posted November 26, 2006 05:38 PM         

In this video you see Michael Richards (Kramer) tirade (which is edited) and his apology on Letterman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6TYygh-qRM

unedited version of his tirade: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9lpKBT8uHM

posted November 26, 2006 06:01 PM         

I'm definitely not supporting anything racist, I am infinitely against it, but I believe comments on this type of topic must be spoken with realistic intentions.

posted November 26, 2006 06:15 PM           

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"WHATEVER the soul longs for, WILL be attained by the spirit"-Khalil Gibran

posted November 27, 2006 02:54 PM         

"But most importantly what his apology really means for the future of America is, that racism and racist tirades, thoughts, actions, and comments will continue to be allowed and supported by our elusive government."

It's not the governments job to police what we say. It doesn't matter how racist, how horrible, how disgusting. It's our right to speak our mind, and if others dont like it, they can speak back, just as this man in the video did. I would hate to live in a country where I went to jail for saying something racist. To me the idea of the government dissalowing freedom of speech is a far greater evil than a racist outburst.

Here's my favorite part of the constitution, the FIRST AMENDMENT.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

I don't care how racist and horrible what he said was, I'd defend his right to say it to the end.

posted November 27, 2006 03:05 PM         

I can’t be on a plane and scream bomb. Neither can I scream fire in a crowded building. What about saying whatever you want to a child or fragile urrr old person - don’t know what happened to my vocabulary

I don’t deny anyone’s freedom of speech, if they want to say something fine. But they can’t sit there and not expect repercussions.

He’s also said some derogatory things to a woman and about Jews. That is not acceptable. But again I wont deny him his freedom of speech, nor will I cheer him on.

posted November 27, 2006 03:13 PM         

I was merely responding to Neptune's statement about government involvement.

posted November 27, 2006 03:34 PM         

quote:

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I'm well aware of the limits to free speech.

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posted November 27, 2006 04:53 PM         

I could be pushed to no end by someone of color (be they White, Hispanic, Jewish, African American or whatever) and I have in the past been bullied by people, but using the color of their skin or sexual orientation against them never entered my mind.

Getting angry at someone for being an idiot or a heckler is one thing, bringing in the person's ethnicity or color is quite another.

As a kid, if I had called anyone a racist name my dad and mom would have kicked my butt. When I asked what the names meant when I heard them, he said it meant the people that said that crap were low-class idiots.

posted November 27, 2006 06:33 PM         

This is obvious by looking at him and listening to him....

He was high...

And unfortunaely, when you're intoxicated......

You know.

The truth. What it is normally kept locked inside, inhibition tears out loose....

posted November 27, 2006 07:20 PM         

Going on stage is supposed to be fun - the comic and audience both have fun. When the laughter and excitement from that goes -then it's time for the comic to pack up and go. If the guy is having emotional problems then he should go get help and stay off the stage for a while till the mental health has improved.

No personal feelings or any other thing like that has no place in Professionalism when it comes to reacting to what was said to you. A guy has no right to ever treat or say to another harmful, disrespectful things. This is unacceptable. This guy is responsible for his own reactions. He chose to respond in a manner that greatly upset a lot of people and a lot of damage has been done. A comedy club is open for business and they depend upon their shows to get people into the club. If I ran an open mic night - I would not allow him to even go on stage. Possible lose cannon.

In Canada - I would think that no corperation would want to touch him. You wanna do business and make good money at it then you keep your jokes clean and never harm another in your act. that's an acceptable and tasteful way to go. A person's audience comes from all walks of life and with different backgrounds and ages.

Richards has not earned the right to talk about afro-americans. Afro-american Comedians can make jokes about themselves because they lived the life and the experience. Stand up comedy material must be original and from one's life in order to connect with the audience. I am a highly sensitive person and I can make jokes about myself being highly sensitive and introverted as a mushroom. On stage you have to be who you are and and be open with it.

In every audience there are a few difficult people in there - everywhere you look there are difficult people who will try and dampen your spirits and cut you down - what's the point of giving away your own power and appearing like a crazy person? Not worth it.

Some of the comedians that I am around do smoke a joint before going on stage and other drink. It was stated in my comedy workshop that one shouldn't really drink before going on stage. One has to be not under the influence and thus not influence the performance.

posted November 27, 2006 09:11 PM         

media is indeed fickle as someone stated.
I quote this as a good launching point for further debate "Many black comedians engage in racist diatribes against whites yet are endorsed by the mainstream media" Look at Dave Chappelle...Richord Pry..ect...when they do it, it is funny.

While I do not agree with Richards AT ALL I notice a few things and want to say... 1. I want to see the video that came before his tirade too. what forced him to that? how bad were the hecklers? 2. The audience was laughing for a while, if you listen. Opinions on that? 3. why did the black man in the audience respond in kind? cracker ass?

Again, while I do not condone these types of actions, I agree with a few of the people who mentioned freedom of speech. Freedom of speech CAN NOT be conditional or the applied conditions in regards to free speech may become to strict in the long run.

And the fact that I say that may be because I am not a believer in newspeak..I mean political correct talk either. I feel that it makes to many people fearful of what to say, think and do.

posted November 27, 2006 09:11 PM         

Also...there is no excuse for what he said. Anger,frustration is not a legitimate excuse to hurl racial slurs at people just like anger,frustration is not a legitimate excuse to be violent towards anybody. another thing..I don't condone blacks calling white people "cracker,cracka" like I saw on the video. I am against stuff like that. You don't respond to racial slur with a racial slur.

the n-word is one of the few words that easily sets me off. I have been called that numerous times...even in Astrologyy chatrooms,and people thought I was overreacting. That even ****** me off even more. I wanted to kick people's butts for calling me racial slurs. It's frustrating when you can't kick a person's butt because he's behind a computer screen.

Racists of all kinds make me sick! I don't care what color they are. I even tried to physically attack black person in the navy because he said that white women get with black men because of their big dicks,sexual prowess and even implied that about my mom and father.. Being born to a white woman and black man and being around interracial stuff,I was very offended. It took 3 guys to take me down. I was that angry. Everybody thought I overreacted. Nobody in my communications dept were mixed like me except for 1 guy. His mom is black,and his father is white. He didn't claim his father. I embrace all my heritages. I don't care for Farrakhan wannabes. Black racists are just as annoying as white racists to me.

I have seen a lot of racist stuff on yahoo boards,and it really ****** me off too.

Racial slurs are wrong....doesn't matter what ethnicity. I will slam blacks for using racial slurs just as much as I will slam whites for using racial slurs.

I have been called a "nigger" numerous times in my life. The first time that I was called a nigger was when I was 9 years old on my birthday. It was a blue-eyed blonde girl who called me that. I was so hurt,I said that I was going to stab myself. I was always a highly sensitive,emotional kid..especially being a Dyslexic,Dyspraxic child who used to be in special ed. She and I were arguing about something,and she called me that racial slur. She and I were friends. I was friends with her sisters too.

"nigger" is a powerful word that reminds Blacks of slavery,chains,beatings,whippings,lynching,separation from families,and dehumanization,and inferiority,and most of all hate.

I also don't like it when blacks call each other that. They don't use the word,"nigger" They use the word "nigga" I even hate that myself. I don't use those words.

You know what's so ironic.
The last time I saw her was in 1991, she had a child by a black man.

I grew up believing that all ethnic groups should be in harmony and get along.

What do you expect from a mixed Black,Portuguese,English,German,French,Italian,Puerto Rican,Native American,and Jewish person.

The sabian symbol for my midheaven:

Midheaven in 11'14 Gemini
A Negro Girl fights for her independence in the City
liberation from the ghosts of the past
keywords:rising above conditioning and limitations. standing up for one's self. demanding better treatment. seeking recognition and self-respect. being in charge of one's life. breaking away from oppression. wanting a raise in pay or conditions. the need for freedom. desiring property and rewards. rising up from an "underdog" position or situation. the quest for identity.

The sabian aspect orb for my Sun trine Moon

Sun trine Moon waxing
117'51
An Indian Girl introduces her white lover to her assembled tribe
inner rebirth through a total acceptance of the primordial values manifest in the human body and its natural functions
keywords:challenging or going against the status quo. bringing in a new,more intellectual,element or bringing in a more natural,earth-based attitude. being the odd one out. revealing strange,foreign situations or truths to others. Accepting people without judgment. being welcoming and loving. clans. tribes

posted November 27, 2006 09:12 PM         

Here is something that I wrote in 1997. I wrote this from my soul. It is based on my idealism and my belief of unity and universal love. I believe in treating others like I wanted to be a treated - a human being with a soul. I believe in equal treatment. I don't believe in human inferiority nor human superority. My multiethnic background influenced my beliefs. My girlfriend is white like my mother. I don't see any big deal about that. I am tired of the racism that I am seeing on these boards. Racism of all kinds sickens me. I can't stand white racism..I can't stand black racism..I can't stand asian racism..I can't stand hispanic racism..I can't stand any racism period. It hurts me deeply that there are so many racists in my home country,USA. It's scary,depressing,and most of all..it's wrong. I hate the slurs by people in here. I hate the generalizations about ethnic groups. Not all people are the same. Don't group me with a whole bunch of people. You don't know me at all. It's plain ignorance. Another thing reason why I believe in treating others like I want to be treated is that I have a history of special education because I am Dyslexic,Dyspraxic with above average intelligence. I needed auditory therapy,speech therapy,and phonics as well as fine motor skills therapy. A lot of regular children called me "retard" even though I wasn't. It was mainly white boys. It was very painful to deal with stuff like that. It made me develop low self esteem. Even though I suffered from all this treatment,I still believe in treating others like I want to be treated.

U N I T Y
Unity is our ultimate goal
for we are the same
underneath our skins
that come in many colors.
Remember our blood
is the same color.
So keep that in mind.
Don't throw away the dream
which is unity.
There are no separate races
for there is only one race,
and that is the Human Race.
We are all created equal
because we are all human beings,
and so we should unite
on our home planet, Earth.
In order for our world to survive,
we have to stop the violence
and eradicate the hate
which will ultimately destroy us all.
Eternal peace will only be achieved
through love and compassion
as we struggle to coexist.
We should love each other
for we are all related
and should be in unity.

This was before I even knew Astrology....I didn't know about my having Moon in Pisces square Neptune...I didn't know anything about Astrology.

posted November 27, 2006 09:32 PM         

quote:

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"Many black comedians engage in racist diatribes against whites yet are endorsed by the mainstream media" Look at Dave Chappelle...Richord Pry..ect...when they do it, it is funny.

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Yeah the difference is that [i[that[/i] is comedy. He was being hateful and belligerant. No comparison.

There are others who make racial jokes, not just blacks. And again, this Kramer guy was not joking. One thing you need to keep in mind.

quote:

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An Indian Girl introduces her white lover to her assembled tribe

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Interesting Glaucus. Thats also the Sabian symbol for 28 degrees Cancer. Its my dad's.