An elegant proof, Lindy, although I think there was an opportunity here to use the much coveted one word proof, coined, incidentally, by another drunken racist, Sir Winston Churchill.
Your stereotype-laden dehumanizing view of the crazy hobo outside the liquor store exposes a heart differently-situated than Mel Gibson's, but ultimately just as icky.
Go ahead. Exist. I double dog dare you! Just don't try to pretend that Mr. Crazy Hobo is any farther off the mark than some of your colleagues there at The Stranger.
As to your thesis: hell yes. The knife's edge was most visible to me in the original Mad Max. The clock was ticking even then, poor dear. Glorious, and I'm with Schmader on how I'm handling the kerfuffle.
I saw you link the Gawker article on twitter and read that first before reading your piece. And you are right, Maureen O’Connor does not know how to read.
Aussies come from a different mindset than we do. Being a sexist and racist pig was - and is - more socially acceptable, and women will sleep with you even if you are.
@13 - Oh, bravo Will. Except that he's American, and was born in New York. Or are you claiming that simply living in Australia for a few years turned him into a sexist, racist pig? I mean, that makes perfect sense - it sure explains me and every other Australian I know. It must be something in the water. You moron.
and Dee, I've had friends in Australia for many decades. Got some nice software when I was there for WorldCon from a Math Prof friend of mine back in the 80s, and stayed with many friends throughout the country. How's the asian population in Perth being treated nowadays?
Goodness, Will in Seattle @ 13, that is one broad paintbrush you're painting with. That said, I've met many fine Aussie men who were neither racist nor sexist; had I been single when I met them, I would have happily slept with them. I find their accent very debilitating. But, I don't find racist or sexist attitudes attractive.
Well I don't know about Perth since I'm from the East Coast, Will - but I've never heard any of the Asian Australians I know complain of racism towards them. And from the last census data I can find, 30% of people in my city are Asian - which doesn't surprise me.
To be fair, it looks like only 1 in 10 people in Perth are Asian... which is the same amount as in Seattle. Still, you'd think it would be less if we were so horrible toward them.
@6, curse you, David Schmader. I cannot stop watching that. It is burned onto my brain. I have forwarded the link to 20 friends in the hopes that it will somehow absolve me of this curse.
@21 FTW Mr. Blood Porn Jesus! Ha! Mel used to turn my young, formative gay boy crank while I was growing up in the 80s. But I've detested him for a couple of decades now. He's totally batshit insane.
Hush, Will @ 27. If you weren't so insistent that you're correct you would a) remember that Dee just said she is from the east coast of Australia, b) understand that your own anecdotal experience does not, cannot, be used to make broad generalization about an entire country. Simply put you sound silly. Please let it go. Especially since you go on about being a Texan when it suits your comment and a Canadian when ever it suits you.
And, I agree with Lindy. Mel Gibson appears to have some serious issues. I feel very bad for him.
Not to say that all Aussies are rascist, but my dark-brown Indian buddies got pretty nervous travelling through southeastern Oz, and had to tolerate some less-than-friendly treatment. You might want to check out this editorial as well: http://bit.ly/6GJzST
Just sayin' - it's a sterotype down here in the Antipodes for a reason. But Gibson's instability is definitely based in something deeper and darker.
I hate to speak in Will's defence, but there's a lot out there about anti-Maori racism in Australia (there's lots of anti-Aboriginal racism in Canada as well, though, so I'm not trying to say we're any better than them). Also, Australia's the only country I can imagine where a blackface performing group would have been seen as cute and funny in 2009. I know many Australians said that being able to laugh at blackface showed how completely unracist they are, but I'm not sure I buy it.
I was not saying that Australia did not have an issue with racism. I personally think that there are huge issues there, just as there are huge issues in the US and Canada. I think that it is more likely that every culture has issues with racism. And, with sexism. My issue, and it is really my problem to deal with, is with generalization. I don't think they help the conversation. That was my point.
@41 most anti-Maori racism is found in New Zealand, just as most anti-Aborigine racism is found in Australia.
It's like the South. While it mostly doesn't exist as much among young people, the surface lack of racism doesn't match the reality of what's under the surface in the older generations.
There are teabaggers and holocaust deniers and racists, oh my!
"Bitch-ass-bitch"
Go ahead. Exist. I double dog dare you! Just don't try to pretend that Mr. Crazy Hobo is any farther off the mark than some of your colleagues there at The Stranger.
As to your thesis: hell yes. The knife's edge was most visible to me in the original Mad Max. The clock was ticking even then, poor dear. Glorious, and I'm with Schmader on how I'm handling the kerfuffle.
No matter how much you defend him, you know in the end Mel is just going to kick you up the ass.
He and his mullet have been worthy a proper lanting for far too long.
Here, people like to complain about Seattle but do nothing to solve their own problems.
b=actually caring
a>b => still don't care about Mr. Blood Porn Jesus
I'm just sayin'!
To be fair, it looks like only 1 in 10 people in Perth are Asian... which is the same amount as in Seattle. Still, you'd think it would be less if we were so horrible toward them.
@25 - you don't get out much. They complain about it to me quite a bit.
We'll just blame the New York Daily News editors for that one, though.
All Aussies Racist=Rack off! I'll bend over backwards with my balls in a knot before I believe that!
And, Will? - what @28 said.
And, I agree with Lindy. Mel Gibson appears to have some serious issues. I feel very bad for him.
Just sayin' - it's a sterotype down here in the Antipodes for a reason. But Gibson's instability is definitely based in something deeper and darker.
Yes.
*Hella* yes.
Um. Not acting.
I was not saying that Australia did not have an issue with racism. I personally think that there are huge issues there, just as there are huge issues in the US and Canada. I think that it is more likely that every culture has issues with racism. And, with sexism. My issue, and it is really my problem to deal with, is with generalization. I don't think they help the conversation. That was my point.
I'm sorry to be once again off topic.
I just checked the Gawker article, and it's actually in there!!
It's like the South. While it mostly doesn't exist as much among young people, the surface lack of racism doesn't match the reality of what's under the surface in the older generations.