"Two men who say they were the target of a racist rant by actor-comedian Michael Richards at a comedy club are seeking a personal apology and perhaps some money, said their lawyer Friday."
Perhaps some money? Really? If someone insults me, that is usually the last thing on my mind. This just seems ridiculous to me.
"Richards' publicist said his client wants to apologize to both men, who are black, but has not been able to locate them.
Allred [the attorney], speaking by telephone from Colorado, said Richards should meet McBride and Doss in front of a retired judge to "acknowledge his behavior and to apologize to them" and allow the judge to decide on monetary compensation.
"It's not enough to say 'I'm sorry,"' she said.
She did not mention a specific figure, but pitched the idea as a way for the comic to avoid a lawsuit."
I like the wording..."pitched the idea", like she's trying to land a script with a studio.
"Our clients were vulnerable," Allred said. "He went after them. He singled them out and he taunted them, and he did it in a closed room where they were captive."
Uh...he may have taunted them, but last time I went to a show, there are many areas around that say EXIT and I can use any of those at any time if I don't like what is going on. Plus they openly stated that he was unfunny. Heckling someone does not mean you are vulnerable. Plus, they were not chained to the chairs.
"The video of Richards' outburst shows several people getting up and walking out as he shouts at the audience."
Which is a more mature response than "I'll Sue Ya!!" (which is the title of a great song by Weird Al).
Last time I checked, part of the problem with having free speech is that sometimes people say some dumb things, and we ought to, at least to some degree, protect their right to do so. [Is this one of those times? Where do we draw the line?] And sometimes feelings get hurt. But I am not convinced that he ought to pay these guys or be sued.
I may be wrong, but I think this is a heightened version of when my second graders come up and say that "so-and-so" is calling me names...
What do you think-should these guys get money for being insulted, even humiliated?
Derrick
6 comments:
If I had a dollar for any time during my life that someone may have said something unkind about me, I could have probably retired ten years ago. I am probably as guilty for having said unkind things myself. I feel blessed to be forgiven for these things I said about others. BUT, I do not expect to be compensated nor be responsible for compensation for any things I said. Hey, those were just words. hurtful? ABSOLUTELY, and I regret and time I ever did that. It always was about someone I love, as well. Be it that monetary compensation issues are MUCH less important than "human" compensation?" I should hope so! I have said that I am sorry to a degree that no money nor riches in the world meant more than being forgiven. I still and hope to always feel that way. I have been forgiven first by The Lord. Then, it was my family that I depended upon for forgiveness to a great degree. They are there for me. Bottom line is, poo poo vote for me as concerning people trying to extract MILLIONS of dollars because they feel they were verbally insulted. Accepting honest apology shows true character and respect.
I think that one big aspect of this is the fact that those men were taunting the comedian first. So, he taunted back. He just had a big stage and a mic to do it with. I think those men should have thought about the possible consequences of their actions before they played their part. Money? NO WAY. Apology? Yes. Oh wait, he already has apologized, many times.
I believe that Michael Richards should receive financial compensation for the emotional harm and distress received from those who laughed at his Letterman apology, from those who did gainsay his apology, and those who called him "cracker" in that comedy club.
While these parties are busying making out their checks to Mr. Richards, I believe that Ms. Allred would do well to hold Jesse Jackson to similar standards and have him devote a substantial amount of his money or time to rectify the error of his "Hymietown" comment of yesteryear, if in fact he has not already done so. A $100,000 check to ADL or televised PSAs against resurgent anti-Semitism should suffice.
Jesse Jackson can not be pegged as racist 'cause he fights for the black man.
So, there seems to be a discrepancy, or double standard about the racism done by black folks. It is, at the least taboo for black folks to be accused of racism. If they are, then the charge that I am just being racist and whatnot is charged back to me.
Is it only racism if it is aimed at the darker skinned brothers? Christians, straights, and white males are quickly becoming the acceptable target of scorn and it is ok to ridicule them.
Like with Richards, who was not using his brain when he said the things he did, it is ok to continue to make fun of and ridicule him. Forget that he apologized...Kwame, as you pointed out, when has Jackson apologized for the ridiculous things he has said through the years?
I did appreciate what Jackson (I think it was him)said concerning the black folks by asking them to stop using n----- to refer to each other. I would say I agree with that. It seems ridiculous that some would get upset by a word they call their friends on a regular basis (or the rappers rapping about it).
Is there a balance to be had in this situation? I could be way off in my thinking, but that is how I see it for now.
Derrick
This may be out of context, but this is the brain of Russ with one of his immediate response things going on. Lenny Bruce is one who I have done much research on. Indeed, his comedy was what it was. yet, his delivery was intended to be not demeaning to anyone. To him, it was just comedy. Lenny seemed to have no prejudice. He one time used the "N" word constantly during one of his acts. His audience was always a mixed culture, which was in many places unacceptable during these years. The Black audience members started to get aggitated by his reference to the "N" word. Lenny's point? He said that he repeated it so many times, that it didn't mean anything any more. He didn't want some Black child to be insulted by the word anymore. I'm still trying to understand lenny Bruce psychology, but i believe he was maybe on the right track.
Though it seems interesting, I am not sure I like his (Bruce's) tactics. It apparantly doesn't work because the rap population says it over and over, but it is still not okay for anyone else to use the word. See: Andy Dick's recent "appearance" and subsequent apology.
Derrick
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