Why should Michael Richards appologize?

Question

It's a double standard. Blacks can get away with racial comments all day long. Everyone is entitled to their opinions. People love to use the "freedom of speech" defense except when it comes to something they don't agree with.

Answer 1

Cosmo you are still the man.
People need to get out of the street if they do not wish to get hit by a car.
Those guys need to learn to keep their mouths shut; If you want to be a heckler prepare to be heckled.
This story is so one-sided. What about the black guys?
Do not forget most of these types of stories are complety one-sided.

Answer 2

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions but when people start to talk / joke about a murderous past and a desperate fight for basic liberty, free speech becomes overated. Words have a real power to change and rearrange.

Can you imagine me saying to a jew that 60 years ago we would have you gassed in a concentration camp. This kind of free speech is more of a reflection on me being uncivilised. The way and timing of Michael Richards comments also made him look ugly and washed up.

This type of race arguement is also seriously flawed. Barring what I see on American TV, I have never been disrespected / racially sidelined by a black person in my personal life. When was the last time a black person made a racist comment toward you personally? Please consider that before you go out into the world with this idea you have of all black people.

Answer 3

I agree with you. In this country we have the right and freedom to say what we want. Some may pay a heavy price for that freedom but it is our right none the less. He using the N word is no different than black comedians who use it in their acts. The problem with most older generation blacks is that they still see the word as a racial slur towards black. At times it is used in that way and at times it is not. I don't think Richards was using it that way but if he were then I would be very disappointed in him. The Bottom line is, If blacks do not like the N word that much, then they need to stop using it in Stands up acts, Movies, Music. If blacks see the N word as so disrespectful then they should take a look at themselves before casting judgment on other. From reports I hear that his comments may have been taken too far. None the less what he said is said but I feel that he owes no one an apology. If someone heckled me Might say something strong to get them off my back too and it may be offensive. I think that is what Richards was trying to do. Now as a black man, I may be considered a sellout to my race for making this statement but I have always looked at the world with rose colored glasses I don't see color. I see the good and bad in people. No more no less. I avoid the bad ones.

Answer 4

I think that before he offers any sort of apology, the public should be able to view the tape in its entirety and hear his side of the story, as well as those who attended the club. There was something that obviously provoked him to say what he said, even though what he said was inappropriate.

However, an educated guess, though, would be that he is very frustrated that his career has never risen to the level that it once knew back in the 1990's, and he simply took it out on a person who simply told him the truth - - the man isn't funny!

Answer 5

You guys...you know Mc'Richards got a bad rap on this one. Hear me out before you scroll on.

The guy's a comedian, right? Ones' perception of "comedian" differs widely person to person. But most of us *can* say that many "funny" comedians are very edgy, push the envelope, are offensive, etc.

Before I expose (what I "think") the apologetic Band aid....I'll ask who in the house is familiar with the stand up comedy of Chris Rock? If you're not....basically he pulls no punches...and will take shots at any race including (and to the *greatest* degree) his own race. Chris's routine does *not* bring the white, Semitic, etc., P.C. police or "political correctness" spokespersons running out of the woodwork to bring shame to C-Rock's evil, evil acts. (and no I don't think Chris Rock is evil)

(1) Michael Richards is a comedian working to maintain his comedy career in the after light of the "Seinfeld" show. He plays ball a bit left in field. I don't know how many of you guys have experience in standup (under aforementioned conditions as well) trying to gain "acceptance" and become the target of hecklers. In this highly-intense stressful situation, it would be EASY to attempt to use some edgy material - with the hopes of shock value laughter - and it be received by the audience as racist bigotry. Words don't always "come out right" and if they do, the meaning or context may be misunderstood.

(2) Some may not agree with this...but Michael as a middle-aged white man is an easy target for "reverse racism." What I mean by that is Chris Rock someone like Mr. "Mind of Mencia" could pull off "edgy"/insulting comments in a routine like that to an ivory-skinned white guy and not a word would be said. Only laughter.

That's what I mean by the usage of "reverse racism" - it's a hypocritical, double standard-ish way to say statements like the above are allowed *except* for - in this case - Kramer "White Guy" Richards.

As long as Kramer (and other "similar" comedians) practices his art in the mysterious realm of "political correctville, USA" and the Chris Rock's can verbally demean others like Michael with no respect or concern of being "politically correct" everything will be just fine in the state of race relations. Right?

And there's the issue of free speech which has already been addressed.

Should Michael Richards apologise? For the sake of others? NO! BUT...I truly believe he feels awful about the tirade. For *that* reason he should apologise...because his words weren't true to his heart. An apology simply because reverse racism got its ugly toes stepped on is by NO means a reason for an apology.

Until we can all laugh at and with each other (in humor - not malice) can there ever be racial equality??

Or is this overblown incident yet another example of someone trying to hold a *white* man down?

Peace & love ya'll

Answer 6

i believe he should apologize because even if the use of the n-word is not offensive to some or doesn't seem offensive there is no way to explain his tirade about lynching in the very beginning...anyone there should have realized that richards was abusing his position in entertainment to save face by belittling the african americans, if the freedom of speech allows such tirades to go on, then human decency should be enough to draw the line

Answer 7

There is a difference between using the n word in a joke and verbally attacking a race of people using the n word and other racist remarks. In comedy, on expects to hear a few derogatory jokes but what Richards did was way over the line. Did you hear everything he said? The correct thing to do would be to apologize but I don't want to hear it if he doesn't really mean it. What he said was an attack, he wasn't trying to be funny when he said those things.

Answer 8

you are right. Why do we pretend that such thing as obnoxious rude blacks doesn't exist? Of course, not ALL are that way, but as a population "they" certainly seem to regard all social standards as not applicable to them. Everyone gets tired of the loud foul mouthed "brothas n sistas" ruining everyone else's time out.
Strange also, how it seems people have a right to not be offended--that offensive speech is somehow not allowed.

Answer 9

Well to be a bigger man he should apologise. What ticks me off is he apologises on national TV on David Letterman and according to NAACP and Sinbad it just not good enough.
That's BS. An apology is an apology no mater where you say it.
The guy had a bad night. He screwed up as a celebrity.
So to keep working he should apologise. And he did. But Black America is not going to let this go. They will use it as much as they can. Even if he killed himself they wouldn't be satisified.

Answer 10

We have Freedom of Speech and are one of the few countries that have it. Michael Richards has the right to use the freedom. The audience had the right to walk out on his shocking and nasty tirade. I have never heard such vehement slander from a black or any other comedian.
www.TMZ.com has it on video.