Oh wow. This is awesome. Someone from the UK (I assume, "mate"), entirely removed from the issue, embroiling himself in the argument and quickly proving himself useless to the discourse.
It is a very common, and cheap, argument to accuse someone who feels like the target of bigotry of being bigoted for speaking using the terms necessary to the argument. Calling a black man a racist because he uses the terms of racists to discuss racism is a blatant fallacy of logic.
You, you foreign observer, go home. Or remain home, but don't come to this argument with your self-confident assuredness and presumption of truth. "There's only one elemnt of racism here mate and I think your it." Sure, throw the person who feels wronged out of the discussion he began because he has grudgingly taken up the trappings of that wrong, only to display them.
That said, I don't think this film's use of racist characters or race related dialogue constitutes a racist film.
Particularly the cited example of Cribbs saying "I been hangin around _____ my whole life and I ain't never caught a break" etc. I took that as a sarcastic comment, relating the reality that black people during the 70s (and now, to some extent) were subjugated and not likely to be met with good fortune (catching a break). Taken literally, without an understanding of the sarcasim, this statement seems like a black man putting down his own people, but it is clearly evident from his tone of voice and the context that he is being sarcastic, satirical.
So, nothingwillstopit, I don't agree with illpoet, but I do recognize the validity of his argument. But you, you are an embarassment, a joke, an illperceiving facist more willing to attack the arguer than the argument.
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Rasbenek
18 years ago
And how quickly you shoot yourself in the foot with your nationalistic observation when the term "mate" is so commonly used in many English speaking countries (none more frequently than Australia I might add). So by picking on the 'comment poster' whom you assume resides, or originates, in the UK you serve to display the same racist/nationalistic/elitist stance that you accuse others of taking.
On other matters, however, I am forced to agree - specifically the right to vocalise, whether spelling deficient or otherwise, an opinion, based on crass naivity, overwhelming experience, or other equally valid perspective. But when you serve to invalidate 'nothingwillstopit''s response by taking to your 'soap-box' in defense of anothers right to offer valid opinion - you become the bigot yourself. A hypocritical bigot. Somehow that seems worse.
The film does not come across to me as overtly racist but utilises emotions, views, and opinions that were very much of the time. Even today members of certain black communities use the N word as a term of identity, for someone from the same social group not quite as smart as another - a certain put down that seems more acceptable coming from within the community it was originally meant to denegrate. I still don't like its use but then who am I to say it shouldn't be used amongst the black community if they feel in any way comfortable to use it. Also the point to remember is that as a metaphor for the Vietnam experience, clearly a statement of the filmmaker's view of US foreign policy in SE Asia, it is reflective of the pervading military attitude (unofficial, and in the field) that black soldiers were of less value than white soldiers, and were in some way more expendable (if such a thing can exist, because expendable is, and cannot be more than...). Cribbs sartorial comments were in keeping with commonly held attitudes amongst black soldiers of the 1960's, though clearly from the interaction he enjoyed with his fellow squad members he did not feel that those attitudes still existed (at least in his experience).
So, to "SolelessNikes" I offer agreement on some of your points and suggest also that you do not become embroiled in discussions with other posters, whose views do not lie in accordance with your own, when the basis of your argument is no less bigoted than those with whom you disagree, and your contribution to the discourse thereby self-negated.
R
UK screenwriter
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electric-joy-machine
17 years ago
the comment wasnt made to belittle or hurt anyone. it was said as a joke, in a lighthearted way, during the early part of the movie.
chill.
and illpoetikill, just relax man, it was a joke no different than a christ rock, richard p, or jsut about any other black stand up joke.
on that same note, dont call me a honkey.
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wilhar
17 years ago
This movie is not racist. Cribbs is a sarcastic guy. "I make most of my money selling dope to high school kids". Remember that whole exchange? Sarcasm...
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herc_takes_five
17 years ago
seems like if any ethnic group was portrayed in a negative way here it was ... the cajuns.
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roycostello
17 years ago
It is my opinion that black people are some of the most racist individuals out there. How many times have you heard a black man refer to white people as crackers, or whitey, or white boys in the movies. How is that any more acceptable than the language used in this film?
Black people have their own TV networks, their own newspapers and magazines, their own film genre, yet they somehow feel justified in accusing other races of racism against THEM!
Its frickin hilarious.
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nickynichole01
17 years ago
LOL Whitey, whiteboy and esp crackers arent even close to being as offensive as the N- word or j, c, g etc. for that matter.
You want real predudice on whites,take a trip to hawaii and see some of the non white (aka asian etc..) local's.
Remember now Hawaii is a state where whites are not the majority. ;)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii#Demographics
Nicky was here.
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