From: c9221777@cc.newcastle.edu.au (Brother Redeye)
Subject: Re: Racism and Humour
Followup-To: alt.activism
Organization: University of Newcastle, AUSTRALIA
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 03:16:30 GMT

In article <KAYVAN.92Sep28130021@satyr.Rational.COM>, kayvan@satyr.Rational.COM (Kayvan Sylvan) writes:
> In article <688nm6=.enigma@netcom.com> enigma@netcom.com (Enigma) writes:
> 
>    [... about racist jokes ...]
> 
>    I usually just say "I don't think that's funny".  If I have to, I will 
>    explain that I do not wish to listen to any racist jokes, and could we
>    please change the subject.  But usually just saying that I don't think
>    it's funny is all that is required.
> 
> It depends on who's doing the telling. I tell midlle-eastern or
> Iranian jokes sometimes (I'm Iranian), but my intent is to laugh at
> the *stereotypes*, not the people.

Precisely.  There's a VERY funny comedian in Australia by the name of Steady
Eddie whose jokes are generally about the diasabled - fair enough, he's got
cerebral palsy

> 
> I also find that telling white jokes once in a while (when others are
> telling race-related jokes) works to point out our fundamental
> equality.
> 
> Face it, all people are funny!!
> 
> I completely see the point of examining our own motivations and
> underlying assumptions when we find racist jokes funny.
> Simultaneously, I think that humor can bring people together and be a
> healthy expression of inter-racial tension that can be the starting
> point for meaningful dialogue.

Along the same lines as Eddy are several ethnic comedians who specialise in
"wog jokes". Then there's Ernie Dingo, the Black Aboriginal comedian who makes
jokes about white Australians, just for something different.

> 
> What I'm basically saying is that jumping down people's throats for
> telling racist jokes will accomplish nothing towards the goal of
> racial harmony. It will cause resentment and cause people to suppress
> their feelings and *strengthen* the underlying racism.
> 
> Your job, if you choose to accept it, as a cross-cultural ambassador,
> is to acknowledge the racism with *acceptance* and bring it to light.
> Only then can you educate people about equality.
> 
> 			---Kayvan
So could you give me some examples of middle-eastern jokes (in good taste if
possible) and any jokes directed at people of white-anglosaxon origin (bad
taste is fine here).  By the way, does anyone know any good jokes about
Australians, apart from adaptations of ones concerning New Zealanders and
sheep.


> --
> | Kayvan Sylvan, Expert Support, Consulting for Rational, C++ Development     |
> | kayvan@satyr.Rational.COM  === W: (408) 496-3847 === Pager: (415) 694-0113  |
> | "Dubito ergo sum --- I doubt, therefore I am." "Why say why?"               |
> --
> --
> | Kayvan Sylvan, Expert Support, Consulting for Rational, C++ Development     |
> | kayvan@satyr.Rational.COM  === W: (408) 496-3847 === Pager: (415) 694-0113  |
> | "Dubito ergo sum --- I doubt, therefore I am." "Why say why?"               |
-- 
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All opinions expressed herein are my own and do not reflect those of the
University of Newcastle ... but then again, as I have to pay to use these
facilities anyway, who really cares?!
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