The Race Is On
Over the weekend, Michael Richards (Kramer from Seinfield was performing at the Laugh Box (or something liek that) in LA. The audience (all what, 20 of them?) were talking during his routine and began heckling him. Because it's not hard to do, he was Kramer for god's sake. The stupidest character on the stupidest show. Sorry, tangent.
Mr. Richards began yelling at the audience, which whatever, its his lack of career.
Then he dropped the 'N' bomb. Multiple times. (For those unsure, its the one that rhymes with 'trigger'.) Directly at the audience.
He's not allowed at the Laugh Box anymore. The country is scrutenizing him like nothing else. He went on Letterman last night via satellite to apologize and the audience laughed during the apology. Which is sad and kinda funny.
What upsets me is that the world is being so hard on him because he directed it at audience members, which I agree is uncool. But the prevelance of racial slurs in most stand up routines for comedians OF color is astounding. Would it have been as offensive if Michael Richards would have called someone a term like the 'N' bomb DURING the routine? Yes, it would have, we all know it. Why? Because he is about as white as Casper the Racially Minded and Politically Correct Ghost. He calls someone a 'mud baby' during a routine and he's a bigot SOB who deserves to be burned at the proverbial stake. Chris Rock drops the 'N' bomb, and its politically correct and totally okay. The same goes with derogatory terms for ALL races. If you are a member of that race, its allowed, but if not, you are a racist bastard.
There are two options: either lighten the hell up about people using racial slurs or STOP USING THEM YOURSELF!!!!!! There are terms i SURE don't use, despite fitting into the demographic. Being called a wop is just as offensive coming from an italian as it is from a toad sucker (that's a Frenchman).
In regard to Michael Richards: Leave him the hell alone. It's not like he's in the media enough for an impact to be made from what he said. And on top of that, any one of you pushed to the line would probably say the same thing in his place. Humiliation of a performer who is doing what he does is quite possibly the biggest kick in the balls you can imagine, and it's not easy to turn the other cheek when its being thrown in your face.
