I don't post to this blog on a daily basis ( http://blog.360.yahoo.com/sunriseticklee ), or even a regular basis. I usually use it as a time to wind down or reflect. It's just a relaxing thing to do every once in awhile. Very rarely do I use this to vent, but today, vent I will!
I recently tuned into a TMFRadio show. I usually only tune in on Saturdays because my weekdays are usually swamped and I am exhausted by 11 p.m. Yesterday's topic sounded especially intriguing. It was about relationships, so I made it a point to stay up and listen. The relationship topic is very special to me since I am one of the few people that met someone on TMF (www.ticklingforum.com), developed a great friendship with the person, fell in love, and now we have a wonderful marriage. I honestly didn't think having a husband or being married would ever be as great as this. I mean, I really love this guy!
There were a couple of people hosting the show that I really liked/ respected. I even wanted to call in and give my 2 cents. So, you can see, I was excited about it. I have to say that what I actually heard for the short time that I could stand to listen to the show, really, truly upset me.
Racial slurs- calling the host wetback and taco. Making underhanded comments about crossing the border. Every comment made was answered with arriba and undalé and then more degrading racial remarks.
I was pretty upset about it and was told. "It's ok Sunrise. He likes it." It was explained to me that it is ok to use racial slurs and attack someone's heritage and culture if it is said in a joking manner and if it is said out of love. Everyone just seemed to be so comfortable and so "ok" with saying these inappropriate and degrading comments on the air like it was just the most wonderful thing in the world.
It angered me, sickened me, and saddened me that these kind of actions were accepted and encouraged. It was as if this was an acceptable part of the norm, as if it wasn't offensive to anyone. "It's ok... We're just joking." Really! REALLY?
Guess what? It is not ok. Ignorance and hate speech are never ok, even if YOU personally think it is funny. When is it ok to make fun of someone's race or culture just because a couple of people allow it or it doesn't bother them? Why is it ok to ignore the other people and not even think about who else this will offend or hurt?
In a span of 10 minutes when I was thinking we were going to talk about relationships, what I heard the most was racial and ethnic slurs. And the thing is, if they really truly loved this person, if they really truly respected this person and the culture, and the millions of other people who share this culture, they could have chosen other ways to show it. How many other things and ways could they have picked at or make fun of the person without going to the lowest of lows and using hate speech? Love and respect wouldn't let me spend time making Mexican jokes and think it was ok only because that one Mexican would not get mad.
People who I liked and admired thought it was ok, when frankly, it was just disgusting. Would I tell a student it was ok to call someone a n*gger if they assured me they were just joking? Would I really allow someone to yell out Spic and say, that's fine, he really wasn't being hateful. That's perfectly acceptable. No I wouldn't because it is not.
As much as I would like to say that I live in a world where we are all treated alike and color does not exist, we do not. And I work extremely hard trying to properly educate and destroy racism, discrimination, generalizations, and stereotypes. My kids are just starting to get it. I can't believe that ADULTS just do not comprehend it, and worse, would willingly allow ignorance to spread under the guise of a distasteful, disgusting joke.
Kind of makes me think how these people really feel about minorities and what they would really say given the chance to say it. If you want to tease me, make fun of my clothes, the music I listen to, how I say the word "pecan", pick at my hair, my loud, raucous laughter, but do not stoop so low as to make fun of my heritage, my culture, my ethnicity.
People who truly love you will not willingly cross that line even if it does not make you upset or offend you.
What is the lesson we learned today? No, racism is not ok just because you or I think it is funny!
I recently tuned into a TMFRadio show. I usually only tune in on Saturdays because my weekdays are usually swamped and I am exhausted by 11 p.m. Yesterday's topic sounded especially intriguing. It was about relationships, so I made it a point to stay up and listen. The relationship topic is very special to me since I am one of the few people that met someone on TMF (www.ticklingforum.com), developed a great friendship with the person, fell in love, and now we have a wonderful marriage. I honestly didn't think having a husband or being married would ever be as great as this. I mean, I really love this guy!
There were a couple of people hosting the show that I really liked/ respected. I even wanted to call in and give my 2 cents. So, you can see, I was excited about it. I have to say that what I actually heard for the short time that I could stand to listen to the show, really, truly upset me.
Racial slurs- calling the host wetback and taco. Making underhanded comments about crossing the border. Every comment made was answered with arriba and undalé and then more degrading racial remarks.
I was pretty upset about it and was told. "It's ok Sunrise. He likes it." It was explained to me that it is ok to use racial slurs and attack someone's heritage and culture if it is said in a joking manner and if it is said out of love. Everyone just seemed to be so comfortable and so "ok" with saying these inappropriate and degrading comments on the air like it was just the most wonderful thing in the world.
It angered me, sickened me, and saddened me that these kind of actions were accepted and encouraged. It was as if this was an acceptable part of the norm, as if it wasn't offensive to anyone. "It's ok... We're just joking." Really! REALLY?
Guess what? It is not ok. Ignorance and hate speech are never ok, even if YOU personally think it is funny. When is it ok to make fun of someone's race or culture just because a couple of people allow it or it doesn't bother them? Why is it ok to ignore the other people and not even think about who else this will offend or hurt?
In a span of 10 minutes when I was thinking we were going to talk about relationships, what I heard the most was racial and ethnic slurs. And the thing is, if they really truly loved this person, if they really truly respected this person and the culture, and the millions of other people who share this culture, they could have chosen other ways to show it. How many other things and ways could they have picked at or make fun of the person without going to the lowest of lows and using hate speech? Love and respect wouldn't let me spend time making Mexican jokes and think it was ok only because that one Mexican would not get mad.
People who I liked and admired thought it was ok, when frankly, it was just disgusting. Would I tell a student it was ok to call someone a n*gger if they assured me they were just joking? Would I really allow someone to yell out Spic and say, that's fine, he really wasn't being hateful. That's perfectly acceptable. No I wouldn't because it is not.
As much as I would like to say that I live in a world where we are all treated alike and color does not exist, we do not. And I work extremely hard trying to properly educate and destroy racism, discrimination, generalizations, and stereotypes. My kids are just starting to get it. I can't believe that ADULTS just do not comprehend it, and worse, would willingly allow ignorance to spread under the guise of a distasteful, disgusting joke.
Kind of makes me think how these people really feel about minorities and what they would really say given the chance to say it. If you want to tease me, make fun of my clothes, the music I listen to, how I say the word "pecan", pick at my hair, my loud, raucous laughter, but do not stoop so low as to make fun of my heritage, my culture, my ethnicity.
People who truly love you will not willingly cross that line even if it does not make you upset or offend you.
What is the lesson we learned today? No, racism is not ok just because you or I think it is funny!
