The Barr-iers to Speaking Frankly

[XLFD]

Whenever anybody tries to communicate to others, there is always the potential for a misunderstanding to occur simply because the receiver cannot read the mind of the sender and that their own experiences may render their interpretation of the message as something completely different as it was intended to be.  

This was nowhere more apparent here in Ludington back in the summer of 2016 when the city manager and a councilor took offense at words printed on this website by two of our more vocal members.  Neither of the two members said anything explicitly threatening, rather the two 'victims' read a lot more into the words than was ever meant (as both members told the LPD in their investigation).  

The end result of that investigation was a memorable meeting involving all local media outlets where the LPD Chief and the two 'victim' took terms lying without limit between spats of name-calling somebody whose only offense was that he allowed such inoffensive talk to not be censored.  While the incident likely cost me a lot of votes in that year's election, it also elicited a lot of sympathy from those who investigated the facts and came to the same conclusion as me, that it was nothing more than a witch hunt used to discredit two honorable businessmen who compete with the city's marina business, and a city council candidate looking to change the status quo.

In the same vein, a simple Twitter remark made by an eccentric actress who has had a surprisingly successful new network program has been interpreted by millions of people as saying a lot more than what it actually says.  Unless you've been living in a spider hole, you have probably heard of the tweet numerous times over the last three days:

Comedienne Roseanne Barr is obviously trying to create a mix & match joke, which typically starts off with the words:  "What do you get when you cross a _____ with a ______?"  At first glance the 'joke' does not appear all that funny, since few people know much about Valerie Jarrett to begin with to associate the two 'parents' with her.  Likewise, the Muslim Brotherhood is a religious group normally associated with terrorist acts, and the "Planet of the Apes" is a movie based on a French novel, rendering the baby-making difficult in the first place.  

Nevertheless, millions of people immediately either remarked or agreed with it being a 'racist' remark, rather than being just a very poor attempt at humor.  Frankly, I had never really noticed the race of Jarrett (pictured below) before, nor is it important to me.   The charge of racism, however, was noticeably found all over the place, and so I tried to figure out why.

 

Most pundits and reporters seemed to suggest that a "Planet of the Apes" reference in regards to a person who has any black ancestors was racism.  I disagree, and would suggest that such a connection actually implies that the person making such a link has their own failed issues with racism.  Let's consider that Barr is old enough to remember when the original movie came out and had likely viewed it over her lifetime.  

A look at the cast of characters of that movie shows that there was only one black actor used-- and that he was one of the astronauts (Dodge) who land on the planet, which we eventually find out to be a future earth.  It should be noted that there were no black Americans serving as astronauts until 15 years after this movie.

Every single ape, chimpanzee and orangutan in the film was portrayed by white folks, most considered handsome or beautiful at the time, such as Kim Hunter as Zira:

Racism was definitely not a main theme of the novel (1963) or the original movie (1968), but like any good work of art, some made those connections, like Sammy Davis Jr. who said the film was the best allegory on race relations he'd ever seen.  This was definitely understandable with the racial tensions of those times.  The main themes of the movie seem to be allegories of an apocalyptic and dystopian future, and about animal rights.   

As the Muslim Brotherhood's membership is not restricted by race but by religion, the racism reference definitely is misplaced regarding that.  It should be noticed, that Jarrett had often served as the Obama Administration's liaison between Muslim organizations of questionable reputation and the White House, where she was a key advisor to the president.  She has never revealed her own personal faith during all that time.

So where does the charge of racism come from?  Roseanne appears to not have meant any herself from her tweets immediately following the outrage, she only begins to apologize later on when the chorus of racism becomes overwhelming.  Why do some people want to assign their own limited perceptions to another person's words when the meaning is far from clear?  The poor mix & match coupling choice had people wondering what her "Planet of the Apes" reference was all about, and a tweet doesn't offer a lot of room for instant explanations.  

The critics and name-callers may have attached their own internal racism and prejudices against the unapologetically conservative actress to what was a poorly constructed and conceived joke.  Those are the prejudices and racisms we all need to curb, rather than use that ignorance for some nefarious or political purpose as too many folks are wont to do.  Such incidences of intolerance only goes further to erode our First Amendment protections.

[Willy]

Of course you are correct. There is no connection to racism here. A Religion and biology combination maybe but no racism. This is just an excuse to get rid of the Rosanne show.

Samantha Bee who made the vulgar remarks about Trump's daughter get... for her comments and Rosanne gets escorted out of the building. When will people wake up to the Marxist leftist who are trying to implode America.

[stump]

   In todays world it seems that if someone says something that is not politically  correct or just being a slime ball or for that matter a accused sex offender, all they have to do is say I'm sorry that you miss understood my intensions. I say that's bull shit. People need to be held accountable for what they say and do.  Roseann is what she is. I would not call her a comedian ,comedians make you laugh at things that are funny. Racist, prejudices, or what ever people want to call it  she has always been on the edge , I never watched her first show  or her latest as I just  don't care for that type of talk.  You can defend her all day long that's on you . She truly has a mental problem that should be recognized.  And for this other woman , Bee, never heard of her. Hopefully never will have to hear her filthy mouth again either. Does her audience think she's funny?    I say fire her ass also. I don't think writers of the first amendment  had anything in mind like this when it was written.

[Freedom Seeker]

Good points, Stump. I agree Roseanne did not come close to funny with that comment. If she is that ignorant of the connotation of Planet of Apes racial slur then she shouldn't speak in public. There has to be a line between freedom of speech and insults to others. One more reason to lose respect for Roseanne.

[XLFD]

I must be the most racially insensitive guy around but I honestly cannot relate a "Prison of the Apes" reference to a racial slur.  I regularly referred to one of my children as a monkey, she had a monkey winter ensemble (see picture) and we regularly walked around Ludington trying to get more monkey points than the other.  Was I promoting a racial slur or culturally appropriating even though she (and I) don't likely have any African American heritage?  

Surely you have seen Trump claimed to be sired by an orangutan by Bill Maher and others, and a host of comparisons of George W Bush to monkeys.  How can you say comparing a person to a monkey/ape/orangutan is somehow racist?  But this is more than Roseanne did; in my reckoning, one has to go through three lines of one's own biased inferences to get to a claim of racism from her tweet.  A bad joke that could be misunderstood, surely; a sound reason to fire her, no.

[Willy]

I think many people are missing the point of what has taken place. Since when is making a joke or comment a reason to take away someones source of income. It matters not what a person thinks of those that voice opinions, jokes, comments or any other statements, the fact that someone in power can bring a hammer down on them because they disagree is, to me, a dangerous way of reacting. Rosanne comment was not done in connection with her work but those in power made sure that what she said would not only impact her but all the other people connected to her thru her show. Does anyone else see the tyrannical attitude displayed here? It's all about control, not concerns over offending people. The fact that many people think it's OK to wield power over others in this way is disturbing. I find many conservatives are buying into this mind set. Probably because they themselves don't want to get pounded with the hammer or they want to appear to be "fair". Open communication is paramount to a free society. If your offended then state your opinion then ignore, change the channel or grow thicker skin.

[stump]

  So when the city council is unloading their tyrants on XLFD your OK with your freedom of speech  angle?  Say what ever you want to anybody at any time , it doesn't have to be true or in or out of context just blabber away.  No, you should be accountable for what you say and do. I look at it this way, If you wouldn't say it to your MOTHER , keep your mouth shut!!!!!

[Willy]

stump, your talking apples and oranges. A City Council meeting is official Government business which is governed by rules and regulations. Stating your opinions and ideas on social media is a very different animal.

[XLFD]

The rants that city officials use against me (and others who are critical) at council meetings are typically not very subtle.  Whether it be Shay slander falsely slandering me whenever the City loses a lawsuit or a councilor launching a subjective personal attack at the end of the meeting, they have never did it as tactfully as Roseanne did it here. 

If Councilor Moonbeam said:  "Breitbart News Network & Mr. Smith Goes to Washington had a baby = XLFD", I would be both somewhat amused and honored for the thought she put into the statement, rather than an insipid note that implies I have made a personal attack, when there was none made by me.  

[stump]

   Isn't the council meeting taped and aired on TV ?   I would think that would be media. But then does anyone watch it? and if they do, what are they thinking of our local council? Slime ball councilors for criticizing a fellow local citizen   or good going , put XLFD in his place. I vote Slime balls.

[stump]

   XLFD , you haven't spent much time around the African American people to understand how they think. They think the white race is against them and the cause of all their problems. I have found that their the most racist people there is.If anyone { white } calls one or reference to a monkey they go ballistic. Most think we owe them a living, most are on welfare and know how to use the system which they play up pretty big as no one will turn them down because they will play the racist card, DISCRIMINATION!!!!!  Their always talking about their great great great grand father was a slave. They won't admit that the first slave owners were blacks.   Google that. I have to admit that some of their ancestors were slaves , but my Grand Daddy ,Dad didn't have any or myself. They have to take control of their lives and stop playing the racist card which everybody is scared of. Maybe the slaves were the last ones that really worked.

[Willy]

What you stated stump is exactly why there should be open dialogue on any and all subjects without fear of repercussions. Just the fact that race is discussed will have some pin heads out there wanting to shut down this forum. This also includes idiotic interpretations of what is said such as in Rosanne's case. Think of the words that are now "banned" from being spoken. The word "nigger" comes to mind. It doesn't have to be used in a derogatory way, just used and pin heads will release a barrage of hate.  Whites are banned from using it and are attacked over the word even if used for educational purposes. However, Blacks use it all the time. If it were such an offensive word why use it all?  This all boils down to Freedom. Freedom to think and speak. Offending people cannot be avoided no matter what is said. The basic premise and foundation of America is built on those freedoms. This is why it is, as I've mentioned before, so important to understand the affect that Marxism, socialism and Post Modernism are having in America, especially in our educational  system.

[XLFD]

My Mason County existence has admittedly not provided me with a large amount of time with most minorities, but I must warn you Stump, that your post has a lot of generalities made about blacks, and generalizing about any race is typically a sign that you might be engaging in racism, whether intended or not.  

But I have effectively dealt with about a dozen or so blacks on a regular basis in the course of my life, including having a Nigerian as a roommate in my undergraduate days, dating a woman who was half black and half American Indian, during grad school, and interacting with a black co-worker as a close friend when I was working in Chicago for a brief period.   I number Martin Luther King as one of the greatest thinkers of all time.  I surely have my own prejudices based on life experiences, but I always try to classify others not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.  And I shouldn't have to worry about calling any person, primates themselves all, a monkey, ape or orangutan just because they may come to the odd conclusion that it's racist because of their faulty wiring.  There's few people who haven't had a picture took of them over the course of their life that made them look somewhat simian. 

What's next, a sports commentator being called racist because he calls a figure skater as graceful as a gazelle when it's uncovered that her grandpa was black and gazelles are from Africa?