War of the words

Chances are you heard about Michael Richards' (aka Kramer) racial outbursts at the Laugh Factory this weekend. We watched the video this morning and were pretty shocked at what we heard and saw. It's hard to believe that with us much as society has moved forward in blurring racial boundaries that we still have so much work to do.

I'm still taken aback when I encounter insensitive racial comments. A few months ago someone said something to me about "chinks." I shook my head and said, "I can't believe you said that!" They realized later what they had said and perhaps even technically that as a half-Filipina that I could be considered a "chink." They apologized profusely, with tears in their eyes. And after telling them that that's not something I'd ever expect to hear from them, I accepted their apology because it was seemed so out of their normal character to say that. (I know, though, that a person can still be a "racist" without always displaying such behavior.)

It'll be interesting to see how this Michael Richards thing will turn out. I'm happy to hear that people are so upset over it and intolerant of his unnecessary slurs. As Brent said as the video ended this morning, "And that's the last time Michael Richards was ever seen..."

"I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain." - James Baldwin