)he does not use the word, (s)he cannot be called out for it. You do not have to say the word to be a racist.

Heineken Helen

Kenny Olav wrote:

Seinfeld was overrated anyway.

Seinfeld was crap!!!! Absolutely crap! I never understood why it was so big in the states cos I don't know ONE person who watches it here. I tried to watch it once or twice and it made me feel... stupid for watching it.

Heineken Helen

VictoryGin wrote:

All cities have their issues, but it seems those in NYC get exaggerated. Maybe it's the movies, the history, I don't know.

Moving away from NY for a second, we ended up in the hood when we were in LA. When we got there, I thought 'oh this is great, we get to a place not many white people go to... and it should be a bit livelier than the pubs we've been going to'. I wasn't one bit scared. Walked into the club and when everyone turned and glared at us I thought 'oh they'll get over it, let's just get a drink'. We didn't even make it to the bar with the amount of people coming up to us telling us we should leave because we were in very serious danger of being raped or killed... and they were telling us this out of concern. By the time we FINALLY got a taxi (about 2 hours later) I was very very very scared.

Ahnimus

Heineken Helen wrote:

Seinfeld was crap!!!! Absolutely crap! I never understood why it was so big in the states cos I don't know ONE person who watches it here. I tried to watch it once or twice and it made me feel... stupid for watching it.

I feel the same way. But if I did like Seinfeld and one of the cast said something offensive about me, I would still watch it.

Heineken Helen

Ahnimus wrote:

I feel the same way. But if I did like Seinfeld and one of the cast said something offensive about me, I would still watch it.

I don't think I could, well I physically could but it wouldn't be the same anymore.

rebornFixer

Oh yes, and Seinfeld?

It fucking rules.

soulsinging

Heineken Helen wrote:

Seinfeld was crap!!!! Absolutely crap! I never understood why it was so big in the states cos I don't know ONE person who watches it here. I tried to watch it once or twice and it made me feel... stupid for watching it.

ah ha! i KNEW you had no sense of humor!

Restless Soul

reborncareerist wrote:

But I dare say that racism against non-black minorities seems to fly more often. I think we need to play catch up.

Why is it that some people here insist on making out that there is racism against white people like its an equal thing? *sigh* Middle-class white americans are practically the most priviledged people <i>on earth</i>. Why whine about some reverse racism which frankly doesn't even mean anything?!

Ahnimus

Restless Soul wrote:

Why is it that some people here insist on making out that there is racism against white people like its an equal thing? *sigh* Middle-class white americans are practically the most priviledged people <i>on earth</i>. Why whine about some reverse racism which frankly doesn't even mean anything?!

It means something. The butterfly effect.

norm

Heineken Helen wrote:

Moving away from NY for a second, we ended up in the hood when we were in LA. When we got there, I thought 'oh this is great, we get to a place not many white people go to... and it should be a bit livelier than the pubs we've been going to'. I wasn't one bit scared. Walked into the club and when everyone turned and glared at us I thought 'oh they'll get over it, let's just get a drink'. We didn't even make it to the bar with the amount of people coming up to us telling us we should leave because we were in very serious danger of being raped or killed... and they were telling us this out of concern. By the time we FINALLY got a taxi (about 2 hours later) I was very very very scared.

WOW. That was a dumb thing to do. Next time you're in LA let me know. You don't need to go to south central to have a good time.

Restless Soul

aBoxOfFear wrote:

i'm surprised that not much has been made about michaels' comment "50 years ago we would have hung you upside down with a fork up your ass". so far it's just been his use of the n-word. i thought his "hanging" comment was just as bad, or worse. what, just because he got heckled, he had to point out the fact that not long ago black people were being hanged?? what a racist dick. to me, that comment is the equivalent of saying to a jewish person "50 years ago we would have stuck you in an oven with a fork up your ass". i can't believe no one is talking about that as much as his use of the n-word.

I agree, that comment is terrible and inexcusably racist. Like he's proud of it or something. Smacks of superiority to me too.

rebornFixer

Restless Soul wrote:

Why is it that some people here insist on making out that there is racism against white people like its an equal thing? *sigh* Middle-class white americans are practically the most priviledged people <i>on earth</i>. Why whine about some reverse racism which frankly doesn't even mean anything?!

I'll just overlook the fact that you're talking shit for a minute, and just point out that I was actually referring to homophobia and racism against other minority groups, relative to racism against blacks. My comments could apply to racism against whites too, though.

Restless Soul

reborncareerist wrote:

I'll just overlook the fact that you're talking shit for a minute, and just point out that I was actually referring to homophobia and racism against other minority groups, relative to racism against blacks. My comments could apply to racism against whites too, though.

Oh right, nice get-out clause. :P

rebornFixer

Restless Soul wrote:

Oh right, nice get-out clause. :P

You could go back and actually re-read the original post, if you wanted.

moeaholic

Restless Soul wrote:

Middle-class white americans are practically the most priviledged people <i>on earth</i>. Why whine about some reverse racism which frankly doesn't even mean anything?!

what do you mean by "reverse racism"?

AllNiteThing

Cosmo wrote:

These 'Racism! Racism!' things always spin out of control. Yeah, the guy's a dick... (I know a gal who used to waitress at a place near the studios and she told me a long time ago that Kramer and George were assholes... Jerry and Elaine were nice and Jerry was a great tipper)... he let his true colors fly... just like Mel did... and got busted.
Say you're sorry and mean it.
Continually sucking on Blackzilla only makes you a cock-sucker... just apologise for your actions... mean it... and accept what people give you.

Well said and exactly how I feel. Apologize and be on with it. Stop trying to be someone you're not. We know you're an asshole and obviously have SOME disrespect for blacks, to let it get out like that. But, an apology for offending some people and having it go public suffices. Some will choose to boycott you and some won't even care, but ENOUGH already.

LMAO at Blackzilla.

soulsinging

black people tip poorly. i worked in a restaurant and i saw it on a regular basis. am i a racist now?

AllNiteThing

soulsinging wrote:

black people tip poorly. i worked in a restaurant and i saw it on a regular basis. am i a racist now?

Haha. I wouldn't go that far, but the Baptist's (who are predominantly black) tip HORRIBLY. They had a convention every year next door to this place I worked.

Nothingman54

soulsinging wrote:

black people tip poorly. i worked in a restaurant and i saw it on a regular basis. am i a racist now?

Me too! 1 out of six tip

Heineken Helen

soulsinging wrote:

ah ha! i KNEW you had no sense of humor!

No, we consider seinfeld to be a typical american sense of humour... i.e. not funny at all