To be honest, there may be some semblance of truth to this, I don't think so. On a matter where I tend to agree with Michael Moore in his book "Dude, Where's My Country?", the American population has learned to cover their continued racism, but mask it. This effect is now happening in western cultures around the world. I agree entirely that Michael Richards crossed the line and blatantly insulted the hecklers beyond reason, however I believe the following racially motivated reaction across America was uncalled for.
Mr. Richards later appeared, inappropriately in my opinion, on The Late Show with David Letterman, with the help of friend Jerry Seinfeld in an attempt at a public apology. The venue was wrong, and Michael Richards seemed to appear like a scared child apologising to his headmaster. He's an actor, but I believe his apology.
I don't like his comedy, in fact outside of Seinfeld I find his brand of comedy relies too heavily on over-the-top gestures, which I believe only worked well in the context of the Cosmo Kramer character.
I don't believe his actions were racially motivated. I think his performance went completely out of control, since that's what he does. As usual, the CNN coverage doesn't do anyone justice, other than to serve their own moral high-ground. The problem is that people, especially Americans, see words like "nigger" and immediately take offence. In fact, Dictionary.com now claims that this is the probably the most offensive word in English, highlighting precisely what Michael Moore was describing.
People need to chill out! Racism continues to exist because people take these words so personally, when there is no need. What's done is done, and history is for the past and not the present. This is why I prefer the Australian attitude. In Australia, call almost anyone what you want, they'll call you a name back, and we're all still friends. Me, I'm a bloody skip! I don't take offence to that, however calling most Americans from the southern states Yanks will provoke such an affronted reaction, that it's best avoided.
Michael Richards definitely offended the hecklers, now identified as Kyle Doss and Frank McBride; however the subsequent legal action is equally unwarranted. This course of action serves only to abide racism, when we really all should be learning to get along. Hey, maybe I can't complain, since this is how the United States of America (and Sydney, Australia) works now - Those two will walk away from court with some easy money, in true American style.
I'm disappointed that in this educated age, people still can't come to terms with the simple fact that we're all human, and we're on living on the same planet. Society in general is still clinging to this old-fashioned xenophobia, and perpetuating it with ideals such as political correctness. Michael Moore highlights that even the media in Northern America serves to sustain this divide to ensure success with their Neilson ratings. I'm not allowed to say black, I must say African American (the capitalisation is mandatory). Oh no! Michael Richards must be racist, because he said Afro American on David Letterman's show. He must obviously be referring to their funny hair styles, therefore let's retort by declaring him a peckerwood.
Some might argue that I wouldn't know because I'm white. That's fine, that's your opinion, but it's wrong. Most recently, I've been racially stigmatised several times by the Belgian Police in Brussels, let alone countless potential landlords and employers, and I know how race can get in the way of life.
Please, fellow humans, let's just get along and put this race crap behind us. Let's leave the term race to the anthropologists, and stop using it as a pathetic barricade for your own fears.
