What were you thinking? Well, I guess we know what you were thinking. People have been comparing this to the Mel Gibson tirade a few months ago, which I suppose is a fair assessment of the situation. But this went a step further, if you ask me. Richards wasn't drunk. Richards didn't make a few statements and then shut up. Richards went far, too far, and will never be able to come back from this. He may try to make up for it, maybe do a buddy movie with a black actor, but to have gone to the lengths he did...career suicide.
My gripe today is with CNN. They have this "Your E-Mails" section dedicated to this story, where people from around the country can write in with their thoughts on the topic. What they don't have is a way for us to write to the folks that are writing in. They publish their names and locations, but that is it. Well, here we go. I have to answer some of these.
Lucy Ziegenhorn from Stafford, Virginia writes
People need to remember he was provoked during his "act." How would these same people react if they were bothered in the same way while they're "working"? Michael was "working" while he was "heckled" by these same people that are now playing the victim card. Let's not forget most African-Americans, whether they're comedians or not, always refer to each other as [the "n word"] which is acceptable to them. Michael apologized already ... move on people.
Oh, Lucy. First of all, how does the fact that he was working justify not only the use of the word "nigger", but the onslaught of other racially motivated slurs that he was throwing? "That's what happens when you interrupt a white man." To say that spewing racist remarks because of hurt feelings is ok gives us license to do all sorts of harmful things. Lucy, gain some insight here.
Mark Howell from Round Rock, Texas
Apparently the ["n word"] is offensive to blacks only if it comes from a white person's mouth. Where's their outrage with all the blacks that call each other [that word].
Mark, you and Lucy seem to have picked up on the same thing here. Yes. It is only offensive if it comes from a white person's mouth. Just as gay people can call themselves "fags", and Jewish people can poke fun at themselves. It's a method of lessening the power of the word. Taking it back. Whether or not I agree with the use of the word by black people is completely irrelevant. I assume, Mark, that you are white. And you're probably one of those people who say "Why is Black Pride ok, but white pride is wrong?" or "Why is there black history month and not white history month?" To you, I suggest going to your local community college (you're in Round Rock, which for all you non-Texans, is on the outskirts of Austin. You've got pretty good schools there, buddy) and enroll in an African American History course. You'll never think that way again. (Shout out to Lois Owens, my African American History teacher in college who talked me into taking the course!)
Tanisha Washington from Los Angeles, California
He is a very sincere man who lost his temper. He is a great comedy person, and very talented. He is obviously not a bigot. He is forgiven for losing his temper. We love him!
Tanisha. Don't forgive him. People who aren't bigots don't have that inside of them.
James Hamilton from Riverside, California
Richards' comments were just as bad as those audience members calling Richards a "cracker." Did those people also apologize for their racist name-calling? Where is the outcry for racial comments against whites?
James! You honestly think being called a "cracker" is equal to being called a "nigger"? Perspective, please.
John White from Tulsa, Oklahoma
Comedian Paul Rodriguez said, "Once the word comes out of your mouth and you don't happen to be African-American, then you have a whole lot of explaining." Mr. Rodriguez: Please explain to me why it matters if you don't happen to be African-American? Do blacks have carte blanche to use that word freely while expecting everyone else to shun it? Using slurs is wrong regardless of the speaker or the target, and if something is wrong, then it's wrong for everyone. To claim that history provides some kind of exception or loophole just contributes to more frustration and resentment between races.
Yes, John. Exactly. If Michael Richards was rapping, and talking about how he and "his niggaz" were hittin' it, then maybe he wouldn't have caused the uproar. If you notice, when black people refer to themselves as "niggers", they're not doing so in a malicious, racist sense. Richards was. He used it as a weapon, rather than a mark of solidarity. Which, considering his race, would have amounted to crap.
This whole situation may indeed have been the victim of a slow media day, despite the fact that this has been the most deadly month in the Iraq war history. But, I'm glad that if nothing else, it's opening up dialogue. Maybe people will have an opportunity to ask questions, blog, yell, scream, whatever. The end fact is that it happened. And, like Mel, he will be hurting because of it. Unlike Mel, most people probably won't care all that much that he's heading into the abyss as the punch line of the year.
Goodbye, Kramer. Don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out.
