The Festivus Grinch
There was a bizarre reaction from Wisconsin Governor Doyle to former Seinfeld cast member Michael Richards use of the word nigger(1) on 17 November, 2006, in a tirade against hecklers. Richards played weekly staple Kramer in the long running sitcom. Dole has been a Seinfeld fan to the point of buying a Festivus tree and becoming a collector of facts, trivia, and detailed knowledge of all the episodes.
But no more. Doyle has held all of the cast of Seinfeld as well as the Wisconsin manufacturer of Fesitivus Poles(2) responsible for the misbehavior of Richards.
This year no aluminum Festivus Pole will be displayed in the governor’s mansion. Doyle is swearing off Seinfeld. I’m not sure why all of the people involved with the television series and the manufacturer should be help responsible for the sin of one, but that is often the behavior the irrational. Further, I am reminded by commercials the Jesus died for our sins. so why is Doyle punishing a Wisconsin manufacturer much less Richards.
But if Doyle feels better for his silliness then good for him. I have heard more pandering statements from him anyway.
Several years ago, I ran across a web site of a young South African woman. I wasn’t sure if she was a high school or college student. She referred to her group of friends as niggas which I found to be mildly interesting.
And, a few months ago, on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Winfrey spoke of an incident of being greeted with something like welcome nigga in South Africa. She opined that “they’ were influenced by gangsta rap. But, the web site I viewed showed a bunch of wholesome youths and there was no indication of influence from rap music at all.
in 2005, after a visit to South Africa, a student from Morehouse College also expressed his dismay with the use of nigga and also claimed that it was a result of the American rap music.
This is typical American arrogance. We define the reasons for others using words we want to forbid. We insist upon their usage ceasing based on this supposition. Of course, such an attitude is to be expected when Americans want to strip forbidden words from literature such as Huckleberry Finn.
And this is the country of the seven deadly words. The words that cannot be used in front of children lest they fall dead. In the past, it was also presumed that adult females would also suffer the same fate(3).
I am amazed at the number of Americans who believe that the use of nigger as well as others is an excuse for violence. The real problem is that those of us who use a word as an excuse for violence are a societal danger. Those of us who believe we have a right to export our interpretation of words reflect ignorance as well as arrogance. Since we give words so much power, we sublimate our own powerlessness by suppressing speech of others.
In 1999, an aid to Washington D.C. Mayer Anthony A. Williams was forced to resign after using the word niggardly. This word is not related to the word nigger, however the sound-alike was enough to bring complaints. The basis of the complaints was later debunked. On the other hand, denigrate is not considered offensive, although this word is closely related to nigger, that is to blacken.
Now, Governor Dolye is an adult and he can react any way he has to or chooses to. But it seems to me to punish all the cast of Seinfeld for the actions of one member is like being in High School. No other cast members were present to moderate Richard’s behavior nor is that a requirement.
As for me, I’m keeping my ears open for honky or haole so I can puff out my chest and be offended. Then I’ll run for governor.
in category Rants
