It’s not just Michael Richards
According to Skeptic magazine’s Michael Shermer in today’s LA Times, you’re a racist too. And so am I. And so is he.
So does this finally answer a question posed by many (including me, in my play “Animals”): Given our animal nature, are we doomed to behave like animals?
I guess the answer would be yes.
November 24th, 2006 at 3:56 pm
I think we all have some prejudice towards some group outside our own. It is up to each of us to recognize this and work to over come it. If a person says that they have no prejudice towards a group of people, then that person is lying to themselves and us.
At times we need some idiot to mouth off to bring topics like this to conversations. All too often the topic of prejudice and racism is not spoken of and debated. Using Michael Richards’ melt down as a starting point for a conversation can bring some good out of a bad situation.
Paul
November 24th, 2006 at 8:55 pm
Everyone is wary of someone who is not like them. Everyone prefers to be around people just like themselves.
It’s not about black and white, jew or christian. Rather it’s about thoughts and actions, shared ideals and values.
Accept the fact that most of us want to be in a world of people just like ourselves and one realizes racism is just a label that deals with human nature.
December 2nd, 2006 at 6:54 pm
Everyone has a valid viewpoint here, but the super-thick blanket of political correctness continues to obscure the true issue beneath which is the continual erosion of etiquette in our society.
Was Michael Richards wrong to phrase his anger in a hateful way? Most likely. But why was he angry to begin with? Could it be that the oh-so-wounded “victims” were actually rude, obnoxious patrons who were disturbing not only the performer but the audience as well? Has it crossed anyone’s minds that the most vulnerable person in the room – you know, that guy alone on the stage with everyone . . . well almost everyone . . . looking at him – was actually the victim here?
And who continues to suffer from this experience? The outraged loud-mouthed heckling recipiants of Richard’s unfortunately-phrased attempt to regain control of his act? No, they’re now drooling over the possibility of a financial windfall. No. Its the guy in the spotlight who was provoked and then vilified, as well as the rest of America.
I think it’s painfully clear who the animals here are.