For starters, I don’t understand why you need to call me obtuse. This is the first time you have provided an example of what you claim to be a racist statement by Shodan. How, exactly, am I being obtuse? Was I supposed to read your mind?
Second, absent a working definition of racism, which I now request for the FOURTH time, and absent the context of the quote, no, I am not prepared to call it racism.
It’s from the musical Merrily We Roll Along, which bombed on Broadway (cite). The idea is to imply that the Obama administration would also turn the White House beige (he is half black, in case you hadn’t been told - that’s why it has to be “beige” not “brown”) and would also bomb after only a few performances.
As mentioned elsewhere, I don’t expect this to do much good. [list=a][li]It never helps to explain a joke []For some reason, jokes about Obama don’t seem to get the same reaction as jokes about, well, anything else in creation []Those who are determined to characterize any joke about Obama as racist aren’t going to read it anyway.[/list][/li]
I’m not saying that you are one of those people. I am saying that leander’s accusation of racism is intended to end the discussion, not add anything to it.
The bit about bombing after a few performances - not bad, there’s a chuckle or two there. The bit about turning the White House beige is just weird. If George W. Bush got a bad sunburn, would the White House turn pink? I am not finding the hilarity in this comedic setup.
That’s not a definition. It’s an example. Do you understand the difference?
An example, by the way, that would make Chris Rock a racist. Is he? Is Steven Sondheim?
I’d have to know the context. As you have presented it, it just seems stupid. Does he have Korean children? Who was he telling the joke to? What was the set-up?
Things are not nearly as cut and dried as you seem to believe. A charge of racism is a serious one, in my mind, and one that should not be uttered without cause. So far, you have completely failed to back it up. You should be ashamed of yourself. Racism is a serious problem. Flinging these kind of false charges about just muddies the waters, and deflects from real incidents that need to be addressed.
Contra, you appear to be both stupid and obtuse. First, if you want a definition look it up in a dictionary. I’m not about to hold your hand.
Second, read this entire thread if you want the context. It always boggles my mind when idiots jump in and make stupid ass comments without reading the entire thread.
I like how you’re trying to shame leander into stifling discussion. Seems to be the MO these days. “How dare you, sir!”
Shodan’s joke was racist. Not horribly. Pretty mild as racism goes. Far as I can tell, Sondheim’s use of beige isn’t racist because he’s not linking it to the occupant’s skin color, but Shodan referenced it precisely because of that link.
And yeah, Chris Rock can be kinda racist at times, although it’s hard to argue that when you talk about your own race.
I want *your *working definition. What dictionary should I use? And why did it take you so long to respond?
I have read the entire thread. You have supplied no context whatsoever.
Stifling discussion? I’m practically begging him to engage. And you may want to check and see which one of us has resorted to name calling and ad hominem atttacks. Typical tactics for one who has no argument and simply wants to stifle discussion, as you say. Here’s a hint. It isn’t me.
Why? Can you do more than **Leander **and construct an argument that doesn’t simply repeat the same assertions over and over?