How can I be racist? I have mixed kids!
CVK
The San Francisco police department is embroiled in a scandal involving a series of videos produced by Officer Andrew “Drew” Cohen, vignettes that Chief Heather Fong and Mayor Gavin Newsom said “range from immature to vulgar to sexist, racist and homophobic.”
The videos include a black homeless woman being run over by a patrol car, a cop ogling a woman he stopped for a traffic violation, 2 cops getting sexually serviced at an Asian massage parlor, a mocking portrayal of a transgender person, a black police officer eating out of a dog bowl, an Asian cop having difficulty riding a bike (an allusion to the stereotype that Asians are bad drivers), and more.
What I found most interesting about this story is Cohen’s response to the allegations:
“I’m a liberal Berkeley Jew with two biracial children, who was raised by a very strong liberal woman,” he said. “I’m not going to be the victim of someone else’s weird notion of political correctness.”…
“The notion I’m racist is ridiculous,” Cohen said. “I’ve worked my entire career to foster a better understanding between police and the communities. I’ve been the biggest advocate for opening the door between the community and the Police Department.”
Ah, the accusation of oversensitivity in the face of mere “political incorrectness” raises its ugly head again. (Here’s what I think of that excuse.)
How interesting that Cohen thinks he can’t possibly be a racist because he has mixed kids. This is something we hear all the time. People will express surprise and outrage at being labeled a racist, and explain that they are obviously not racist because a) they are in an interracial relationship, and/or b) their children are mixed. Barry Bonds invoked the evidence of his white wife back in June when he was accused of being racist against whites.
Just because you sleep with/live with/marry/date someone of another race doesn’t make you automatically not racist. After all, slave masters had no problem maintaining their racist beliefs against blacks while raping their slaves and fathering mixed children with them. Neither did Strom Thurmond. And all you have to do is read Susan Crain Bakos’s article to see that sex doesn’t cancel out racism. If anything, sex and intimacy have always been intricately intertwined with oppression.
Luke wrote:
Absolutely, well said. Everyone wants to be exempt from being seen as racist, sexist, discriminatory. Its such a cop-out. That type of thinking is really widespread beyond terms of marriage/IRelations/sex as well:
“I can make that joke and say the ‘N’ word! I have black friends that laughed when I told it.”
“I took a class on ethnic history, I think you’re crazy for being offended at that t-shirt!”
“I have tons of Asian friends who thought that t-shirt was so funny, you’re over-sensitive!”
Reminds me of that scene from Bamboozled with the White PR woman (going from complete memory here): “Hey, i’ve got a degree in African American studies from [whichever school]” to which Damon Wayans replies: “OK, so you slept with one black guy in college, big deal.”
Posted 10 Dec 2005 at 11:09 pm ¶
JB wrote:
well said.
Posted 11 Dec 2005 at 12:43 am ¶
Symphony-X wrote:
Wasted tax dollars! Now I know why America is shipping our jobs offshore, it’s because of one too many incompetent dip-shit such as these are fertilizing in our soil!
This is one prime example of trying to cover up and “stay in the closet”. This does not mean it will make them non-bias, prejudice or even racial. Truly, being in an interracial relationship DOES NOT prove anybody to be liberal or against prejudicial, as a matter of fact, I think it’s like having a “key” in your pocket, the freedom to mock and have all the alibis available to your own power and advantage simply by putting your girlfriend, wife, kid(s) in the witness stand for the world to see. Surely, I would love to make a video like this and cover some of the most outrageous “police” stereotypes as we know of today and then some more…sure, is it going to be safe haven for me? I don’t think so, but I can always say “I admire cops” and get away with it. Again, I don’t think so!
So back to the “closet” statement, if you see a male person all “toned-up” in muscles and being “manly” about everything, chances are that he is gay and not as perceived to be, but just safely flying under the radar or simply trying to stay in the closet.
Posted 11 Dec 2005 at 7:21 pm ¶
Lyonside wrote:
>So back to the “closet” statement, if you see a male person all “toned-up” in muscles and being “manly” about everything, chances are that he is gay and not as perceived to be, but just safely flying under the radar or simply trying to stay in the closet.
What’s that gotta do w/ the price of beans?
1. I disagree with your comment on its surface. A body builder is just a body builder, a skinny guy is just a skinny guy. You’re generalizing as much as anything in the video. (unless this was supposed to be facetious?)
2. It would be different if the video were intended to be instructive, or to show how to (or not to) handle situations that aren’t in the manual, or to show how difficult it may be to make a call. It’s another thing if, as this seems to be, the video is intended to be ENTERTAINMENT at a holiday party. The cops aren’t laughing at themselves, they seem to be laughing at the people they’re supposed to help. Adding a racial/ethnic overtone to the proceedings just heightens the level of offense.
Posted 12 Dec 2005 at 10:53 am ¶
Luke wrote:
Smells like the San Francisco 49′ers PR video debacle no?
http://www.sfexaminer.com/articles/2005/06/02/news/20050602_ne08_niners.txt
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/06/01/MNGHQD1IOT1.DTL
Posted 12 Dec 2005 at 2:35 pm ¶
April wrote:
Bwahaha, @ “After all, slave masters had no problem maintaining their racist beliefs against blacks while raping their slaves and fathering mixed children with them”.
Posted 12 Dec 2005 at 4:00 pm ¶
Symphony-X wrote:
>>>I disagree with your comment on its surface. A body builder is just a body builder, a skinny guy is just a skinny guy.
……………
I did mention “a male person all toned up” trying to be manly, not a bodybuilder. I am also referring this to the few hideous kindergarten clowns we have in the S.F.P.D. trying to do a real man’s job by covering up using a so-called interracial or mixed gender issue, thus far and in most case would be impugned by the general public.
>>>You’re generalizing as much as anything in the video. (unless this was supposed to be facetious?)
……………
Facetiously speaking; yes! But I don’t like to generalize, if I do, at least not in this fashion.
The guy said: “I’ve worked my entire career to foster a better understanding between police and the communities. I’ve been the biggest advocate for opening the door between the community and the Police Department.”….b.f.d!!!
It took him his entire career or lifetime of achievement so to speak to f**k up and embarrassed the department and the city of San Francisco. If I were him, I would just admit it like a true gentleman and apologize, words like: “we are deeply sorry and apologize if we offended the general public as a whole” would probably work (at least this way, the cards are still in your hands) he also made a remark to the police chief and said “shame on her” if she took it offensively. Yeah and finally, it is funny and humorous (not the video) but the CLOWNS IN THE VIDEO that represents the city of San Francisco.
Nothing despises me more than cover ups and closet rituals!
Posted 12 Dec 2005 at 4:46 pm ¶
Liberal Hitlers wrote:
“Liberal Berkeley Jews” are some of the most racist folks around. Hollywood is run by them - and is one of the most racist institutions existing - in its color-coded casting and racist portrayals.
So, the main difference between them and stereotypical redneck racists they like to project their own racist thoughts upon - is just that liberal racists don’t THINK they’re racist.
Anyways, with the expose of this and the 49rs’ tapes in the “liberal mecca” Bay Area - liberals are finally getting exposed for the rampant juvenile racial hypocrites they really are.
So….who wants to bet the woman who married this liberal racist is…Asian?
Posted 13 Dec 2005 at 9:01 am ¶
Lyonside wrote:
>liberals are finally getting exposed for the rampant juvenile racial hypocrites they really are.
Right. Cause all liberals think the same the way all conservatives think the same? No one group can corner the market for or against prejudice. Bias knows no ideology, but it can use ideology to either reinforce or hide that bias.
Posted 13 Dec 2005 at 12:31 pm ¶
Symphony-X wrote:
>>>Liberal Hitlers Says:
December 13th, 2005 at 9:01 am
>>>So….who wants to bet the woman who married this liberal racist is…Asian?
……………………
All the way to the bank!!
Posted 14 Dec 2005 at 10:53 am ¶
TMJ wrote:
OH. MY. GOODNESS.
Susan Bakos Crain chaps my hide in the worst way. Ya’ll, I had to talk real bad about the lady (don’t visit my site if you are sensitive cuz I called her all sorts of really bad names!) after that article in the NY Press. ARGH~!!!! The good part about it is that Susie Bright actually read my blog (the wonder!) and commented on Bakos Crain using her as a reference. I think it is the same as saying your best friend is ______ so you can’t be racist. I’m sure Bakos Crain’s biracial kids might disagree(if she ever had any)–esp. when she’s talking about how great their skin. UGH!
And as for liberal hitlers bet: no takers! Even money she is.
Posted 21 Dec 2005 at 2:20 pm ¶
Liberal Hitlers wrote:
Well, it DOES look like a trend here - Racist pigs married to self-hating Asian women:
http://cbs11tv.com/topstories/local_story_005225535.html
Farmers Branch Police Chief Suspended
Sarah Dodd Reporting
Branch Police Chief has been suspended without pay for ten days, and will be required to go into counseling.
The action comes after the chief admitted to making insensitive and inappropriate remarks regarding a Vietnamese police recruit.
In his 32 years with the City of Farmers Branch, 15 as chief, Jimmy Fawcett has had a spotless record. But it now has the stain of an “unpaid suspension” and “mandatory counseling”.
An early December comment offended some of his won officers so bad, that they filed an official complaint.
They say Fawcett was referring to a Vietnamese police recruit and said, “As long as I’m chief, we won’t have any gooks working in Farmers Branch.”
“To me it sends a message to all the officer’s and everybody else that it’s okay to say something like that,” said Paul Thai, Asian Law Enforcement Association.
Farmers Branch has never had an Asian police officer. And while Fawcett doesn’t confirm that he made the exact statement alleged, he does admit to making inappropriate and insensitive comments about individuals of Vietnamese heritage. And that’s upset some in the Asian community.
Asian activist Jennifer Nguyen says the comments are taking a toll. “I heard a lot of negative feedback, ‘Well they don’t want us here. Well I will have to move my business and move my children away from Farmer’s Branch. They don’t want us here, I don’t want to do business with them’” Nguyen says Fawcett owes Asians a public apology.
The chief has declined to comment publicly for this story. But his defenders point out that Chief Fawcett’s wife of 35 years is Japanese and his children are Japanese/American proving that his is sensitive to the Asian community.
Chief Fawcett is also a Vietnam vet who serves as a vice president of the International Chiefs of Police, a prestigious group that represents standards of policing world wide.
Posted 17 Jan 2006 at 1:04 pm ¶
King Viet Kong wrote:
Yes…I’m starting to think myself that an Asian accessory wife is more often EVIDENCE of a White American’s racism - not an ALIBI for it.
Now, just imagine how self-hating their KIDS must be! How can these Asian women do this to their families?!
Posted 17 Jan 2006 at 3:16 pm ¶
Mags wrote:
1 issue I have with the whole
“Chief Fawcett’s wife of 35 years is Japanese and his children are Japanese/American proving that his is sensitive to the Asian community”.
because you know all asians are the same…
though I do wonder if this man’s experiences a viet vet might have influenced this view…since from what I understood his comments were against vietnamese in particular.
Posted 17 Jan 2006 at 7:08 pm ¶
Anonymous wrote:
WAS THE VIETNAMESE POLICE RECRUIT A MAN?
IS IT TRUE THAT THERE ARE NO ASIAN COPS (VIETNAMESE OR JAPANESE) ON THE FB TEXAS POLICE FORCE?
Posted 19 Jan 2006 at 8:20 am ¶
FB Native wrote:
This is an example of words used being misconstrued to create chaos among the minority. The Chief is a three decade leader of a community that has embraced diversity since it was publically thought of as “politically correct”. The individual he referred to is not a good representative of the Vietnamese community and in fact is not someone they would not want to “protect and serve” their families. It just hit a nerve when he was spoken of in slang terms which others took personally.
Good luck and best wishes to a good man. Seems America is being sold out and we’re doing nothing to save our country.
Posted 25 Jan 2006 at 9:30 pm ¶
John wrote:
I’m with FB Native.
Who’s to say the Chief said “gooks”, meaning ALL gooks in general.
It’s possible he said ‘GOOK’- as in ONE gook… or to be more specific, THAT GOOK OVER THERE.
I also agree with Native’s point about “slang terms”.
If this country, by 2006, has not classified certain anti-Asian slang as racial slurs- it’s w a y too late! At some point, a man’s got a right to stop learning shit. We managed to get the Asian vs ‘oriental’ thing- let’s be thankful for that!
And the Chief’s defenders have a valid point: he’s got a Jap wife despite WWII!
I’d like to leave a final word for those of you who do not take Native’s comments seriously because Native’s of American Indian descent- that’s RACIST!
Posted 26 Jan 2006 at 2:10 am ¶
Glo wrote:
I don’t think you can say that..even if its in reference of “ONE GOOK”. The fact that “GOOK” is a well-known racial slur that has been constructed in our society. It is that you intended offense by the use of that word which is known is to be a derogative term towards a certain group of people. Also whether or not that if that man was not adequate enough for that job does not mean it classify him as an inadequate GOOK. Just not fit for that job. So why must there be a reference of a negative term of GOOK?
Posted 07 Mar 2006 at 7:24 pm ¶
READ BETWEEN THE LINES wrote:
^ IT’S CALLED SARCASM, DUDE.
Posted 13 Mar 2006 at 4:04 pm ¶