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| Friday, July 30, 2010 |
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Since the Tawana Brawley incident, I had assumed that Al Sharpton was simply unfamiliar with the concept of an apology. But maybe not. Anyway, the Washington Post (gossip section) reports it differently. First, its says “Jesse Jackson isn’t buying it,” in contrast to CNN. Then, it quotes Sharpton as follows: “It’s not my place to accept that on behalf of all blacks. I can forgive, but I’m not the victim here. What he said hurt a lot of people.” All snark aside, this seems like a reasonable position for Sharpton to take. He is not pronouncing judgement on the state of Richards’ soul, just on his relationship to the many people (other than Sharpton) whom Richards injured. (Resuming snark) Sharpton would be well advised to be so reluctant to speak for all black people more frequently. |
LL: interesting note. The Washington Post coverage certainly shows that Sharpton’s response was more reasonable. It is interesting how CNN reported him as just rejecting the apology in what appeared to be a very politically calculated and frankly devisive way. I’m not sure what exactly to make of that at the moment. |
On a personal level, I think that sorry has to be enough, even from a Mormon point of view. We’re obliged to forgive people regardless of whether they make retribution. That said, it’s too easy for Richards to say, “I’m sorry.” (Even if it is so very difficult for Kerry to apologize for insulting soldiers). This incident will taint Richards’ career for some time (and rightly so) unless he’s able to do something more than make a few apologetic phone calls. I’m also not convinced that he’s actually hurt anyone. The black people that I know are simply disgusted and repulsed by stuff like this (as am I), and they’re way too smart to attach personal feelings to the statements of a loud mouthed celebrity. |
What troubles me is that comics use race quite frequently for laughs. Why are those not offensive? Saying you’re sorry for the one incident is enough. If you continue on with your life without another incident, then there really is no harm no foul. I would think Mr. Sharpton’s position would be valid only if Mr. Richards has a history of spewing out racist fowl-mouth remarks. Then again he is a comic, and I come to my first point again. |
This sort of thing is inevitable in the stand-up comic business. Almost every comic out there uses “shock” to get cheap laughs. It’s currently acceptable to do this with sexual innuendo, but not with racial epithets. Someone was bound to get the two confused. But both are equally disgusting to me. That society generally does not view both as equally disgusting smacks of rank hypocrisy to me. Anyway, if your job description mandates “thou shalt be edgy,” the risk of crossing the line is something of an occupational hazard. |
If Richards were a black rapper, this isn’t even a story–let alone a topic for “sorry.” |
rapper has nothing to do with it. It would matter if he was black. the same way jews can do jewish jokes, latinos latino jokes, etc. we can make fun of our own cultures because there is a collective assumption it is not mean spirited and it usually is not, whereas jokes about other cultures and races generally are mean spirited. |
I suppose then, that since Kerry is an authentic veteran himself, he can say whatever he wants about the troops. But seriously, only cretins and hopeless partisans thought that his hapless botched barb was aimed at anyone other than the person who really owes the troops an apology: the one who sent them off without any idea what he was doing, and who for three years has neither learned nor adapted, providing inadequate, if not criminally negligent leadership. |
More recent Sharpton buffoonery on display here. |
What I think about all this is that Richards broke a cardinal rule of comedy. He lost his cool and wasn’t funny. I think he could survive his racist comments had they been funny or even apropo. Calling white hecklers the “N” word was stupid, more than racist and he will probably never be forgiven for that. |
Interesting question, John F. I agree with DKL and many others here. As for Sharpton, who cares if he thinks “sorry is not enough.” I’m still waiting for Sharpton to apologize for the innumerable racist and offense things he has said over his lifetime. |
If Jesus were doing stand-up, and some rude black people started heckling him, he’d just turn to the crowd and say, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.” |
You know, I just feel sorry for the guy. Kind of echoes along the lines of Mel Gibson, doesn’t it? Any prediction for who is next? I vote it’s McCain. (Note, I didn’t say for McCain.) |
I spoke to soon: <link> |
Advice: If Jesus were doing stand-up – “pray for the hecklers, for they know not what they do”… |
The only thing that bothers me is that I have been to a lot of comedy shows. It is never an issue to see a black man make fun of white people. Richard Pryor for instance, I can distinctly remember him making fun of whites as being White-n-Nerdy. It bothers me in any form. I have two black children and HATE listening to their music that use the N word because I believe any form is wrong. But why is it o.k. to make fun of whites? Why is it only appauling when it is whites that do it to Blacks? It is extremely irritating. If the word is inappropriate, it should be for everyone!!! Bottom Line!!! |
