From: eugene@wilbur.nas.nasa.gov (Eugene N. Miya)
Subject: Re: "Jap" (Was Re: NX Premiere "Northwest Passages") 
Organization: NAS, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 92 20:50:41 GMT
Distribution: na

>>>On Maurice saying "jap":  Yes, it's racist.  Yes, it's offensive.  Yes,
>>>with a Korean son he should be more thoughtful.  Nonetheless it's
>>>consistant with his character.
>>>An entertaining, somewhat likeable jerk is still a jerk.  Sorry, Kimiye.

>In article <7TRM7#4#9@linac.fnal.gov> lewis@linac.fnal.gov
(June Cummins Lewis) writes:
>>Sorry to keep this flame burning, folks, but I feel someone should
>>step in and defend Kimiye, and I nominate myself.  I think it's a
>>copout to say "that's just the way Maurice is."  In my opinion, the
>>word "jap" is as offensive (and yes, politically incorrect) as
>>"nigger," "kike" and "fag."  You would not hear any of these words
>>uttered on Northern Exposure.  There are ways to convey racial
>>prejudice other than by resorting to the use of the most facile, cheap
>>slurs.  I would think the writers of NEXP would be intelligent enough
>>to come up with them.
>>June (who intensely dislikes the word "jap" for denotations in

In article <1992Oct6.002719.2717@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU> kbowers@esrc1.uucp
(Ken Bowers) writes:
>Is it that he says these things, or that they seem not to bother
>anyone?  An important question about stereotyping is whether it is
>an issue in the show
>or it seems to be so embedded and unquestion that the show is
>reenforcing stereotypes

Well variations of this question are happening simultaneously in at least
four other groups and only two are soc.culture.japan/asian.american.
Somethine about a trade war....

While it's all very admirable (HIGHLY admirable, you guys all deserve
medals compared to other groups, I'd pin them on you myself),
this is a TV show [remember Murphy Brown and the V-P, better yet
remember All in the Family?].  I side with Mark Twain (Sam Clements)
and Tom Sawyer.  Remember that it's one character and not the entire
series.  That should give you a clue.  If you object, my suggestion is to
write the WRITERS of the show and show them how to write and be as effective
as the stereotypical words.  You might show them a thing or two, maybe
get invited to write an episode (get paid!) join the Screen Writer's Guild.
Or they might reject your improvements as not having the impact of the
stereotypical word.  But you won't find out until you write them and protest.
Believe me writing the show is fun.

I think re-writing history for the sake of today and tomorrow smacks of
Orwell, and people's old prejudices are history.  It's the current and future
prejudices which are OUR problems.  It's like placing "1990s women" in
1890 period piece films.  And my mom was one of those interned while Dad was
off fighting in Europe.

Ken's question strikes at the heart of Archie Bunker.  It's very good.

But above all Maurice is a CHARACTER: a brave (sometimes scared),
at times thoughtful, sometimes bully, redneck, neo-Alaskan: very typical
up there...  Follow my advice above, you might make some money.

And if you want to "the cause" (civil rights, what ever) "police" and read
other news.groups and stand up in those groups against REAL bullies.
Highly appreciative.

Who works for the Agency whom Maurice used to work for....

--eugene miya, NASA Ames Research Center, eugene@orville.nas.nasa.gov
  "I am the business." -- in Blade Runner
  Acting Associate Editor, Software and Publication Reviews
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