Xref: utzoo news.misc:2026 soc.culture.jewish:8268
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From: jwalsh@bbn.com (Jamie Walsh)
Newsgroups: news.misc,soc.culture.jewish
Subject: Re: RACIST JOKES
Message-ID: <32664@bbn.COM>
Date: 23 Nov 88 00:57:20 GMT
References: <8030@bloom-beacon.MIT.EDU> <1058@osupyr.mast.ohio-state.edu> <1060@osupyr.mast.ohio-state.edu> <1057@osupyr.mast.ohio-state.edu> <1223@fig.bbn.com> <666@fcs280s.ncifcrf.gov> <8052@bloom-beacon.MIT.EDU> <560@redsox.UUCP> <977@lzfme.att.com>
Sender: news@bbn.COM
Reply-To: jwalsh@cc6.BBN.COM (Jamie Walsh)
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
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In article <977@lzfme.att.com> brs@lzfme.UUCP (xmrj5-B.SCHWARTZ) writes:
>The white, christian, male support that Brad gets makes
>him feel justified.  

I've written a few articles in support of Brad, and in case you hadn't
noticed, I'm a woman, agnostic but formerly Jewish, from a family that
still is Jewish.

I don't recall ever hearing about the JDL, NAACP and NOW ever protesting
the various versions of "The Complete <ethnic> Jokebook" available in any
bookstore.  If these jokes were the horrible threat a few people in this
group claim they are, these books would have been picketed into oblivion by
now.

Ethnic jokes may be used by those who already are racist to belittle those
to whom they feel superior, but I do not believe that ethnic jokes can
contribute to changing the adult public's opinions toward racism. I do not
believe that jokes about stereotypes can contribute to the adult public's
belief in the truth of stereotypes.  Perhaps such jokes can change the
minds of children, but this is not meant to be a children's forum.

I do believe that such jokes should be rotated in the newsgroup as a matter
of common courtesy (or POLITENESS, to quote) to those who do not wish to
view these kinds of jokes.

I reiterate that I think the only changes needed in rec.humor.funny is
more care in selecting which jokes should be posted in ROT13 form.


-- jamie (jwalsh@cc6.bbn.com)

"There's a seeker born every minute."