The Daily OrangeNo defense for 'Over the Hill'
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Posted: 10/20/05, 1:58 AM EST Section: Opinion
After watching the clips of "Over the Hill," it's pretty clear it's racist. Reading the staff of the show defend the offensive comments by saying they're "racial comments" not "racist" ones, is even more laughable than the actual content in the shows.
When you characterize an entire race by fried chicken, body odor, rims or cornrows, you're being racist. The jokes almost don't anger me as much as these show producers who claim ignorance and how they're "absolutely not trying to offend." Tell me, Shawn Abraham, what's not offensive about taking a crap on Kwanzaa? Or assuming Tiger Woods isn't "black" enough? What are black people supposed to be like, Mr. Abraham?
It's true; these are only students, our peers. And because they are still learning, I would ordinarily say "eh, whatever." If you make a mistake or two, OK, you're learning. However, I'm amazed at how rampant the prejudices and inappropriateness was. How could these people not realize what they were doing? Therefore, you should get no free pass here for being flat-out stupid, not ignorant.
Chancellor Cantor should look into disciplinary actions. This clearly breaks the second rule in the Student Code of Conduct: verbal harassment. These kids are no different from a kid who spray-paints a swastika or ethnic slurs on a Syracuse University building. These students should be disciplined and provide proof to future students that you can say what you want to, but beware of the consequences. That's something I know these students never thought about.
Michael Gibbons
Junior television, radio and film major
When you characterize an entire race by fried chicken, body odor, rims or cornrows, you're being racist. The jokes almost don't anger me as much as these show producers who claim ignorance and how they're "absolutely not trying to offend." Tell me, Shawn Abraham, what's not offensive about taking a crap on Kwanzaa? Or assuming Tiger Woods isn't "black" enough? What are black people supposed to be like, Mr. Abraham?
It's true; these are only students, our peers. And because they are still learning, I would ordinarily say "eh, whatever." If you make a mistake or two, OK, you're learning. However, I'm amazed at how rampant the prejudices and inappropriateness was. How could these people not realize what they were doing? Therefore, you should get no free pass here for being flat-out stupid, not ignorant.
Chancellor Cantor should look into disciplinary actions. This clearly breaks the second rule in the Student Code of Conduct: verbal harassment. These kids are no different from a kid who spray-paints a swastika or ethnic slurs on a Syracuse University building. These students should be disciplined and provide proof to future students that you can say what you want to, but beware of the consequences. That's something I know these students never thought about.
Michael Gibbons
Junior television, radio and film major
