Prejudice: Rehab Won't Solve The Problem
Washington, Gibson And Richards Apologized, But Racism Remains
15NEW YORK, Jan. 25, 2007 | by Judy Faber
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Call To Ban The 'N'-Word
After meeting with Michael Richards, the Rev. Jesse Jackson has called on the entertainment industry to ban using the "N"-word. Bill Whitaker reports on its use in the public sphere. | Share/Embed
Call To Ban The 'N'-Word (3:05)
Richards Discusses Tirade (1:56)
'Apocalypto' Tops Box Office (2:22)
(CBS) This editorial was written by The Showbuzz's Judy Faber.
So now there's a formula for celebrities that make racist, homophobic or anti-Semitic slurs.
Make a public apology. "Reach out" to "the community." Discuss the matter on television with someone like Diane Sawyer or David Letterman. Maybe have a celebrity friend or two come to your defense.
Then, toddle off to rehab or "counseling" and hope the rest of the world forgets the stupid things you said that got you into trouble in the first place.
Michael Richards, Mel Gibson and Isaiah Washington all used awful language, publicly expressed regret and sought professional help.
It's a little soon to determine how their outbursts will affect them in the long run. But so far Richards' career was nowhere to begin with so he can only go up, Mel Gibson bounced back with "Apocalypto," and Isaiah Washington hasn't been discharged from "Grey's Anatomy." Yet.
Unfortunately, it's too easy to vilify these three stooges for their public outbursts and ignore the fact that racism, homophobia and anti-Semitism remain a real problem in our society.
Focusing too much on the words these men used in public might be sending out the wrong message and merely teaching kids not to use those words if there's a camera rolling. The lesson should be that prejudice in all its forms is wrong.
One celebrity, Russell Simmons, is trying to make a difference. The hip-hop mogul has recorded a series of public service announcements with rapper Jay-Z encouraging young people to fight racism and anti-Semitism in their communities. The ads are airing in the United States and in Europe.
Simmons is the co-founder of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding along with Rabbi Marc Schneier, chairman of the World Jewish Congress American section. Their goal is to open discussion about prejudice, bringing together members of different communities.
"It is very important that we all position ourselves to speak to everyone when we can, because dialogue is key," Simmons said in a speech at the WJC Monday. "What you do for yourself is only as good as what you do for others."
Hopefully, other celebrities are taking notes.
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Nobody is interested, either, in Tiny Tom Cruise's being totally brainwashed by 'scientology' (small 's')...or the other Hollyweird types that are soooooooooo lame and thought-free that they have fallen for this nasty cult. Go to www.xenu.net for info on these whack-jobs.
Americans are fed up with being treated like we don't remember slights and insults.
Wanna insult a seqment of the population ? Then stay home and do it in front of the mirror, 'cuz we won't pay to see you anymore, Chumps.
knyghtwolf, you're right too about getting rid of MTV and BET.
I'd say get rid of"Friends,Two and half men,How I met your mother,Old Christine,etc.
most all of the "comedy" stuff that just ain't funny no more! They just slime in on the t.v. and the remote hits them OFF.
Genesis 19
Judges 19
Posted by olebd at 07:18 AM : Jan 26, 2007"
For as long as the VAST SILENT MAJORITY normal people sit in silence, so long will the filth-stirring f@ggots and fairies use the opportunity to promote their sexual deviance to the younger/weaker minds in the society. LOL
The net result will be the spreading of the disease of deviant behavior in the society of 'infect' the next generation.
The media continues to push the story because the media is filled with mentally mixed up f@ggots who are desperately seeking acceptance of their deviant and perverted behaviors.
There was a story recently where a bunch of deluded CBS f@ggots foolishly came out of their and went to other people's country in the Caribbean. Can you believe the mindlessness? LOL
Hopefully their unfortunate experience forced them back into their closet of filth; but knowing these lost souls, they seem to be gluttons for the punishment that will 'straighten' them out, literally.
I don't care what you do behind closed doors but just leave it there and you'll be treated better for it. No gay pride this or that, no stickers, no t-shirts, no TV channels. Just do your twirling at home little ballerina. In public, it's courteous and the decent thing to do. I am a proud hetero but I don't want to flaunt it by waving my porno collection out in the open.
Again, I find myself in full agreement with you.
Isaiah Washington should NOT have to pay the price here. Personally I am sick to death of celebs like T.R. Knight and Neal Patrick Harris publicizing the fact that they are G^Y.
Fine, if that's your lifestyle, then have a happy life, and hopefully one free of prejudice. But if you have the desire to put it in other peoples' faces, as I presume Knight did to Washington, that's quite another matter.
If Washington needs the rehab, then so does Knight. There are still heterosexual actors and actresses in Hollywood, T.R.
Posted by bildooreilly at 03:45 AM : Jan 26, 2007"
Actually, it's more accurate to say that the 'mind control' is being guided by the mixed up and deluded and filth-stirring f@ggots and the like in the media!
I still can't get over just how hilarious it is that a healthy man is supposed to be going to so-called 'rehab', while the sick f@ggot is deluded into thinking that his deviant behavior is healthy.
What a joke! LOL
What a misguiding of American youth by perverted and evil creatures!
Like Rome before it, this super powerful nation is rotting from inside!