Hey Hey it's .... Returning?

[shortlist]

okay that word can be googled if you cant guess...imagine trying to get that routine on tv...even thought its attempting to disempower rascism

Posters might be interested that just yesterday the great Saturday Night Live in the US had a massive send-up of Barack Obama where he was played by a blacked-up white actor called Fred Armisen who made him look like a buffoon. One wonders was Joseph H. Connick, Jr. made of that and whether he's lecturing Americans on how racist they all are?

 

[Agentm]

Agentm, dbcok,

Can you please share with us what you think racism is?

Can you please explain, slowly and clearly, why the skit was racist?

Thanks

wayne. how does no sound?

if your unsure what racism is then perhaps research it.

if you cant understand what blackface is, why this form of theater deeply offended, then i think you could try and research it... lol.. and if you read the research link through to the bottom you will see that this episode on hey hey is now entrenched in the cyber history of blackface..

i recall some years ago, that other buffoon, bert newton, was presenting the logies, and standing next to him was the greatest boxer and one of the elite sporting heroes and icons, Muhammad ali.. then during the presentation said something like " i like the boy"

lol

you could have heard a pin drop.. the champ, actually resisted punching the clown out right there and then and did not walk out.. but it was immediately evident to bert that ali wsa fuming and did all he could to stutter his way out of that one

bert never understood, due to his ignorance, how racist that was. and imho was a lucky man indeed to be one of the few men on the planet who got away with insulting a legend like him..

after winning his gold medal in rome for the usa, ali wore his medal everywhere, he was deeply proud of his accomplishment as any young kid would at that age.. he was refused service at a Louisville restaurant.That incident prompted him to throw the medal into the Ohio River.

 

[wayneL]

wayne. how does no sound?

Thanks for the link and the condescending reply Agent. Pretty much the response I'd expect from some loudmouth struggling to link a particular behaviour to bona fide racism.

That's pretty much my understanding of racism (the wiki article).

I understand the sensitivity. I know a *little* bit about prejudice, having been picked on at school for being a four eyed pimply faced Yank. I have the dental crowns on my front teeth as a daily reminder.

FWIW I would never have done that skit in case it caused offence, but being offensive and being actually *racist* can be two totally different things. I have brown friends. My best friend is a Indian Muslim (but fairly secular) as I have said a few times on here. I have discussed this issue at length with them.

My view is a result of these conversations and I believe that though it may have been a bit offensive, (if someone *chose* to be offended) it was not *racist*.

There was no attempt to disadvantage anyone in the skit at all.

The furore is a step too far and as damaging to our culture as true racism.

That's my opinion. The pendulum has swung too far.

 

[Agentm]

Posters might be interested that just yesterday the great Saturday Night Live in the US had a massive send-up of Barack Obama where he was played by a blacked-up white actor called Fred Armisen who made him look like a buffoon. One wonders was Joseph H. Connick, Jr. made of that and whether he's lecturing Americans on how racist they all are?

hey shortlist.. i watched that show the other night, i wanted to see if the show had picked up any.. its sure has gone downhill..

watched about three sessions in, then turned it off.. i was hoping for entertainment. i wasnt impressed with the obama send up, it was not at all funny.. none of it was..

it sure got a mention in the papers, like the washington post, seems both saturday night live shows were treading into similar territory, one clearly using blackface and the other heading in that direction..

 

[Agentm]

Thanks for the link and the condescending reply Agent. Pretty much the response I'd expect from some loudmouth struggling to link a particular behaviour to bona fide racism.

That's pretty much my understanding of racism (the wiki article).

I understand the sensitivity. I know a *little* bit about prejudice, having been picked on at school for being a four eyed pimply faced Yank. I have the dental crowns on my front teeth as a daily reminder.

FWIW I would never have done that skit in case it caused offence, but being offensive and being actually *racist* can be two totally different things. I have brown friends. My best friend is a Indian Muslim (but fairly secular) as I have said a few times on here. I have discussed this issue at length with them.

My view is a result of these conversations and I believe that though it may have been a bit offensive, (if someone *chose* to be offended) it was not *racist*.

There was no attempt to disadvantage anyone in the skit at all.

The furore is a step too far and as damaging to our culture as true racism.

That's my opinion. The pendulum has swung too far.

wayne, thanks for the reply.. and gladly we are all entitled to know and act with a loud voice against what is a very offensive part of theater history toward the black american community. and its great to see that you have learned a little about it and followed the links, and understood what blackface is and how offensive it is.

sorry your offended that you think i have been condescending to you because you feel i have to teach you what racism is just because you demand it.

at least i offered links

i know plenty of racist americans (yanks as you call them), who all have brown friends and mexican friends and all types of friends..

good to see your interested enough to try and understand the topic better..

wayne, you familiar with a american lady i deeply admire, probably more than anyone living on this planet? jane elliot?

 

[waza1960]

The thing I find intriguing is that Hey Hey as well as others seem to show the singer Kamal and other Indians in a racist light much worse than the skit talked about and yet no comment. Is this because the Indians take this as humour or are too busy improving their lives . Does Kamarls comment I think its something along the line of ...........thats so unkind ,as evidence that he is uncomfortable with his treatment or how he is portrayed ?

 

[waza1960]

I didn't see it. However, I do remember as a kid watching on TV "The Black and White Minstrel Show" on which there were a lot of people dressed in black and white from my vague memory, but with black painted faces.

It meant nothing more to us than some good old time music. I think we used to tap dance to some of it!

But then, the whole concept of racism never entered our heads. NZ had white people and Maoris. So there was a different skin colour. Meant absolutely nothing. We have all become so damn self conscious and precious, instead of ascribing to skin colour the total unimportance it deserves.

Totally agree

 

[Agentm]

waza..

what this show is bring up, and clearly its doing it well, is showing that doing live comedy on the same formula of the 70's, where these issues that you bring were tolerated, are far less tolerated now.

its a great point. equally i bet (i didnt watch the show but i assume this) if jackie mcdonald was on the show they would have played the ole "folks are dumb where i come from " melody,, i recall she had to mime it in the past shows,, all those examples of really bad taste and degrading comedy really needed to be dead and buried a long time ago (and forgotten imho)

i am not a fan of hey hey one bit, and i know if the jackie mcdonald stunt was played my wife would be offended, degrading women as dumb is not comedy..

each for their own,,, i hear it rated highly.. so well done for hey hey in demonstrating how far australia has progressed..

 

[wayneL]

Agent,

To be fair, there still hasn't, to my mind, been demosntrated how the skit was *racist* as defined by either the dictionary, or the wiki link you posted. It's too easy to scream racism over any perceived sleight involving a minority.

However, I'll jump up and down about racism with the best of them. I've lost friends in Geraldton over how the Aborigines are discussed and treated. (Where there is a large population) I'm for giving anyone a fair go, no matter what they are in terms of race, nationality, background, whatever.

I enjoy differences. I think they make relationships interesting.

Equally, I'll dig my toes in and resist the race card being played inappropriately as I think it has been in this case.

Re Jane Elliott - almost single handedly jolted us whitefella from our culturally ingrained (fair dinkum) racism.

Fantastic lady.

 

[Happy]

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/873452/kamahl-hits-back-at-hey-hey

"Out of the six of us, only one is Anglo-Celtic Australian. I’m Sri Lankan-Australian, there’s an Indian Australian, a Greek Australian, an Irish-Italian Australian and a Lebanese Australian. We’re all Australian," he wrote on website The Punch.

Pity there were no African-Americans, if nothing else could be taken out of it, at least they would not have to paint their faces.


Otherwise, hey hey I've got enough of this black tea storm in a white teacup.

 

[Timmy]

I note in this discussion of racism and racists there are some overt capitalists here on the thread.

Capitals are really great, some of my best friends use them. They are invaluable in many ways, such as helping to see where a sentence starts. And putting one at the beginning of someone's name is also a nice mark of respect.

So let's dispense with the capitalism here folks, give them a fair go, and embrace them for their true worth.

 

[Agentm]

Agent,

To be fair, there still hasn't, to my mind, been demosntrated how the skit was *racist* as defined by either the dictionary, or the wiki link you posted. It's too easy to scream racism over any perceived sleight involving a minority.

However, I'll jump up and down about racism with the best of them. I've lost friends in Geraldton over how the Aborigines are discussed and treated. (Where there is a large population) I'm for giving anyone a fair go, no matter what they are in terms of race, nationality, background, whatever.

I enjoy differences. I think they make relationships interesting.

Equally, I'll dig my toes in and resist the race card being played inappropriately as I think it has been in this case.

Re Jane Elliott - almost single handedly jolted us whitefella from our culturally ingrained (fair dinkum) racism.

Fantastic lady.

thanks for the reply wayne

i wont discuss my upbringing, but i can assure you i deeply understand everything jane elliott teaches, some like her have got inspiration from the great martin luther king, some of us have had the misfortune to live what she is so inspired to work against, as you know she also advocates hard on the oppression of women

i dont think harry overreacted to what he saw, if he gave the act a 10 i think he would have been condemned by all of america


i think the apology was justified, and the demanding of one was also justified.

i disagree with sommers and his view thats is a storm in a tea cup..

its a nice debate, and hey hey's so called comedy is bringing up the past and throwing it right out there, this time the issue of what is comedy and what is offensive can be debated and i think it may very well bury hey hey if sommers doesnt change his tune.. but perhaps it may bring a lesson to those who are insensitive to what offends

 

[dbcok]

Agentm, dbcok,

Can you please share with us what you think racism is?

Can you please explain, slowly and clearly, why the skit was racist?

Thanks

This harks back to the days when negroes were always portrayed as figures of hillarity.Never as intelligent as whites and mainly for amusement.
Remember those old films with overweight negro child-minding Mamas and dumb Butlers.I can understand why this is seen as return to the old days.
And if this skit is offensive to black populations this is racist.If it is not, so be it?
The outcry suggests that it is.
Try even making a joke about concentration camps on the Australian media and it is seen as offensive to an ethnic group.
I understand where Kamahl is coming from.If you are not on the receiving end it is hard for many to understand.
I typed this as slowly and clearly as I was capable of,so I hope that you understand my point of view(humour)

 

[ROE]

I think the whole culture is ignorant of the fact this sort of act isnt
on regardless how it is stage..just because it's comedy it's ok?

I see we do this all the time...put on some really bad acts and think it's
ok because it's comedy or we didnt mean it or it's all for the fun no harm intended...we need to wake up and catch on...

and the Kamahl remark, that is offensive.

ignorant is not an excuse

Just imagine your kids was being tease at school and everyone has a laugh is it ok?

 

[waza1960]

Maybe the whole things a setup by Ch 9 's PR people .You would have to admit the publicity is priceless for the show

 

[Agentm]

Maybe the whole things a setup by Ch 9 's PR people .You would have to admit the publicity is priceless for the show

if you know people in that arena, and associated with it, you would say its their culture and cultural insensitivity which they have always had (imho its part and parcel of the organisation) that has led them to this place they now are trying their hardest to swim out of..

 

[Julia]

.If you are not on the receiving end it is hard for many to understand.

This is an important point. We white people are fond of commenting that racism in the form of black people making derisive comments about white doesn't receive the condemnation that we're discussing on this thread.

I'd say that's because we are not the group which has been discriminated against, hurt or abused, so we simply don't have the same sensitivities.

It's easy to be magnanimous from a position of power.

That said, I'm still of the view that many people of all colours, political persuasions, and sexual preferences will go through life looking for insults toward them. I pretty much believe that most people will be treated as they expect to be treated. If someone acts with integrity and in an open fashion, chances are they will be treated accordingly.

And Agent M, I might be wrong, but my reading of Wayne's request to you for your definition of racism wasn't an indication that he himself didn't have an understanding of what it was, but rather was attempting to understand just what it means to you. I would have been similarly interested in a genuine reply from you, rather than what was a rather patronising and dismissive response.

 

[moXJO]

Dressing up like barack obama is one thing, he actually resembled the man he was taking the piss out of. But only one of the Jackson jive, looked like the Jackson five. The others were dressed in a stereo typical degrading fashion. In no way did they resemble the Jackson five.

However, I find it much funnier to watch now when they country is in an uproar. I like the part where we offend the American, and cause international controversy in under 2mins. Thanks Hey Hey

 

[wayneL]

Dressing up like barack obama is one thing, he actually resembled the man he was taking the piss out of. But only one of the Jackson jive, looked like the Jackson five. The others were dressed in a stereo typical degrading fashion. In no way did they resemble the Jackson five.

However, I find it much funnier to watch now when they country is in an uproar. I like the part where we offend the American, and cause international controversy in under 2mins. Thanks Hey Hey

I only saw a short excerpt over here in the UK... yep made the news here too.

1/ Who gives a crap about the pompous Yank? We nee do be concerned about how it interplays with Aussie culture, not the stinking cesspit of hypocrisy that is dichotomic America, where racism is far more open and overt in most places. The thin veil of equality is totally laughable there. (though impressive in making the political mistake of voting in Obama). Once again Australia displays it's inherent cultural cringe that is still hiding behind the (American style) jingoism.

2/ Genuine question - Why was it degrading?

 

[MrBurns]

2/ Genuine question - Why was it degrading?

It was only degrading if you believe black people are buffoons and are laughed at and need protection from that.... and thats not the case.

If someone came up to an Englishman and was telling everyone not to laugh at him you'd actually be insulting him.

Harry said something like 'we spent hundreds of years trying not to make black people look like buffoons"

Well done Harry, in other words they are buffoons and you're just trying to protect them ROFL

It wasnt particularly funny but the music was good, the audience wasnt happy when they were gonged they were just getting into it.