Carol Thatcher and the racist remark

[BimboBob]

Some of my best friends are goll...

Erm,i mean coo...

Erm,nigg...

Samb...


Damn.

 

[tueartsboots]

Is saying an off guard comment racist?
At school my best mate was a black lad, the only one in the school. One day, messing about, I jokingly threatened to use my "Black Magic" on another lad. He said go on then, I, without being offensive, said John, get him ! Once he had stopped throttling me, we had a good laugh !

 

[MCFC1986]

Monfils?

if it was about this guy he does look like a gollywog...my mate looks like a character of a cartoon and i always say it to him. I don't think it's racist.

 

[Swales lives]

Is saying an off guard comment racist?
At school my best mate was a black lad, the only one in the school. One day, messing about, I jokingly threatened to use my "Black Magic" on another lad. He said go on then, I, without being offensive, said John, get him ! Once he had stopped throttling me, we had a good laugh !

That isn't racist, context is everything.

 

[tueartsboots]

Is saying an off guard comment racist?
At school my best mate was a black lad, the only one in the school. One day, messing about, I jokingly threatened to use my "Black Magic" on another lad. He said go on then, I, without being offensive, said John, get him ! Once he had stopped throttling me, we had a good laugh !

That isn't racist, context is everything.

But to the casual observer?

 

[Bigga]

Monfils?

if it was about this guy he does look like a gollywog...my mate looks like a character of a cartoon and i always say it to him. I don't think it's racist.

No surprise that there are two morons in agreement here...

Anyway, the fact that Thatcher said what she said under the BBC roof, means she HAS to adhere to their rules. That's a fact and she'll know of that in her contract. However, the incident was a private matter and should have been dealt with, as such, by the BBC. This reaction of theirs is a knee jerk one, in hindsight to the J Ross incident in WHICH they suspended a man who was more abusive in many ways AND gave him his highly paid job back!

The BBC have made a rod for their own back and I, for one, would not be surprised to see this matter taken to court, using Ross as the example.

 

[dannybcity]

If you don't think it's racist go and say it to the biggest black person you can find, see what they think.

Go on...I dare you.

 

[tueartsboots]

If you don't think it's racist go and say it to the biggest black person you can find, see what they think.

Go on...I dare you.

I've got to go to Hackney later, might give it a try !

 

[Bigga]

In addition to my post above, I forgot to add that the only people Thatcher should apologise to, are those people who witnessed the remark in the first place.

 

[ElanJo]

Why are people sticking up for Carol Thatcher?
She made racist remark about a tennis player looking like a "gollywog", not in a private conversation as reported in some papers.
The comment was made in front of a dozen people, she's had plenty of time to apologise for causing offence. She has chosen not to.
I blame the parents.

Rory McGrath made a remark about Gary Lineker having big ears on They Think It's All Over, which was broadcast to millions of people a few years ago. Other big-eared people were bound to be watching.
He's had years to apologise, but has chosen not to.

Big Brother's Coolio used the n-word on the show in front of his other housemates, a word former contestant Emily was KICKED OUT for using. He's had plenty of time to apologise. He has chosen not to.

Big Brother's Darnell used the n-word on the show in front of his other housemates, a word former contestant Emily was KICKED OUT for using. He's had plenty of time to apologise. He has chosen not to.

Millions of people called Sarah Palin a 'red-neck', but not all of them have chosen to apologise.

Frankie Boyle made a joke about the French on Mock the Week, and has chosen not to apologise.

Al Murray made a joke about the Germans on The Pub Landlord, and has chosen not to apologise.

Ricky Gervais featured jokes about a Golliwog on his TV show 'Extras', as well as a joke about Crimewatch featuring a disproportionate amount of black actors.

Give it a rest you fucking twat.

...And I am choosing not to apologise for that.

1. A man calling another man "big ears" on a comedy show is not racist or even remotely offensive.
2. Black men (Coolio & Darnell) using the word "******" is not racist language. It's an inclusive term, which can only be used by black people, in the same way as only gay people can call each other "queer". I thought that was obvious.
3. Sarah Palin "redneck" - uneducated, unsophisticated white person. Fact.
4. Frankie Boyle, Al Murray - French/German jokes. Surely nobody finds these offensive, we have a history of mutual respect, animosity, unity, competition and wars with these nations. Whilst it is xenophobic, it is not racist.
5. Ricky Gervais playing a character who is racist, does not make him racist in real life. No apologies needed.

Your argument is paper thin, your choice of language is offensive, and you are the only person who should apologise.
Though I doubt you will.

They are fundamentally the same in that it is a disgust, or mockery, of appearance, and viewing ones appearance, that the mocked had nothing to do with, as tho it is indicative of personality or actions.
Obviously to depict a whole race of people as being all the same is a worse flaw, and bigger generalisation, but the term "racist" is thought of as a much worse crime (the worst thought-crime?) and I think alot of that has to do with the fact no-one has been enslaved because they, lets say, have big ears.
I'm guessing referring to someones nose, in Rwanda, is considered highly offensive, whereas here? not at all. It just goes to show that the way we view "thought-crimes" is not entirely objective, instead based on history and, to a large extent, some sense of mass guilt. We pay for past generation's mistakes and bigotry.