Tuesday, June 16th, 2009...11:56 am
Both racist and sexist jokes should stop
Rusty DePass, a former chairman of the Richland County Republican Party in Columbia, S.C., read a Facebook posting recently about a gorilla that had briefly escaped from the Columbia zoo, injuring one person.
Minutes later, DePass posted this: “I’m sure it’s just one of Michelle’s ancestors — probably harmless.”
He told reporters his reference to Michelle Obama was just a joke, a jab at her statements that man had descended from apes. No one has been able to find those comments, however.
DePass has apologized and the comment has since been deleted along with his Facebook page.
As clueless as that may seem, an aide for a Republican lawmaker in Tennessee makes DePass look brilliant.
Sherri Goforth, a legislative aide for Republican Tenn. Sen. Diane Black sent an e-mail on May 28, showing our first 43 presidents in portrait style and the 44th, Barack Obama, as white eyes on a black background.
Goforth thought she was sending the e-mail to a list of people who would appreciate the racist implications. Instead, she sent it to a few others.
Black said Goforth sent the e-mail from her state computer and that it’s a violation of state policy. After consulting state human resources staff, Black reprimanded Goforth verbally and placed a written reprimand in her file. But Goforth, a 20-year employee, gets to keep her job.
When a blogger, “Nashville is Talking,” asked Goforth about the email, she said, “I went on the wrong email and I inadvertently hit the wrong button. I’m very sick about it, and it’s one of those things I can’t change or take back.”
The blogger gave her two chances to say how remorseful she was about sending the racist e-mail, but she again repeated she was sorry she sent it to the wrong people.
At least she didn’t make up a reason, like she thought the comic white eyeballs, prevalent in a lot of racist literature about black people, looked just like her president.
If show host David Letterman’s joke about Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s daughter wasn’t appropriate, wasn’t a joke —which it wasn’t — then these two examples shouldn’t be considered funny either.
I am a native Kentuckian, and I have worked at the Lexington Herald-Leader for nearly a quarter of a century. I've been a columnist for almost 20 of those years, dispensing my opinions about anything and everything. Born in Owensboro, Ky., I'm old enough to have lived through racial segregation, the Civil Rights Movement, protests against the Vietnam War, and the break-up of the Beatles. That means I am "old school," and my thoughts emanate from that perspective.
4 Comments
June 16th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Jokes are called jokes because they are not true and are intended to make people laugh. Yes, the Michelle Obama rib was ridiculous but it was not as mush of a joke as it was a very stupid comment. The Letterman joke about Palin was absolutly hilarious especially considering how Palin has been using her daugthers for political gain since she has risen into the spotlight. The last time I checked we lived in America where anyone is supposed to be able to say anything when ever they want without persecution. Convient how people forget that when what is said hurts thier feelings instead of them saying something that may hurt someone else’s. Completly ridiculous article by this writer that pushes the ridiculous concept of being politically correct all the time. When it is goverened upon me what we can and cannot say it will be a sad day for our country and all of those who have died to protect it over the years.
June 16th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Why no comments about the next supreme court justice, not only does she think that judges make laws, she is smarter than every white guy.
fyi I am from the trailer park and married to a black woman
Brandon McGarrell DMD
June 16th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Merlene,
I agree that the two “jokes” above are not funny and inappropriate. You could have used countless other examples of African Americans making derogatory jokes. A couple of examples come to mind. Jesse Jackson, while running for President no less, referring to New York as Hymietown. Very offensive to Jewish people. How about Reverend Wright of Chicago making fun of Hillary Clinton, a US Senator?
A little more balance in your columns would be appreciated.
June 16th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Jokes are intended to offend someone. That’s why they end with a “punch” line. We Appalachian-Americans are caricatured as being poor trailer trash and stupid hillbillies as well as inbred hicks. People have got to stop being so sensitive and toughen the Hell up. A joke is a joke and that’s that. No more, no less. When did taste become a Constitutional issue? Mrs. Davis, you certainly don’t need to be casting stones accusing someone of racist remarks. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black?
Leave a Reply