Can Someone Please Explain To Me Why This Offensive?
I started writing this blog item a while ago, and forgot to post it. There was this letter posted on Romenesko's Poynter media news site:
From Karen Lincoln Michel, UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc.: As you know, making sound editing choices is a cornerstone in producing good journalism. So when UNITY: Journalists of Color noticed a headline in your Romenesko column on Friday, March 1, it called into question the editing decision to repeat a culturally insensitive remark uttered by a union leader in reaction to layoffs announced at Newsday.The headline: "Newsday's 'getting rid of more Indians, keeping the chiefs'" referenced a quote made to Newsday by Dennis Grabhorn, president of a local union. Although UNITY considers Grabhorn's remarks thoughtless and insensitive, his major complaint in the news story was leveled against Newsday for a lack of commitment to growing circulation on Long Island.
But rather than reflecting the real story, the choice was made to sensationalize a comment that many Native Americans find offensive for its arrogance in reducing Native culture to a cliché - of which there are many in a society that continues to portray Native people as historical figures with no relevance to mainstream America today.
So...we're also offensive if we make "historical" references to people in other cultures? Say, like this literary/historical one on Romenesko today (and sorry, I guess my mind is permanently set to "filthy!" but I found it rather hilarious):
Brauchli's exit is like the boy taking his finger out of the dike
Don't hold your breath waiting for the Dutch (or the dykes, who probably found that as hilarious as I did) to gather for a protest march. Or, I'm guessing, for Lincoln Michel to stand up for the historicalization, or whatever P.C. name they probably give this sort of thing, of the Dutch.
Lincoln Michel's letter continues on Romenesko:
The larger issue for UNITY, and for all of us in the news business, is the tremendous change and loss of jobs our industry is experiencing. We greatly sense the severity of what's happening at news organizations nationwide, such as at Newsday and other Tribune Company properties. With that in mind, UNITY has repeatedly issued pleas to the news industry to keep diversity of its workforce foremost in the decision-making process when considering cutbacks.At the same time, cultural diversity must go deeper than the workforce itself. It must become embedded in the editorial decision-making process, even when choosing the headline for a blog entry.
I'm sorry, but the "diversity" pandering makes me ill, as it generally translates to "Avoid giving opportunities to white people," which I find not a mark of diversity but a mark of racism.
As I've said before, you don't fight discrimination by discriminating. Also, how insulting to be a "person of color" who's achieved something, and to be suspected of being given an unearned leg up.
On a related note, sometimes what people suspect is discrimination isn't. I met a friend of some Paris friends at the Huntley Hotel bar in Santa Monica on Sunday. Beautiful place, penthouse with views of the ocean and the city.
After we got our check, a large black man came over and asked to see it -- a rather strange request. It turned out he was interested in seeing what was printed at the top of the check. Our check -- the drink orders of two tall white women -- had "Brad" or some name like that printed at the top, with an underscore and number. The check of the two black guys seated in the booth said "Homie_2" on top.
It wasn't busy, and the guys behind the bar caught wind of what he was asking. "I'm 'Brad'," said one, with a smile. "And I'm Homie," said the other. Oh. Homie was a guy's name -- not some rude code that two "homeys" were seated in that particular server's booth.
Rough. Sometimes I sense that people don't like me -- usually not because I'm the color of fresh Wite-Out -- but because I'm telling them they're boring and should put a muzzle on it when they're in close public quarters, shouting into their cell phone.
Comments
Whatever.... No more short guy jokes, or I'll start screeching at all of you in a reedy, nasal, mosquito-like manner, and never stop.
(The Homie anecdote is funny. And who new the Huntley had a good bar?)
Posted by: Crid at April 23, 2008 12:43 AM
Very chi.
P.S. that was the short subject version of chi-chi.(You're not going to sic the Society For The Advancement Of Short People on me, are you?)
Posted by: Amy Alkon at April 23, 2008 12:57 AM
WHat about short guy jokes? It seems something went over my head again.
Posted by: lujlp at April 23, 2008 1:47 AM
As an employee of a large Federal contractor, I have to attend "diversity" training - which apparently has never noticed that commonality of purpose is really the notable goal. In practice, "diversity" only means "skin color". No matter how worthless you are, if you're a different shade, that's what matters.
Unless you're Asian. That brings out the liars defending such programs.
Posted by: Radwaste at April 23, 2008 2:28 AM
I'm sorry, but the "diversity" pandering makes me ill, as it generally translates to "Avoid giving opportunities to white people," which I find not a mark of diversity but a mark of racism.
Agreed. And this line from that stupid Kid Rock song that has been the ear worm of the month for me:
"How can we see salvation
When our nation's race relations
Has got me feeling guilty
Of being white?"
And the morons who talk about "reverse racism"? It's racism. No reversing it.
Posted by: Flynne at April 23, 2008 5:48 AM
WHat about short guy jokes? It seems something went over my head again.
I believe Crid may be...undertall.
Posted by: Amy Alkon at April 23, 2008 6:19 AM
There are advantages to the Wite-out look Amy. The violently red hair against the wite-out skin..... Aaaaanyway....I just call it the soft Balkinization of this country with the result we will end up in a situation like the Balkans...not good.
Posted by: Richard Cook at April 23, 2008 7:02 AM
To overcome this foolishness, I recommend In Praise of Prejudice: The Necessity of Preconceived Ideas.
Posted by: Jeff at April 23, 2008 7:31 AM
In Praise of Prejudice: The Necessity of Preconceived Ideas. Thanks -- Dalrymple...I'll order myself a copy. The title alone is fantastic and right on.
Posted by: Amy Alkon 
at April 23, 2008 7:48 AM
so do the real Indains, wonder what all this "chiefs" stuff is about? Some people just don't realize that it does much more damage to accuse the writer of such a lede of having a "pedestrian, boring, and ultimately stupid." line, rather than making it interesting enough for everyone to go read to find out what the hubub is about...
Posted by: SwissArmyD at April 23, 2008 11:45 AM
Excuse me! But EVERYONE knows that only white guys can acceptably be the butt of a joke, or the target of a "slur." Get with it, people!
(But, that's ok! We must deserve it!)
Posted by: Jay R at April 23, 2008 2:11 PM
Didn't mean to be murky... The smartass point was that a lot of people could find something to complain about if they wanted to. Every couple of years, I'm reminded that I'm short, and it's probably cost me something good somewhere along the way. Probably. Because a demented personality, an absence of salable skills, and a featureless lack of ambition aren't enough to explain what's gone wrong with my life. So the real problem probably exists in the hearts of others: People hate me because I'm 5'7". (As tall as Tom Cruise!!!! And Bob Dylan, an Authentic Voice of the American Spirit!!!).
On the other hand, I can fly comfortably in coach seats.
Also, the I think unity is overrated... Calling yourself "UNITY" (cap letters!) doesn't automatically endear. This is from a piece on Hitchens from A&LD the other day:
>> The legacy of the '68 generation he most deplores is that of identity politics or any argument that begins "speaking as a…"—gay man, Scot, single mother, Muslim and so on. Nevertheless, while he revolts against the Kiplingesque notion of "thinking with the blood," he relishes the surprise of his ethnicity and at least a remote connection to a great tradition of critics and intellectual outsiders.
Posted by: Crid at April 24, 2008 1:42 AM
People hate me because I'm 5'7". (As tall as Tom Cruise!!!! And Bob Dylan, an Authentic Voice of the American Spirit!!!).
Crid, height doesn't make any difference when you're lying down!
PS - I'm 5'7", too. o_O
Posted by: Flynne at April 24, 2008 7:42 AM
Hold still
Posted by: Crid at April 24, 2008 12:36 PM
