Roseanne Barr off the air

[Jono]

I was referring to when he blamed one of his antisematic tantrums on alchoholism. Even Southpark had a joke, saying that a woman who did a bad thing and claimed Alchoholism as an excuse went for the "Mel Gibson defense"

Had he been honest, he should've blamed himself for having given far too much credence to the stories he learned while sitting on his father's lap.

 

[Giordano]

I'm attracted to all colors. Maybe if I was racist I wouldn't be. [snip].

Maybe... But as pointed out upthread, not likely. A huge number of blatant racists were (are) only too happy to secretly have sex with members of the races they despised. Even if it required rape (or perhaps for some racists rape was a plus rather than a negative). As any history of the American South, or genealogy of Americans descended from slaves, will reveal.

On the other hand I do find the increasing frequency and public acceptance of "interracial" relationships and marriages very encouraging. It represents the loss of what was one of the most prominent racist restrictions on society. And as more and more people are born out of these relationships it will be more and more difficult for racists to identify races to despise.

 

[Giordano]

The depiction of blacks as non-human apes and as monkeys is a very established racist meme, and can be found in historical photos, movies, and cartoons as well as continuing in racist circles today. Calling a black person an ape is almost certainly racist, especially when the person doing so has a history of overt or highly questionable statements along similar lines.

Sure - all humans are apes. Sure, no "race" looks more like a non-human ape than on other "race." . Ironically, gorillas have dark hair but white skin. All that proves is that racists are not smart and are not scientifically knowledgeable. Duh!

 

[ponderingturtle]

Since when is equating a black person to a primate considered "comedy" and "a funny joke"?

Minstrel Shows?

 

[Trebuchet]

Having not learned the first rule of holes, she's still tweeting.

 

[Giordano]

Minstrel Shows?

Unfortunately one does not have to go that far back. Movies as recently as the 1930s and 1940s made heavy use of this type of "comedy."

 

[Segnosaur]

A little historical context is useful here.

In general people consider a comment aimed at a minority (such as the use of the N-word or comparing someone to an ape) because in North America the majority of the political and socioeconomic power has rested with people who's skin color is white. This has been the case for, well, centuries and continues to this day.

Now, it is true that it is possible to discriminate against a white person. There is also racial slang that is targeted at white people (calling them 'cracker' for example). But the fact that people of my color have held power for so long means that such discrimination doesn't hold the significance that discrimination against minorities does.

How long do White People need to pay for the sins of their forefathers before discrimination against White people becomes significant?

I don't know, but we're not even at the point where the current generation of white people is without sin themselves.

I'm not saying "all white people are racist", but minorities ARE at certain disadvantages... things voter suppression efforts by republicans, unequal educational opportunities, drug laws (and selective drug enforcement) that lead to more minorities in prison.

Once we eliminate those types or problems, THEN we can start worrying about discrimination against white people.

 

[The Big Dog]

Ironically, gorillas have dark hair but white skin. All that proves is that racists are not smart and are not scientifically knowledgeable. Duh!

ummmm..... about that

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/121597258667172504/

 

[ponderingturtle]

I’m surprised that’s what you gleaned from my post.

But they say the perception is the reality, so there’s that.

That is what you wrote, she makes an explicitly racist statement and you try to pretend that it isn't racist just insulting. Even she admits it was racist, there is no contention other than from the most hardcore trump supporters like apparently you that it wasn't racist and so should be treated as a basic insulting statement.

I look forward to your defense of how chanting jews will not replace us is in no way anti semitic.

 

[Dr. Keith]

Having not learned the first rule of holes, she's still tweeting.

She has lost her mainstream career. Time to start building that alt-right career. She's crazy, not lazy.

 

[ponderingturtle]

Holy Crap! Those are supposed to be black people? At least as a kid I am sure I would have thought they were just another weird creature inhabiting Seuss's worlds.

Basic black caricatures.

 

[ponderingturtle]

Unfortunately one does not have to go that far back. Movies as recently as the 1930s and 1940s made heavy use of this type of "comedy."

But the "since when" statement I was looking for an early representation of exactly this kind of humor. It certainly remained in popular culture in various forms even today.

 

[Fast Eddie B]

That is what you wrote, she makes an explicitly racist statement and you try to pretend that it isn't racist just insulting. Even she admits it was racist, there is no contention other than from the most hardcore trump supporters like apparently you that it wasn't racist and so should be treated as a basic insulting statement.

I look forward to your defense of how chanting jews will not replace us is in no way anti semitic.

I feel compelled to repost what I actually said:

I think I can see both sides.

I just mentioned this debate to Karen. Her first reaction was that both instances are equally childish name-calling and should be treated equally.

But then saw that calling our grandchild with climbing abilities “a little monkey” was perfectly innocent. To say the same about a black child could be offensive, even if not meant that way.

As an aside, Karen agreed to be my monkey as part of our wedding vows. Monkey is a slang term for a motorcycle sidecar passenger. Zero racial component as far as I know.

For others to see if the jump to me defending Nazis was warranted.

But probably best to just disengage.

 

[William Parcher]

Ironically, gorillas have dark hair but white skin. All that proves is that racists are not smart and are not scientifically knowledgeable. Duh!

Gorillas have dark skin of a color that would generally be called black.

 

[Skeptical Greg]

I think nine pages of this, is a testament to the decline of these forums..

Unless of course, a moderator moves the thread to " Humor " ..

 

[ponderingturtle]

I feel compelled to repost what I actually said:



For others to see if the jump to me defending Nazis was warranted.

But probably best to just disengage.

Yes, it just says it is an insult and ignores the racism in it. It equates a racist statement based on a long history of racism with a simple insult. And you can see the point that there is no reason to differentiate them.

 

[Giordano]

Gorillas have dark skin of a color that would generally be called black.

Sorry- it is the chimps that generally have light skin color. Gorillas dark. Remembered it wrong.

 

[luchog]

On the other hand I do find the increasing frequency and public acceptance of "interracial" relationships and marriages very encouraging. It represents the loss of what was one of the most prominent racist restrictions on society. And as more and more people are born out of these relationships it will be more and more difficult for racists to identify races to despise.

Nah, won't happen. As we saw in the past, all of those offspring of raped slaves necessitated the "One Drop Rule", to make it easier to discriminate against the light-skinned products of miscegenation. Nothing but the purest of pure white ancestry will be accepted.

 

[Fast Eddie B]

As an aside, there exist albino gorillas.

This was Snowflake, who I did manage to see at the Barcelona Zoo before his demise.

 

[William Parcher]

Sorry- it is the chimps that generally have light skin color. Gorillas dark. Remembered it wrong.

It's common for chimpanzee skin color to darken as they get older. It may be mostly on the exposed areas. Here we see an adult (and offspring) with skin color that would generally be called black.