Everything Is Racism - Turbo Version
A pub singer in England was arrested...on suspicion of racism!...for performing the song "Kung Fu Fighting." From the Daily Mail:
'We were performing Kung Fu Fighting, as we do during all our sets,' he said.'People of all races were loving it. Chinese people have never been offended by it before.
'But this lad walking past with his mum started swearing at us and making obscene hand gestures before taking a picture on his mobile phone.
'We hadn't even seen them when we started the song. He must have phoned the police.'
Officers later called Mr Ledger while he was eating in a Chinese restaurant to arrange a meeting.
The singer assumed it was a prank - but he was later arrested and is still under investigation.
'They seemed pretty amazed but said the law is the law and it was their duty,' he is reported to have said.
'It's political correctness gone potty. There are plenty of Welsh people at our shows - does it mean I can't play any Tom Jones?'
Bar owner Sean Ware told the Sun newspaper: 'The song is in no way racist and nor is Simon. There is no way he would abuse anyone.
'He didn't start the song just because Chinese people were walking past. He had already started playing it.'
Mr Ledger, who was later bailed, wrote on Facebook: 'If the lad who phoned the police is reading this, what is wrong with you?'
Here's the original:
The lyrics below:
Everybody was kung fu fighting,Those cats were fast as lightning,
In fact it was a little bit frightening,
But they fought with expert timing
They were funky China men from funky Chinatown,
They were chopping them up and they were chopping them down,
It's an ancient Chinese art and everybody knew their part,
From a feint into a slip, and kicking from the hip
Everybody was kung fu fighting ...
There was funky Billy Chin and little Sammy Chung,
He said here comes the big boss, let's get it on,
We took a bow and made a stand, started swinging with the hand,
The sudden motion made me skip now we're into a brand knew trip
Everybody was kung fu fighting ...
We have a lot of problems in our country, and there's recently been a flurry of attempts to degrade our rights and get us used to it, but there's still a level of free speech in this country that's unequalled anywhere else. Let's keep it that way.
The Daily Mail isn't exactly viewed as a source of accurate information over here, but if it amuses you to treat it as unquestioned fact that's super.
sarabel at April 28, 2011 2:52 AM
One of the comments from the Mail article, which I sincerely hope was intended as satire:
All well and good, until you realize that somebody else gets to define what's offensive, leaving you vulnerable to complaint now matter how sensitive you think you are.
Old RPM Daddy at April 28, 2011 4:46 AM
The problem is, the powers that be encourage people to be thin-skinned and think that everyone is out to insult them! That's the shit that's got to stop. Call a spade a spade, people! Let's get this shit out in the open and stop pussy-footing around (oh no! the editors of the Journal for Animal Ethics will surely be out to get me now!) the issue! PEOPLE are DIFFERENT. Always have beeen, always will be. Let's acknowledge it, get over it and move the fuck on, shall we???
Fercrisakes.
Flynne at April 28, 2011 5:51 AM
The Daily Mail isn't exactly viewed as a source of accurate information over here, but if it amuses you to treat it as unquestioned fact that's super.
So you're saying this Simon Ledger was NOT arrested under the circumstances described? oh, wait, searching Google under news pulls up 133 hits, including the Isle of Wight Gazette.
Perhaps you'd like to look into this matter for us? I'm sure you can do a better job. And that's not sarcasm, I'm pretty sure you could do a better job...
I R A Darth Aggie at April 28, 2011 7:05 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/04/28/everything_is_r_2.html#comment-2084656">comment from I R A Darth AggieBritish papers in general tend to be a source of questionable journalism, but I checked, and as I R A Darth Aggie notes, there seems to be quite a bit of corroboration for this.
Amy Alkon at April 28, 2011 7:11 AM
Sarabel's far too clever to be fooled by mere facts.
Jim Treacher at April 28, 2011 8:09 AM
This is a good example of what happens when you privilege bigots. What's become evident with the implementation of the myriad laws and regulations arising from 'multiculturalism' is that they are most often exploited by people who are racist.
terry at April 28, 2011 8:53 AM
This post is against my better judgement in every way, and I expect I'll catch Hell for it.
I agree with the spirit of Amy's post and that it is ridiculous that there was any sort of police response. The whole thing is silly and I am in no way endorsing any sort of remedy to free speech that might be offensive to any old passer by.
But ... and I have to say this because I'm wondering if I'm completely alone on this ...
Every time I hear this tune, it makes me a little uncomfortable. That's not a new thing. I remember hearing this tune when I was a kid and feeling like it was a bit fucked up.
I can completely understand why it could be construed as a bit culturally insensitive. Please note that I didn't say racist, as that would imply that I questioned the morals and motives of the composers of the music or the people who enjoy dancing to it.
There is just something about it that makes me a little queazy.
Am I completely alone here?
whistleDick at April 28, 2011 9:00 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/04/28/everything_is_r_2.html#comment-2085096">comment from whistleDickWhat makes you queasy?
Have you bought into the notion that mere mention of something from somebody else's culture is racism or somehow problematic? I don't see anything nasty in the lyrics. In fact, they seem to romanticize and coolify Kung fu.
Amy Alkon at April 28, 2011 9:09 AM
Am I completely alone here?
Did you know that the song is actually making fun of 70's 'chopsocky' films - those really bad dubbed kung-fu / exploitation films. It's a parody.
jane at April 28, 2011 9:10 AM
The only time this song ever bothered me was the time at the mall when it started playing and a bunch of little kids started runing around and doing kicks and stuff to it! It was funny but scary at the same time - 6 year olds have NO idea what they're doing when they do that shit! lol!
Flynne at April 28, 2011 9:17 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/04/28/everything_is_r_2.html#comment-2085199">comment from janeJane, you've found me out: I'm enormously uncool in my musical tastes...but parody and racism are very far apart.
Amy Alkon at April 28, 2011 9:59 AM
"Have you bought into the notion that mere mention of something from somebody else's culture is racism or somehow problematic? I don't see anything nasty in the lyrics. In fact, they seem to romanticize and coolify Kung fu"
No, not at all. I agree with everyone that it's a clear homage to badly-dubbed kung-fu films and all of that. As I said while trying to carefully craft my disclaimers, I don't think there is anything racist in any of it. I get it.
I think that the secondary musical theme, the Chinese kind of chopsticks flute lick, kind of reminds me of Charlie Chan rerun movies on late night TV when I was a kid (which were very racist, by the way). It may be generational. This tune just creeps me out a bit.
So I guess I am alone. That's all I wanted to know :)
WhistleDick at April 28, 2011 10:26 AM
Here is some more fodder for you folks ("what do you mean ... you folks :). I really hate that "play that funky music, white boy" tune. It's very analogous to this one. There's just something about it that bothers me while I know that there isn't any racist motivation behind it.
I hate that tune a lot more because I'm a white amateur musician (who, years ago, was a professional musician) that loves nothing more than to play funk and has a deep appreciation for it. I think what bothers me the most is that it's not a terribly funky tune that's played by white boys :)
whistleDick at April 28, 2011 10:36 AM
This proves the wisdom of our Constitution and the First Amendment. Let's make sure it never happens here.
MarkD at April 28, 2011 10:52 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/04/28/everything_is_r_2.html#comment-2085263">comment from whistleDickI would rather live in a world with racist speech than a world without free speech. Racist speech, if it's out there in the open, can be debated and knocked. Racism that's made to go underground is still there, just hidden, and not able to be questioned.
Amy Alkon at April 28, 2011 10:58 AM
They say it would be wine and roses,
If England were for Englishmen again.
-The Clash-
Great lyrics: http://www.lyricsg.com/89773/lyrics/theclash/somethingaboutengland.html
Eric at April 28, 2011 12:28 PM
Also, Dude, chinaman is not the preferred nomenclature. Asian-American, please
ronc at April 28, 2011 2:29 PM
I'm finding it difficult to believe that more than a few of the commenters (who are mostly Americans, I presume?) are actually not fully on-board with severely mocking the British authorities for this OUTRAGEOUS arrest. Sure, he was not charged in the end equation but what on earth is the State doing investigating what someone can say?!?
Earlier this week, in my province of British Columbia, a comedian was charged $15,000 for hurting the feelings of two drunk hecklers. He was also banned from performing in BC for life. Anyone who thinks that this is "maybe okay" or "justified depending on what he said" really needs to get their head examined. I mean NO respect with that last sentence by the way.
Canadian lawyer and TV personality, Ezra Levant, interviewed the British "offender" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXPQ5ics8Ag
Robert W. (Vancouver) at April 28, 2011 8:01 PM
Robert,
Who disagrees that the British authorities were outrageously wrong? I don't see any such posts.
whistleDick at April 28, 2011 11:59 PM
Amy,
I went to a baseball game tonight. The national baseball league here in Korea. Fun as hell.
Anyway, you know how ball players have signature songs that are played as they come up to bat? Well, one of the ball player's signature song was "Kung-foo Fighting". He was Asian as most of the people in the league are (there a one or two Americans on each team it seems). It made me think of this post and I got a giggle out of it.
The song, inexplicably, still gives me the creeps somehow.
whistleDick at April 29, 2011 8:37 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/04/28/everything_is_r_2.html#comment-2088753">comment from whistleDickThat's pretty funny, WhistleDick.
Amy Alkon at April 29, 2011 10:17 AM
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