I think the post reports an instructive episode. The "anti-racist" is quoted as saying, only members of a 'tribe' can appropriately use derogatory language about their own tribe.
We understand that race is something in your head, but no less real for that. It is a negative thing, but it is also a justifiable defense mechanism.
It is striking that what was acceptable thirty years ago -- Lenny Bruce, or some of Mel Brooks' films (Blazing Saddles, the Producers)-- is deeply problematic today. Is this because the early stuff enjoyed an atmosphere of greater intolerance, or less?
I don't want to offend people gratuitously (only constructively), but I don't want to be dictated to by sensitivity police. A race or gender joke can have an anti-intolerance effect in the way DP raises, but it can have the opposite one as well. People take them in different ways. Funny v. offensive is totally subjective. Nothing is objectively one or the other.
I guess the main point is that it is sad that the atmosphere -- the way people think -- does not allow for as much humor with an anti-intolerance impact. After all, some people want to censor Mark Twain. So there is more reason to take seriously the idea of not using language that refers to those not of one's 'tribe'. Not enough reason to stop me, however, in all instances.
mbs
Last night, on "Politically Incorrect," there was a rather heated, but, sadly, stupid discussion about racism in comedy. It was based on a joke made July 11 by the comedian Sarah Silverman during an appearance on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien." She was talking about how people will do anything to get out of jury duty, including pretending that they're racist. When she was called for duty, she looked for a way out:
"My friend is like, 'Why don't you write something inappropriate on the form, like -- I hate chinks.' " Silverman said. "But I don't want people to think I was racist, so I just filled out the form and I wrote, 'I love chinks.' And who doesn't?"
Well, this got one Guy Aoki of the Media Action Network stirred up, and he demanded a public apology. Silverman has refused. (NBC and O'Brien, however, did issue apologies.) The two of them appeared on "PI" last night and basically spat at each other (Silverman finally erupted and yelled "You're a douchebag, man!").
So, the question for the list is : Can a Jewish comedian use the term "chinks" in a joke about racism that is not in itself racist?
Aoki said that only members of a specific tribe can use abusive terms about that tribe. Silverman, and for the record, I, disagree. Context is everything. I was sorry that Lenny Bruce's famous bit about "n-words" wasn't brought up (the idea is that if you say a word enough times it begins to lose its power).
For background, I've provided two links below.
http://www.janet.org/~manaa/home.html
http://www.geocities.com/we_want_sarah/observatory.html
DP