Michael "Kramer" Richards - a racist?

[Nova]

Try this:
http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=16838

Just came from there and found your post. I'm much more inclined to trust the Jewish Journal. Thanks.

Of course, as we were discussing on the Aiken/Ripa/O'Donnell thread, racial/ethnic/homophobic slurs don't have to be accurate. In fact, the people who make them tend to be a tad sloppy with their facts.

 

[Nova]

It is wrong for whatever the reason for him yelling. Nova, your second hand info just really explain's how it may have started, if it's true. If it is, they are both obviously racist.

I'm not entirely sure what's obvious. Again -- and without saying Richards was right to do so -- I can imagine someone (Jewish or not) being indignant at racism expressed by an African-American and responding in such a manner.

While a lousy choice, I don't see how such a response is necessarily "obvious" proof of racism.

 

[Nova]

What's a cracker?

Everywhere I've been, it's a derogatory term for whites. The closest thing to "," but of course not at all equivalent because of history and context.

 

[Peter Hamilton]

KKKramer--lol--watching Glen Beck show

 

[michelle]

While a lousy choice, I don't see how such a response is necessarily "obvious" proof of racism.

Well what would you call it? Just a "lousy choice"?

 

[Jacobi]

I haven't watched the clip, but I was told the anti-semitic slurs went on for some time before the clip begins.

Here's a youtube link to the clip, in case anyone is having trouble accessing it at tmz.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3RjiVcIlhY

...

 

[southcitymom]

Well what would you call it? Just a "lousy choice"?

It was a lousy choice of words - I don't think anyone feels otherwise.

Men - in anger and frustration - have called me a before, but not every man who has called me a is a wholesale mysogynist. It's not that black and white. And neither is this situation.

Richards may well be a racist, but I'm not willing to dismiss him as such based on this one interaction. If he is truly racist, don't you think some other people would come out of the woodwork with stories of their own. I haven't seen that happen yet and I would hazzard to guess that he has had numerous high-profile interactions with African Americans.

Based on this incident and the other incident where he went off on a women comedian in a deragatory and insulting manner, I would hazzard to say that Richards has anger issues, not necessarily racial anger issues.

 

[SieSie]

If anyone missed Michael Richards apology on Letterman the other night, here's a YouTube link to it.

 

[hollyjokers]

IF this Kramer guy had stopped at the word "", I would be repulsed--HOWEVER, he didn't just stop there. He proudly boasted that "50 years ago we would've had you strung upside down with a f*cking fork in your ." I know I posted that already, but that is exactly what he said. Now, to me, it's bad enough to use the "n" word----but when you spew stuff like that ABOVE statement, that is very telling to me of the real type of person he is.

I can only hope he doesn't have children. Attitudes & mindsets like his should not be contributing to the gene pool.

I think the pitchfork remark disturbed me the most about the whole thing...then the repeating, repeating, repeating that word over & over. I've been to comedy clubs quite a few times, I understand that when you heckle a stand-up or interfere in his act in anyway, & this guy clearly was, then you should expect a no-holds barred onslaught of abuse...BUT this was way way WAY out of bounds! As someone else posted earlier it hurts my heart to find out that this is the type of person he is. I love the Seinfeld show, know just about every episode by heart.

I saw Jerry's stand up act last St. Patricks Day & he was awesome, some foul language but definitely steered clear of anything offensive. I was wondering what kind of camera phone took that video. At Jerry's show we were only about 10 rows back & the picture I took of him looks more like Jerry Seinfeld's ghost - a white glow. My brother moved up closer to the stage & was still unable to get a decent shot even with a better phone.

I don't get the excuse that he's just a frustrated has-been. He should still be a very, very rich man. How frustrated can he be?

 

[hollyjokers]

I grew up in a really rural area of Alabama. My papaw was a minister of a small church and all of my family were sharecroppers. We all lived on the land and took care of Mr. D's animals and chicken houses in exchange for rent etc.

Every summer a man we knew as N* John came to help us with harvesting. That's how he introduced himself, everyone called him that, that's what is on his tombstone even. I had no clue until I was much older about what that word meant. I seriously just thought it was his name! He was a really old guy, prolly older than my papaw. He brought his grandsons with him for us to play with and we looked forward to seeing them every year. Living in Podunk has it's draw backs, not many neighbors. But that was the only time it ever crossed my lips. Everyone else was Mr. Seth or Miss Maisy. Or if we happened to be holding a revival, Bro. Seth or Sister Maisy.

Thought I'd clarify something real quick. I was once asked how could I not know? We had no tv until 1984, we listened to gospel radio or records, went to Church and hung out with family. When I say rural, I mean no neighbors for 6 miles and cows are the only thing you saw. School was never a big deal. We went to school in little buildings and my graduating class had 33 people lol

So, it's not always where you grew up. Not everyone has to tack on the south as a reason for ever saying it. I think it's exposure to different cultures and different locals that either makes you immune to saying it or where you just don't hear it. I cringe when I hear anyone, black or white say it. It's just a crude word.

We had our first run in with any kind of discrimination based on skin color the other week and I found myself kinda stumped as to how to handle this one. We are not white but my youngest son is very pale with light eyes and a new neighbor called him a cracker. I told him what I thought it was and he said he didn't care, that crackers tasted good lol He's eight and I guess it's nice that we've lived in such a huge multicultural circle of friends and this is the first time anything like that had happened. Not that I think that is anywhere near the kind of racism that blacks have faced, but it was disturbing just the same.

I did teach him to ignore it, forgive it and to pray that little boy finds inner strength to not hate anyone or to try to hurt others via words. Again, yes, we are those tree huggers you hear about

I have no idea where I'm headed with this. I'm so far out of my zone with this subject. I guess I just felt the need to ramble.

I started reading this post & thought I had begun a wonderful novel. It is clear you have a talent for writing.

 

[mister happy]

If anyone missed Michael Richards apology on Letterman the other night, here's a YouTube link to it.

It was almost surreal how the audience was laughing at first. Richards actually did pretty good, except for rambling on about Katrina and then getting a bit tongue tied towards the end. But heck, if he offered up a smooth, polished statement, people would lash out at him even more.

Anyhow, did you notice that Letterman's hair seems to have grown back, but Kramer has lost his.

 

[reportertype]

I agree with hollyjokers; I love reading Bham Mama's post. After reading Nova's info, I think I'll wait and see before I decide what to think about this. This is a great thread.

But why have I thought for months that Nova is an Australian woman? I just saw the Palm Springs ref. Am I losing my mind?

 

[Peter Hamilton]

hollyjokers, agree that Kramer is hardly a frustrated has-been, and he's certainly a very rich man--The last year Seinfeld was on, Kramer made 22 million dollars in that one year alone--so it makes his appalling remarks even more objectionable and less excuseable---and I agree with that other poster who said it was surreal that some people in the audience were actually laughing when Kramer was apologizing--weird

 

[hollyjokers]

Well, it's shocking, just shocking I tell you to find that GLORIA ALLRED has inserted herself into this case. She was just on the TODAY show with the two young men who were the target of Michael Richards rant. IMO she made them less sympathetic when she threw down the gauntlet to Michael Richards to meet with them & a retired judge to hear the case & pay up for the damage he did to those guys. Sounded like a shakedown IMO.

 

[Paladin]

Please don't. I like to know who "they" are.

What does this mean? That I'm a racist for trying to objectionally and rationally trying to weigh the situation?

Your intolerance is just as bad as those of RACISTS!!!

 

[gamegirl]

What shocks me even more than Gloria Allred has inserted herself, is that everyone is railing on Michael Richards (who was wrong, yes) for his racist remarks and how these young men are now pursuing legal action for his remarks and yet where is their accountability for their own racist comments they made in response to him?? Is "racism by self-defense" now allowed??

It used to be enough to have a person's mouth washed out for offensive language. Now we have to tie up the legal system because our feelings got hurt?? Surely our courts have more important things to be dealing with than word squabbles between these 3 men.

And all 3 of them are guilty of the same offense in my opinion.

 

[cappuccina]

...the n*- word should never be used... It's like saying that people shouldn't beat each other up...Is that "intolerance" too?

 

[Linda7NJ]

Then I would venture to guess that many posting in this thread are also racists, including you and me.

If the shoe fits....maybe you are a sock

 

[Paladin]

...the n*- word should never be used... It's like saying that people shouldn't beat each other up...Is that "intolerance" too?

And either should anti-semetic remarks. What does is done...but I guess because he had a mic in his hand and he was on TV it's unforgiveable. Some of you need to get over yourselves. I suspect there are an abundance of hypocrites in this thread who decry racism yet would be the first to object if their son or daughter were to date a person of a different race, religion, or creed. Or have that fear in the back of their mind when they're walking through a dark parking lot at night and see a black or hispanic in the vicinity. When is okay to decry hate with hate? Use your brain and try to understand the situation and causes before tipping the scale in either direction. Things are not as easy as labeling someone something and then tossing them away forever. It's not the solution.

This isn't an advocation for racism either. Racism is stupid and ugly, but so is blind intolerance and labelism. Quarterbacking behind a computer screen seems to make some of you invincible while you cast stones.

 

[Paladin]

If the shoe fits....maybe you are a sock

I didn't realize I needed to be so literal in my posts for anyone to get the message. Maybe you have the intelligence of a sock with a giant hole in it.