As I said in an earlier post, the historical as well as present context makes certain jokes and slurs worse than others. You can't just ignore the context of how the slur or joke was used nor can you ignore the relative position of the person being made fun of in the society. It is my understanding that the use of "ching-chong" type comments are almost always used by people to degrade and humilate Asian people. Many of the Asian Americans who have heard these "ching-chong" comments probably heard them while being perhaps one of a handful of Asians in a community dominated by whites and in this kind of situation, those words will have tremendous power and anytime an Asian American hears it, it would be difficult not to feel uncomfortable upon hearing it. I don't know why this is so difficult for many of my fellow white Americans to understand this... And realize that Shaq did make his comments not in a comedic context such as with Seinfeld but in a somewhat hostile context in which he was trash talking and trying to put down Yao. So actually Shaq was in fact trying to degrade and humiliate Yao although I don't believe he intended to do so with all Asians.
It's ok to dislike Shaq for what he may say, but don't let one man ruin your life. Just because he's famous, doesn't mean that what he says and does is right. Hopefully most people realize that about any man. I think most people know better.
I don't agree w/ your comedian example. Comedians can say anything they want because ........ well, they are comedians. Every words coming out of their mouths are officially jokes. Of course people won't take seriously anything that is offically known as a joke. But Shaq is not a comedian, nor is Trend Lott. So only and ONLY Shaq will know whether he is joking.
Shaq's mistake was saying it in Public... More than half of you still say the N-word in your own homes, and mock other races... Dont even try to act like you dont for those who are so critical. A wise man said sweep around your own front door before you try to sweep around mine... (Mine=Shaq's)... Think about it.. This topic is old let it go, People just trying to hype this up before the game next week...
Can anyone name a non-black comedian that uses racial humor about other races in their routine? Just curious. People from England are not a race.
poly, I again agree with you about the historical context. There is a lot to be said for that. Most of my argument is context. And that's where the problem really lies in determining what should be done with Shaq. On one hand he did not say it in a malicious context. Yet, historically it has been used in that context. So you have a fine line between the two and there is no easy answer. It does provide for an interesting discussion tho'. I once heard: There is a fine line between a man standing on the shore fishing and a man standing on the shore looking stupid. Shaq is finding that out right now.
Shaq is indeed wrong, not racist, but should apologize. What he said is not like the "N" word, if someone says that Chinese people feel the same as black people do when the "N" word is used, they are stupid, because they have never been black. Comedians do what's called an ACT, in my act I say that I have had sex with a dolphin, yet no one would question that. But you say that if I REFERENCE another race then I am somehow racist? Comedy on stage is THEATER. It is written and performed, it is not social commentary. FYI Don Rickles, Bobby Slayton, Dennis Leary, George Carlin, Andrew Clay, Jay Mohr, Buddy Hackett etc. have made millions off their ACT, and they rip EVERYONE!
Here is a terrible example for my case, but Andrew Dice Clay has some jokes. Of course he was villified. So I'm killing my own point of view But I do believe that Jim Carey mocks a Chinese delivery guy and the white men can't jump movie has got to have some digs.
Nevertheless, O'Neal is no comedian. Neither is Zoeller. Both were treated differently for doing the same thing, telling a joke with racial innuendos.
The "ching-chong" stuff is almost always used by people to denigrate, humiliate and degrade someone who is Asian and is almost always said in a hateful, malicious way. In those situations and in that context, I believe that an Asian would feel just as much offense and discomfort as a black person would feel upon hearing the "N" word. I'm not saying Shaq was saying it in this way necessariliy but that is how it is usually said. Or do you disagree with this? If you agree with this then the comparision is not inappropriate. If you disagree and claim that the "ching-chong" type taunts are not as offensive as the N-word then that is unfair for us to say unless we have experienced this situation ourselves. Personally I think that if I were to face either situation, I would be similarly offended and distressed.
I'm not sure that most Chinese Americans have asked for Shaq to be fined or suspended or punished in any way although I am sure some have. Most seem to believe that Shaq was not really trying to be intentionally hurtful. Nevertheless, it is right for the Chinese American community to let Shaq and others know that the comments were hurtful and for people to understand why they were hurtful. I don't think they should just let it go as many people here suggest if you agree with me that such remarks are indeed hurtful.
If he heard it, trust me, he was offended. I am part asian and I grew up listening to taunts exactly like the one Shaq said, and when you're a kid it hurts a lot more than it would an adult.
So you’ve been Chinese then? You know what it’s like to be Chinese and hear comments like that directed at you? I’m not really blasting you here, just making a point. Once upon a time white people tried to talk for black people. “They don’t mind riding in the back of the bus. Honestly.” Perhaps black people, or any other colour for that matter, shouldn’t try to talk for Chinese people.
Probably this little kid will laugh about it. Too bad Shaq didnt comment about his slanted eyes, that would be even funnier. I am sure this little kid couldnt wait to get back to his school to hear more jokes about his looks or ethnicity.
Shaq says Yao comments were said in jest LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal said he was joking, not being a racist, when he used a mock Chinese accent while talking about Houston center Yao Ming. A columnist for AsianWeek complained in his newspaper that O'Neal made several derogatory comments recently about Yao, with the Lakers' center saying, "Tell Yao Ming, 'ching-chong-yang-wah-ah-soh."' "I said it jokingly, so this guy was just trying to stir something up that's not there. He's just somebody who doesn't have a sense of humor, like I do. I don't have to have a response to that (the charges of racism) because the people who know me know I'm not," O'Neal said Friday before Los Angeles' game against Cleveland. "I mean, if I was the first one to do it, and the only one to do it, I could see what they're talking about. But if I offended anybody, I apologize." Yao, asked about the comments prior to Houston's game at Atlanta, said he believed O'Neal was joking. "There are a lot of difficulties in two different cultures understanding each other. Especially two very large countries. The world is getting smaller and I think it's important to have a greater understanding of other cultures. I believe Shaquille O'Neal was joking but I think that a lot of Asian people don't understand that kind of joke," Yao said. "Chinese is hard to learn. I had trouble with it when I was little," Yao joked. O'Neal recently received an NAACP Young Leaders Award. He acknowledged that his attempts at humor don't always work. "Over my 11 years in the NBA, I know for a fact that most of you guys are going to write what you want to write, and it's our job to either defend it or just let it go. At times I try to be a comedian," he said. "Sometimes I make a good joke and sometimes it's a bad joke. "That's just the ups and downs of trying to be a comedian." Lakers coach Phil Jackson was certain O'Neal was just kidding. "It's an unfortunate situation. I'm sure that Shaq had no meaning like that behind it. I'm sure he was just doing something that was fun-loving or something he thought was humorous," Jackson said. "The meeting between Shaq and Yao Ming next Friday (in Houston ) is going to be an interesting one, anyway, so it should bring a lot of interest to the game." Yao is leading O'Neal for the starting Western Conference center spot in fan balloting for the NBA All-Star game.
Yep. "Chinese is hard to learn. I had trouble with it when I was little," Yao joked. I love that guy .
I think Rome made a pretty good stand on the issue. Read for yourself - <b>Shaq Didn't Use Good Judgment </B> "Shaquille O’Neal has reportedly let loose a controversial, racial remark directed at Yao Ming. Literally everybody is down with Houston Rockets’ rookie, Yao Ming. The 7-5 Ming has made unbelievable progress since the beginning of the season. He can shoot it, pass and finishes strong. He needs to bulk up, but that will come with time. His teammates like him, opposition likes him…just about everybody, except Shaq. Shaq has been very critical of Ming since the very beginning. But lately it seems, Shaq has turned it up and went too far, getting off a racial blast. Yao Ming has been getting a lot of pub from the very beginning, is ahead of Shaq in the All-Star voting and Shaq is not pleased. This much we do know. I don’t know if this was the catalyst for his most recent remark, but Shaq crossed the line. According to ESPN.com, ‘Asian Week’ columnist Erwin Tang alleges that Shaq got off this bomb in an interview, using a mock Chinese accent. Tell Yao Ming, ‘Ching Chong, Yang Wau, Ah So’. Erwin Tang went on to say, the NBA and the Media are employing a double-standard when it comes to Asians. “Let’s not beat around the bush. If a White player had for instance had made monkey sounds to taunt a Black player, it would have been a national controversy. But Yao is Chinese and Asians are fair game.” And he’s exactly right. If a white player had made monkey sounds to taunt a black player he’d be run out of the game. And for those who think that Shaq was only ‘trying to be funny’…uh no. It was a racist and inappropriate thing to do, period. Do I think that Shaq is a racist and has malice in his heart? No. But going to the ‘Ching chong, yang, wah, ah so” blast is not cool. He was trying to be funny and failed miserably. It wasn’t funny at all. There’s nothing inherently funny about Yao Ming being Chinese. There is a double-standard. Bonzi Wells calling Danny Ferry a ‘honky’ should be just as unacceptable as Ferry calling Wells the equivalent in reverse. There probably was nothing hateful meant by Shaq, I think he’s a good guy. He works in the community, he’s charitable, doesn’t end up in jail and generally has nothing but positive contributions to society. But it was a racist statement and unacceptable. He owes Yao Ming an apology. There’s no way around this. If you mock someone for their race, skin color, ethnicity or heritage it’s wrong. If you have to, just switch Yao and Shaq in this instance and see what the reaction would be. You can’t qualify or make allowances based upon the race of who said it. It’s the statement that’s unacceptable and shouldn’t have anything to do with whose mouth it came out of or to whom it was directed. There is an obvious double-standard. If you turn this on its ear or look at the flipside, the ‘Fortune Cookie’ promotion night by the Miami Heat when Yao Ming came to town should be as abominable as a supposed ‘Fried Chicken’ night because any African-American comes to town. Shaq wasn’t mocking Yao’s game, he was mocking his Chinese heritage. Therein lies the difference. This is a nation that has an ugly history in relation to racism and African-Americans. Intellectually I would say this factors into why there is a double-standard today. But it doesn’t legitimize or justify certain types of behavior. It doesn't mean that Shaq is allowed a free pass. It only means that Shaq is in the wrong and owes Yao Ming an apology. The statement is unacceptable and that has nothing to do with who said it or its intended recipient."
