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Is this offensive?
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Anonymous
CNN is reporting that Rep. Alcee Hastings said this to an audience of Jewish Democrats yesterday:
My colleague down the hall just came in to share this with me. He's very offended by it and was angry that I didn't understand why. I'm not sure what to think so I'm asking DCUMs: Do you find this remark offensive? Here's the link to the full story: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/24/florida-congressman-points-to-palin-to-rally-jews-to-obama/ |
Anonymous
| not offensive to me. But I don't belong to either category. And I think Hastings makes a very good point about Palin. |
Anonymous
| I'm pro-Obama but I do find the comment offensive, or at least pointless. I do not like Palin for many reasons, but the fact that she is a hunter doesn't particularly bother me, and I certainly don't think she would shoot and field dress a human being, if that was the insinuation. |
Anonymous
OP here. Thanks; I am not a member of either group and my colleague feels I don't get it as a result. I have such a bad headache I can't think straight and I am trying to understand what I missed here. |
Anonymous
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I can't stand Palin but here's my take on why this might be considered offensive. Three things strike me:
1) This appeals to the worst stereotypes about working class whites. 2) This insults the intelligence of people who may feel that they can decide on the issues, disagree with Obama on the issues, and are impatient with and offended by the scare tactics. 3) Also, I don't know if this has anything to do with your colleague's response but there is a certain segment (and note: I'm only saying a certain segment) of the American Jewish community who are willing to support conservative Christians because those Christians support Israel without any reservations or criticism. Of course, those Christians support Israel without question because they believe that having a Jewish nation in the Holy Land is a necessary precursor to the Second Coming (so it's not like they really care about Jews). Which I'm sure these Jewish Americans realize but they see it as necessary to support Christians like Palin for practical reasons in order to ensure the survival of Israel as a Jewish state. |
Anonymous
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I don't think it's offensive to either Jews or African-Americans. But I think he went overboard in seeking Jewish/African-American solidarity behind Obama. I see the sub-text as "gun-toting" = "KKK", which is clearly offensive to hunters in general. It's a catchy soundbite, but likely to draw an apology to hunters from Obama.
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jsteele
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OP, ask your colleague how he feels about this video:
http://thepage.time.com/sarah-silverman-video/ |
Anonymous
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I'm Jewish by origin (Atheist), and I don't find it offensive. Alcee Hastings is a firebrand. He speaks his mind, and anyone who attends one of his appearances should probably know that. He's got good intentions and a fantastic record on civil rights.
I think that that it was somewhat lazy not to spell out what he meant-- that Palin's brand of fundamentalism and preference for theocracy has never been good for religious minorities, particularly Jews. Hunting is not allowed in Jewish tradition/religion/culture, for what it's worth. And it's nice to hear a leader call for Jewish and African American solidarity, however inartfully. Some Jewish people believe that hawkish policies on Israel are good for Israel (I disagree) and therefore good for Jewish people, regardless of the creepy end-times justification. They forget that the tyranny of the majority, discrimination, church-state blurring hurt many Jewish people and the liberties for which Jewish leaders fought alongside African American leaders. Every five minutes, a pastor, elected official, or radio host says that the Obama-Biden ticket is a threat to Christians. That's campaigning. |
Anonymous
My take on
is that it is a clear implication that gun owners or hunters (or both) are indiscriminate - hunting Moose, Jews and blacks with equal enthusiasm. And yes, I do find it offensive - and I don't own a gun and I have never hunted. |
Anonymous
| Yes, it is offensive. |
Anonymous
I'm confused. Does your colleague think it was offensive to African Americans and/or Jews? I don't get that. But I can see how it might be offensive to Sarah Palin, her supporters, or hunters/gun owners - basically saying that if you are a hunter/gun owner you are also racist. That to me is offensive and I am not a hunter or gun owner, but it is a very closeminded statement. |
Anonymous
My colleague was personally offended by it. He is Jewish. |
Anonymous
I would but he's a bit miffed with me right now. I find it funny, of course. I needed a good laugh, so thank you. |
Anonymous
| At the risk of repeating earlier posts, the point is obviously that Jewish voters who think that McCain is "good for Israel" because he wants to bomb every country that surrounds it should consider the candidates in their entirety. I'm Jewish and I can't imagine why it would be offensive in any way to Jewish voters. Maybe what your colleague hasn't told you is that he's also a moose? |
Anonymous
| OP here. I talked to him and it seems to be a combination of what 10:23 and 10:32 suggested, with an emphasis on feeling that his intelligence had been insulted, plus strong personal antipathy toward Alcee Hastings, whom he considers a "scumbag." (Not my term, so don't shoot me.) He conceded that I wouldn't have the same reaction, not being in his shoes. I in turn conceded that the comment was in poor taste and that it's characteristic of Hastings to say something like this. We watched the Sarah Silverman video and laughed at it together. I didn't ask him if he's a moose, as that's really none of my business. Thanks to all of you who shared your perceptions. |