tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312509576069599926.post5311654802250199932..comments2023-03-24T21:37:19.845-07:00Comments on Latin@ Pop: Perhaps I'll LaughLa Profehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00693660739933750002noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312509576069599926.post-80545778720229097372010-11-20T10:49:20.895-08:002010-11-20T10:49:20.895-08:00Really interesting! And I totally agree that the w...Really interesting! And I totally agree that the way we perceive racism differs so much based on context - we talked about this in our first few weeks of class as well, I believe, when we discussed how it's not only *who* says something, but the intent with which they say something. <br /><br />And I think the politician v. comedian thing fits in with that. Politicians make our laws and represent the voice of the people, as you said. So when they make racist comments, as Shannon Angle does in that video, it really terrifies me, because how on earth is she supposed to represent a state with a 20% Latino population when she has such skewed perceptions about the people? How would she help to enact legislation that would not be biased against Latinos when she herself is making ignorant comments like this? Politicians know all of their words are being scrutinized and dissected, so when they are the ones making racist comments, I think it worries people even more because it indicates that politicians feel that their racist comments are somehow acceptable and will stand up in face of heavy scrutiny. <br /><br />But with comedians, the intent behind the words is so different. When a politician makes a racist comment, it perpetuates and intensifies racism because the comment is said in what's supposed to be a neutral space. But when a comedian makes racist comments, it can be used as a tool with which to call light to racism and discrimination, and a tool to make people realize what kinds of stereotypes are present in society. In the Stephen Colbert video, he says a lot of things that have basically already been said by a lot of racist politicians about America being for Americans, not for illegal aliens, etc., but it's so clear it's meant as satire and to call attention to the actual racism presented by people like Angle, that it becomes funny and acceptable for him to say it. <br /><br />So yeah, I think the spaces in which these comments are made are so different, which is very often reflected in the different ways people react to these kinds of statements.Nisha Hariharanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09099081198559509748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312509576069599926.post-76552325717496149902010-11-15T09:52:08.752-08:002010-11-15T09:52:08.752-08:00It's sad because most people can't control...It's sad because most people can't control their racism and in no way am I going to try to justify that BUT isn't it possible that society has in a sense made racism acceptable in certain ways to the extent that racial remarks are hard to shed from our minds. I grew up in a really white town and I have no quams with other races but because of how I was raised I feel it's easier for me to slip up. Doesn't necessarily mean she is ignorant ( even though she shouldn't be setting that kind of example as a public figure ). I don't really know what my point was but racism has become so engrained in our society that someone doesn't need to be racist or ignorant when what they say can be assumed as racist I guess. Our ignorance is in not recognizing how society has affected us in that way and makig an extra effort to avoid those slippages.<br /><br />Ashley RussellAshley Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13000553960336768765noreply@blogger.com