I Was a Big "Kramer" Fan...

I'm guessing that was your favorite teacher since he appears to have been your mentor as often as not... and for the record... I think you are a jackass.

Normally I think Snood is being oversensitive when he discusses racism... but on this thread, I think he's being under-sensitive... or perhaps overbroad in his assessment that we all have the potential to behave in the fashion Richards did. A saint, I am not. I laugh at racist jokes without remorse if they are funny, and no one who'd be offended is within earshot... and to the extent that makes me a racist; I am guilty.

However; I cannot fathom a circumstance of any amount of hardship where I'd respond with a hatred I've never felt. Were a black man beating me to death; I doubt the term "nigger" would come to mind... any more than if an Israeli man were beating me to death; "jew" would come to mind, etc... let alone if they were just heckling me. That kind of racism has to exist before you can let it out because you're angry. Two listens to Richards' rant were sufficient to demonstrate that he wasn't reaching for hurtful words, rather, he was angry enough for his thoughts to come out uncensored. His uncensored thoughts were overtly racist and I've little choice but to assume his apologists are trying to justify identifying with them. Religious folks can pity such fools... but most other decent folks have little choice but to view them with disdain.

C-word comparison... I personally find the C-word at least, if not more, offensive than the N-word. It should be noted for those residing outside the U.S. that the word is seldom, if ever, used in jest in this country. The same type of idiot seem to think it's OK (as is evidenced on this thread). A man from Bermuda, for instance, could use it as easily as "dumbass" and I wouldn't be terribly offended. If he's from Wisconsin, however, he'd better be ready for battle...

Lasting effects: I think Seinfeld was comedic brilliance... perhaps as good as it will ever get in a sitcom... and I doubt Richards' idiocy will change my opinion. I do remember not being able to find Jason Alexander's character (George) funny... for quite a while, because he struck Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman". Silly, I know... but then I still can't hardly stand to look at Glenn Close because of her brilliant performance in Fatal Attraction. I imagine it will take some time, but given time, the comedy of Kramer will override my disdain for Richards himself.

I resemble that remark... hope the hunting is good in Wisconsin this fall, business too, and dopey Doyle doesn't spoil it for everyone.

Okay, you got me. Why is the "c-word" (you know, ****) any worse than any other insult? Seriously.

I'm wondering too. You are talking about "cracker-ass", right?

When the Letterman crowd laughed during the apology it coincided with Kramers use of the term "Afro-American."

When I heard it my brain instantaneously shook - searching out how long it had been since I had last heard that terminology.

I assumed that was what made people laugh, but I haven't heard anyone refer to his use of "Afro-American."

Is that still in use?

Hey. I got censored! I guess it is a bad word, after all. (Sorry 'bout that, mods!!)

Not with anyone I know.

I haven't heard Afro-American in a long time either.

I don't understand why people use African-American when referring to the black population. That's assuming all black people hail from Africa. It's like calling all Asian people "Chinamen."

To late...

So, it is likely that the use of Afro-American in an apology for insulting / and using the N word resulted in nervous laughter. When I heard it I was in the middle of trying to determine his sincerity and then... WHAM!

I think that's why it didn't go over so well.

I associate the term "Afro-American" with the 70's. African-American just takes too long to say and sounds too stuffy. Black works, black has no negatives that I can think of. I'm sticking to basic black, it's never out of fashion. I refer to myself as white, not caucasian, not Eastern European-American, not Ashkenazi-American, just plain ol' pasty white.
Although I would never refer to Asians as "Yellows", everything is relative.

Exactly. And, I would add that by using a term from the 70's to say "I'm not a racist" after a rant that was obviously not being filtered by his conscience, put me on the edge of my seat. I was waiting the whole time for him to say "Some of my best friends are black."

Although I'm often referred to as white, actually I just have translucent fur that reflects the light and makes me appear white. I'm actually closely related to the brown bear.

Call me whatever you like as long as I get laid regular.

What are you talkin' about Squinney?

Some of my best friends are women--but i wouldn't want my daughter to marry one.

Wait a minute . . .

Nah... I think there would have been nervous laughter in any case, because it was such an awkward situation, and because Richards was so obviously ill at ease.

I call myself "black", even though my mom's Filipino.

I think that most people would be fine with being called "black" or "african american". I think that most people would think it a little odd to be called "afro american", and that the person using that term would be looked at as a little out of touch, but that it wouldn't cause offense.

I don't think anyone uses the term "negro" unless they're speaking in historical or anthropological terms, and I think most people under the age of 50 would probably be offended by it.

The rest of the names I can think of are clearly insults unless they're used among blacks (which is a whole 'nother can of worms).

I think part of the reason for the laughter was the timing... of the day that is.

Remember, Letterman is filmed during the day and the story was still kind of breaking that day. Many of the people in the audience may not have heard the story yet about the rant and thought that this was some sort of bit that the Seinfeld crew was doing.

Hey, appreciated. Evolution is a lovely thing. :-)

On a related side-note:

What is the PC term for native Indians in the US? In Canada, we have used the terms: Native Indians, Aborigines, Indigenous Peoples, First Nations, and who knows what else.

We were brought up using the word "tribe" but that is now a no-no... you must say "Band". I don't know what was wrong with "Indian"... it's no different than saying "Asian", is it? It may not be what they called themselves, but they also did not refer to themselves by the other terms. It's hard to keep up.

Many native Americans call themselves Indians. Others Native American. I am certain many prefer their tribal names.