Comments on: The Heckler Responds to KKK Satire Fallout: Laugh At Racists, Not With Them http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/12/15/the-heckler-responds-to-kkk-satire-fallout-laugh-at-racists-not-with-them/ 68.3 Square Miles of D.C. News and Opinion Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:05:00 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Mr Bigglesworth http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/12/15/the-heckler-responds-to-kkk-satire-fallout-laugh-at-racists-not-with-them/comment-page-1/#comment-699718 Mr Bigglesworth Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:57:19 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/?p=39680#comment-699718 TYPO CORRECTION: In my last post I intended to write: THE HECKLER ARTICLE IS not racist in the least. To the contrary, the Heckler is saying "stop pretending there is NOT prejudice on campus. It runs deep here." TYPO CORRECTION: In my last post I intended to write:

THE HECKLER ARTICLE IS not racist in the least. To the contrary, the Heckler is saying "stop pretending there is NOT prejudice on campus. It runs deep here."

]]> By: Mr Bigglesworth http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/12/15/the-heckler-responds-to-kkk-satire-fallout-laugh-at-racists-not-with-them/comment-page-1/#comment-699717 Mr Bigglesworth Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:55:46 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/?p=39680#comment-699717 One need not be familiar with G'town U to realize that the Heckler piece was basically saying "this is how strong the racist undercurrent at G'town is." It's not racist in the least. To the contrary, the Heckler is saying "stop pretending there is prejudice on campus. It runs deep here." In doing so, it's clear the Heckler editors were hoping to start a conversation. And I think they are dead on. I'm white and my visits to local hangouts of G'town's preppier crowds certainly pointed toward some deeply prejudiced opinions there -- comments along the lines of how a group of spoiled brats "deserved" special privileges, while every non-Polo wearing kid must be an affirmative action admit who was "lucky" to be at that school (or that s/he "must play sports"). Kudos to the Heckler, and a lump of coal to anyone at that "elite" school for not understanding the rather obvious point that was being made. The paper was trying to make a statement in support of the non-white, non-blue blood students at Georgetown. How did folks miss this? One need not be familiar with G'town U to realize that the Heckler piece was basically saying "this is how strong the racist undercurrent at G'town is." It's not racist in the least. To the contrary, the Heckler is saying "stop pretending there is prejudice on campus. It runs deep here." In doing so, it's clear the Heckler editors were hoping to start a conversation.

And I think they are dead on. I'm white and my visits to local hangouts of G'town's preppier crowds certainly pointed toward some deeply prejudiced opinions there -- comments along the lines of how a group of spoiled brats "deserved" special privileges, while every non-Polo wearing kid must be an affirmative action admit who was "lucky" to be at that school (or that s/he "must play sports").

Kudos to the Heckler, and a lump of coal to anyone at that "elite" school for not understanding the rather obvious point that was being made. The paper was trying to make a statement in support of the non-white, non-blue blood students at Georgetown. How did folks miss this?

]]> By: Matty B http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/12/15/the-heckler-responds-to-kkk-satire-fallout-laugh-at-racists-not-with-them/comment-page-1/#comment-699094 Matty B Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:13:23 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/?p=39680#comment-699094 I had only a basic familiarity with the background story here prior to reading, and I still understood that the Heckler article was satire intended to lampoon the Hoya, racists and racism in general. I'd expect the brainy students over at Georgetown to understand. And everything in the world has the potential to be funny, as long as the joke is artfully crafted. This certainly wasn't Onion-caliber, but it wasn't entirely bereft of taste, either. I had only a basic familiarity with the background story here prior to reading, and I still understood that the Heckler article was satire intended to lampoon the Hoya, racists and racism in general. I'd expect the brainy students over at Georgetown to understand.

And everything in the world has the potential to be funny, as long as the joke is artfully crafted. This certainly wasn't Onion-caliber, but it wasn't entirely bereft of taste, either.

]]> By: b http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/12/15/the-heckler-responds-to-kkk-satire-fallout-laugh-at-racists-not-with-them/comment-page-1/#comment-699066 b Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:35:52 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/?p=39680#comment-699066 Really! It seems that these black kids at gtown are either soft or too ill-prepared to distinguish racism from satire. If they could not see what that article was saying, then that paper should do their next issue about this. To those black students, I offer advice. Get a clue. Read carefully and think before having another Al Sharpton-inspired fit. When something worth reacting to occurs, people will be hard-pressed to believe you now. [quick fyi - i am black] Really! It seems that these black kids at gtown are either soft or too ill-prepared to distinguish racism from satire.

If they could not see what that article was saying, then that paper should do their next issue about this.

To those black students, I offer advice. Get a clue. Read carefully and think before having another Al Sharpton-inspired fit. When something worth reacting to
occurs, people will be hard-pressed to believe you now.

[quick fyi - i am black]

]]> By: ckilla1 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/12/15/the-heckler-responds-to-kkk-satire-fallout-laugh-at-racists-not-with-them/comment-page-1/#comment-699050 ckilla1 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:30:48 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/?p=39680#comment-699050 All racist will die! All racist will die!

]]> By: Georgetown Heckler Under Fire for Satirical Article on Cross Burnings and the KKK « College Media Matters http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/12/15/the-heckler-responds-to-kkk-satire-fallout-laugh-at-racists-not-with-them/comment-page-1/#comment-699006 Georgetown Heckler Under Fire for Satirical Article on Cross Burnings and the KKK « College Media Matters Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:40:46 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/?p=39680#comment-699006 [...] The Heckler’s top editor told Washington City Paper he stands by the article. A Heckler writer offered what I feel is the strongest defense, even summoning the spirit of Stephen Colbert: “I think the basic problem is people are throwing around the word satire without understanding what it actually means. The point of satire is to critique a position by adopting it, and pointing out its ridiculousness. Think of stephen colbert, he makes fun of right wing pundits by acting like them. . . . The whole point is not to laugh with racism, but at it and laugh at the people who commit racist acts. The real irony of the situation is that the whole point of the heckler was to denounce racial ignorance.” Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Satirical One-Night Stand Column Spurs ControversyHolocaust Satire Article Prompts Apology; Purdue Students on “Hot Seat” [...] [...] The Heckler’s top editor told Washington City Paper he stands by the article. A Heckler writer offered what I feel is the strongest defense, even summoning the spirit of Stephen Colbert: “I think the basic problem is people are throwing around the word satire without understanding what it actually means. The point of satire is to critique a position by adopting it, and pointing out its ridiculousness. Think of stephen colbert, he makes fun of right wing pundits by acting like them. . . . The whole point is not to laugh with racism, but at it and laugh at the people who commit racist acts. The real irony of the situation is that the whole point of the heckler was to denounce racial ignorance.” Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Satirical One-Night Stand Column Spurs ControversyHolocaust Satire Article Prompts Apology; Purdue Students on “Hot Seat” [...]

]]> By: WARD4DC http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/12/15/the-heckler-responds-to-kkk-satire-fallout-laugh-at-racists-not-with-them/comment-page-1/#comment-698969 WARD4DC Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:12:21 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/?p=39680#comment-698969 I am black and I am not offended by this. We are becoming to sensitive or being too dam politically correct. Let people say what's on their minds. I rather for someone to tell me how they feel about me to my face than to be an undercover racist. I am black and I am not offended by this. We are becoming to sensitive or being too dam politically correct. Let people say what's on their minds. I rather for someone to tell me how they feel about me to my face than to be an undercover racist.

]]> By: Comrade Al Gonzales http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/12/15/the-heckler-responds-to-kkk-satire-fallout-laugh-at-racists-not-with-them/comment-page-1/#comment-698949 Comrade Al Gonzales Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:55:53 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/?p=39680#comment-698949 Tax these racist punks (i.e., their rich daddies). Pittsburgh is going to tax tuition - other cities will follow suit. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/education/16college.html?hp There's no reason these rich punks should use DC services while paying no taxes here. Yeah, daddy pays some tax on the bar tabs, but that's about it. Slap a 100% tax on private school tuition. Use that money to give bonuses to Pete Nickles & the tough motherfuckers who kicked the shit out of the punk protesters - twice. On the streets, & in court, Nickles & the cops kicked their wimpy liberal retarded kindergarten asses. Tax these racist punks (i.e., their rich daddies). Pittsburgh is going to tax tuition - other cities will follow suit.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/education/16college.html?hp

There's no reason these rich punks should use DC services while paying no taxes here. Yeah, daddy pays some tax on the bar tabs, but that's about it. Slap a 100% tax on private school tuition.

Use that money to give bonuses to Pete Nickles & the tough motherfuckers who kicked the shit out of the punk protesters - twice. On the streets, & in court, Nickles & the cops kicked their wimpy liberal retarded kindergarten asses.

]]> By: downtown rez http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/12/15/the-heckler-responds-to-kkk-satire-fallout-laugh-at-racists-not-with-them/comment-page-1/#comment-698922 downtown rez Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:58:37 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/?p=39680#comment-698922 The problem is the collateral damage caused when those who are not familiar with the previous Hoya piece, or the purported underlying controversy, stumble upon this article which, on the face of it, is racist. Socially responsible satire wouldn't require readers to be so steeped in local inside-baseball history to recognize it for what the authors say it is intended to be. Putting such a burden on the general readership (which in today's media environment is obviously exceedingly broad) smacks of provincialism/solipsism and self-indulgence. The problem is the collateral damage caused when those who are not familiar with the previous Hoya piece, or the purported underlying controversy, stumble upon this article which, on the face of it, is racist.
Socially responsible satire wouldn't require readers to be so steeped in local inside-baseball history to recognize it for what the authors say it is intended to be.
Putting such a burden on the general readership (which in today's media environment is obviously exceedingly broad) smacks of provincialism/solipsism and self-indulgence.

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