rosie's ching chong view of china- Page 4

[Calvin]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 12:43pm

The pin beats the old Dick Tracy cartoons. That show managed to weave stereotypes about Asians, Hispanics and the Irish into a seamless fabric of jaw-dropping offensiveness.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 12:45pm

This thread is making me CRAZY!!!!!!!!!

What's the point of spending so much of your life offended? I'm not talking about anyone in particular, but COME ON! Everyone is racist in some sense. Does Rosie have ill-feelings towards the Chinese? No, I don't think she does. Could what she said be interpreted as a racist comment? Well, if you ask the right people.

It's easy for some of us white people in here to say what should/shouldn't, can/can't offend other people, but we will never know for sure how it feels until we have been in that position.

I don't believe that what Rosie said was mean, racist, nasty, or anything else than hypocritical. It is true that if somsone did a stereotypical gay impression she would be up in arms - and that's the only thing about this entire thing that I find questionable.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 12:51pm

PJ - from Urbandictionary.com:


snot rocket

To blow one's nose by blocking one nostril with a finger and blowing snot from the other nostril onto the floor or ground.

[Calvin]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 12:53pm

Also known as a "farmer's blow."

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 1:00pm

jimnysf, maybe you're the one that should just "get over it" and let people be offended, regardless of your feelings on the matter.

I don't know about anyone else but if I heard a Chinese person making the same joke but instead of using ching chong ching they said some commonly used english syllable/word I wouldn't be offended at all, I'd actually think it was pretty funny.
If you had read any of the links Lizzie posted, you'd see that it is NOT the same thing.

To those complaining about the original link's comment about Rosie's weight, maybe you should have read some of those links as well instead of using one columnist's comment (out of DOZENS) as an excuse to denounce anyone's claims for finding wrong in Rosie's comment.
AAJA Responds to Rosie O'Donnell's Offensive Mimic

[Phantom2]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 1:08pm

Not sure if this was already posted:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12092006/gossip/pagesix/rosie_to_asians__loosen_up_pagesix_.htm

[jimnysf]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 2:52pm

jimnysf, maybe you're the one that should just "get over it" and let people be offended, regardless of your feelings on the matter.

Orange, I do let people be offended. Your views almost always offend me.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 3:31pm

The AAJA says this:

"We feel strongly that it is our responsibility to call attention to what we consider a mockery of the Chinese language and, in effect, a perpetration of stereotypes of Asian Americans as foreigners or second-class citizens. The use of the distorted phrases is insulting to the Chinese and Chinese Americans and gives the impression that they are a group that is substandard to English-speaking people."

But when was Rosie making fun of Chinese-Americans? Really, when did she bring people into it at all? As far as I saw, she was only mimicking Chinese. No people. Just the sound of the language. I would say something about straws, and grasping at here...

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 3:35pm

You're right. She wasn't making fun of Asian Americans, per se. (I don't really get AAJA sometimes.)

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 4:11pm

So no one here has ever imitated a foreign accent?

I seriously doubt it.

Was she supposed to learn Chinese to finish her joke?

Did she say anything negative about Asians?

Did she say something in judgement about Asians in any way?

Did she make anyone anywhere feel Asians are a "substandard race" after hearing this? Find me one.

[justagirl2]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 4:19pm

Maybe not, but if anyone else had done the same thing--referencing a stereotypical "gay" mannerism without a conscience agenda, Rosie would have their head. It's not necessarily a matter of what she did, to me, but the hypocrisy of the situation.
Updated On: 12/10/06 at 04:19 PM

[SNAFU]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 4:25pm

I will that some of those finding Rosie's comments offensive think Belushi's Samuri Deli owner a comedy classic. He didn't speak Japanese.

[Marlene]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 5:17pm

But when was Rosie making fun of Chinese-Americans? Really, when did she bring people into it at all? As far as I saw, she was only mimicking Chinese. No people. Just the sound of the language. I would say something about straws, and grasping at here...

A language is dead unless it is utilized by a group of people. On a large level, who speaks Chinese?—people of Chinese decent and people in Chinese speaking countries, etc. Given that language is often a pertinent form racial identification, I agree with the AAJA to an extent.

I'm disappointed with Rosie and I'll leave it at that. Am I going to lose sleep over it? No. It would be foolish if a Chinese or Asian American group did not voice their concerns regarding Rosie’s behavior, it just spread a message that this behavior whether if its intent is humorous is condoned.

Did she make anyone anywhere feel Asians are a "substandard race" after hearing this? Find me one.
Hello there. This is quite a stretch but I would argue it if really wanted to, but I can tell you call up the AAJA and stop making swooping generalizations.

I'm rocking the same boat as Jane2, it's just unnerving to have someone like Rosie do this.
Updated On: 12/10/06 at 05:17 PM

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 6:17pm

Honestly, the only reason I'd think she made Asians look like a substandard race is because I'm mortified that "my people" had nothing better to do than talk about Danny DeVito, not because of her ching-chang schtick.

[erikaamato]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 6:36pm

Hey, guys -

Just checking in (I hadn't even looked at this thread since I first posted in it), and I wanted to sincerely apologize if anyone misconstrued and/or was offended by my use of the term "special interest group." I would (and do) refer to any group of human beings that generally share common interests and/or deal with similar issues as a "special interest group": Catholics, Buddhists, actors, singers, attorneys, farmers, women, Republicans, Democrats, French Canadians, Shriners, soccer moms, punk rockers, people allergic to peanuts, cat lovers, etc. Perhaps I am mistaken in this practice, but I truly didn't mean any offense.

And - speaking of which - I honestly don't think Rosie meant any offense by her Chinese impression, either, but I found it hypocritical/insensitive, particularly in light of her reaction (for example) to the Ripa/Aiken incident...as I don't think Ms. Ripa meant any offense by her comment. (And the audience was laughing with her, too.)

Again, I apologize if I came off as snide. Certainly not my intention.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 8:12pm

I have to agree with erika. And I do think it was interesting, if you saw the Rosie vs Ripa episode, that Rosie repeatedly said that she didn't think Kelly intentionally said anything offensive, but that as a gay woman, it came across that way to her. Rosie quickly saw that her opinion was in a minority, but she seemed ok with that.

I did see the "ching chong" episode and as soon as she said it, I knew there was going to be backlash. Do I think it's deserved? No. But in today's world, it's getting increasingly difficult to say anything without offending someone, so virtually any comment by a celebrity regarding an unfamiliar culture is going to make headlines.

[alterego]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 10:17pm

If the comment that Rosie O'Donnell made gets your panties bunched up that much, you best not watch some episodes of the TV show Little Britain where a character when describing an Asian student says something like "straight black hair, yellowish skin, slight smell of soy sauce?....yes that's right the ching chong chinaman". Another character is described as "the ompah lompah" and the "big fat leso".

Every ethnic group has a slang reference, some aren't pretty but they are still used. You just have to learn to live with it, they'll never, never go away.

[Marlene]

Posted: 12/10/06 at 10:32pm

Bite me.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/11/06 at 3:27am

Every ethnic group has a slang reference, some aren't pretty but they are still used. You just have to learn to live with it, they'll never, never go away.

Defeatist about the status quo? Hell no, I won't go!

[LaurenB]

Posted: 12/11/06 at 7:43am

My thoughts on this brouhaha:

- Rosie's initial comment - innocent. I chuckled when I saw it (as I cringed)

- Rosie's rep's commment - "She's a comedian in addition to being a talk show co-host. I certainly hope that one day they will be able to grasp her humor." - totally condescending and obnoxious, imo

- Rosie's apology - To me, it came across as somewhat insincere. It's like, "I have to say I'm sorry, so here it is, but I think the problem is on your end." I don't think she tried to understand why people were upset.


Ever been in a relationship? The worst thing you can say to your significant other is, "I think you're being ridiculous." It totally discounts their feelings, and now you are dictating what is or is not an approrpiate way to feel, as if you are somehow the arbiter of appropriate feeling management. Any psychiatrist will tell you that you have to respect your significant other's feelings, even if you don't get it. You don't have to get it, you just have to appreciate that your partner is bothered by the situation. The attitude of "you're being ridiculous" is a surefire way to get an argument going.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 12/11/06 at 8:02am

This is the politician/actor's method of apology. I'm sure there's a name for it.
Watch any public figure have to apologize and it's ALWAYS conditional.
"My actions might have been construed as offensive to some."
"If anyone took offense."
"If you were offended by what I said."

That puts it all on you.

[LaurenB]

Posted: 12/11/06 at 8:21am

I think they call that the non-aology apology. I love these names, LOL. Best is plausible denialbility.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 12/11/06 at 11:13am

bway, ya left out athlete.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 12/11/06 at 11:20am

If I omitted any special interest group with my non-apology, then I non-apologize.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 12/11/06 at 1:58pm

those poor stupid chinese. i can hear them talking about this right now, ching chong ching chong losie o'donnow ching chong while making my general tso's chicken. you totally need to understand it's a joke lizzie. i mean the c*cks*ckers around here got it, why can't you? i heard people talking about it at the broadwayworld on ice afterparty, "ssssssshe'sssss ssssssso sssssssuper! i don't know why anyone doessssssssssn't get the joke."