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Offensive?
by Paul on 11/04/09 at 07:43 AM ET
Comments (6)
from Julia Keller of the Chicago Tribune,
We think we’re enlightened. We think we’re evolved. We think we’re past all that nasty old stuff from the bad old days. We think we’re “post-racial,” to use the curious term that popped up in the wake of President Barack Obama’s election.
Then a couple of fun-loving but culturally tone-deaf Blackhawks decided to dress up for Halloween as former Bulls Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen—complete with blackface.
You can view the picture of Adam Burish dressed as Rodman and Patrick Kane as Pippen at ChicagoNow.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, Hockey Related Stories | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Adam+Burish, Patrick+Kane,
Comments
I was going to be concerned about this, then I realized it was written by a “cultural critic” who probably went to college for 10 years yet didn’t learn anything worthwhile.
Posted by Jarick on 11/04/09 at 08:34 AM ET
Again, you guys do need to read the article. She goes on to say:
Do any of these incidents require a congressional hearing? Nope. Do they indicate that we’ve become so supersensitive about what famous people say and do that nobody with more than 10 entries on Google should ever open his mouth or leave her house without first clearing it with a publicist? Probably.
But the controversies are also a sign of society’s robust health. We debate these words and behaviors—are they heinous and unforgivable or just dumb and obtuse?—because we don’t really know just how to feel about them. And sports is both mirror and lamp. The mirror shows us where we are; the lamp leads us up and out.
Were many people really, deep down, offended by the Blackhawks’ blackface, Griese’s silly slip, Gooden’s alleged insult or Johnson’s reported slur? Doubt it. But we still have to argue about it. These incidents give us a chance to talk about things that are sometimes hard to talk about: race, ethnicity, sexuality.
Basically she’s saying it at least opens up the floor of talking about it, whether it’s actually offensive or not. I do not think the excerpt posted here actually does the article justice.
Posted by BuzzFledderjohn on 11/04/09 at 08:49 AM ET
Hmm, imagine that Buzz, actually reading the article before jumping to conclusions.
Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 11/04/09 at 09:07 AM ET
Let’s just agree to take one step closer to being “post-racial” by ignoring this total non-controversy.
Posted by Ryan from Toronto on 11/04/09 at 02:23 PM ET
I think the idea that the players were wearing “blackface” is what is offensive. “Blackface” is intended to make the wearer (white or black) to appear like a minstrel. This doesn’t seem to be the case and the article therefore trivializes what could be a serious issue.
Posted by Hockey1919 from Montreal on 11/04/09 at 03:56 PM ET
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Hockey Links
Number of stories on Deron Williams dressing as Cal Ripken Jr… in whiteface?
Gee, wonder where the outrage is there?
Posted by HockeyinHD on 11/04/09 at 08:25 AM ET