Michael Richards, "Kramer" from Seinfield using a racial slurs

[cinco]

I especially don't like hearing it from a middle aged white man, who has so much rage in his heart. Even his apology--there was something there. Does anyone else think that?

[monsoon]

An interesting viewpoint on the word ######, here.

[TheBostonian]

I'm stunned by this. Michael Richards doesn't have a career to lose, nor does he need one. He was Kramer and he can never top that. He should just retire in the country and stay out of trouble. Mel Gibson, on the other hand, had much more to lose and there is evidence that his antisemitic feelings were from the heart, with his very own father being quite explicit in interviews regarding his own antisemitism.

Meanwhile, it is still acceptable to step on homosexuals, even in the highest places.

[kayman]

i have watched all the footage from the laugh factory of that night. i think it's also fair to watch his (michael richards) talking/apology on david letterman... if any of you wish to here is the link: http://www.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/dave...ighlights.shtml

not to condone such ignorance and insensitivity, but i feel like the guy is genuinely reeling from his racist episode... and futhermore he hopefully will learn valuable insight from it. we have become a nation that usually can forgive a person for their idiotcy... @ least once. whether it be a politican that carelessly harkens to a time of racial divsions (trent lott) or be it a sports figure who charges the crowd in anger

(ron artest).... our society is known to accept an apology and move on. maybe that is good thing, maybe it's a bad thing?

[Pillsbury]

^ The apology seemed weird. He seemed unstable, like he has prepared in his mind what to say, but he was too emotional to get his point across. I think he has some issues which need to be dealt with. To be honest with you, he seemed insane.

[kayman]

I'm stunned by this. Michael Richards doesn't have a career to lose, nor does he need one. He was Kramer and he can never top that. He should just retire in the country and stay out of trouble. Mel Gibson, on the other hand, had much more to lose and there is evidence that his antisemitic feelings were from the heart, with his very own father being quite explicit in interviews regarding his own antisemitism.

Meanwhile, it is still acceptable to step on homosexuals, even in the highest places.

[krazeeboi]

An interesting viewpoint on the word ######, here.

[tamias6]

May have read Literature from the KKK or Neo-Nazis maybe? Whatever his problem was, racial slurring is not a good thing to be doing. If the offended individuals were giving him a hard time that provoked the attack on race, there are other less abrasive ways of dealing with the situation such as "Security! These gentlmen are disrupting the show. Kindly escort them to the door."

Unbelievable; what was this guy thinking?

[suburban george3]

His apology didn't seem genuine to me, and I think it was kind of "forced" since Jerry was on Letterman anyway. Not to mention that the "Late Night" show was not the forum that this apology should have been broadcast on.

Funny the outrage this has brought along with the disgust from Mel Gibson's recent comments but the comments from Isaiah Washington on Grey's Anatomy utilizing a gay slur have hardly stirred a whisper.

[tony speller]

Richards is an idiot.

They had the two men on Fox News today (yes, i do watch it sometimes when CNN isn't looking too good) along with their lawyer. I can't remember who it was, but they had some guy grilling them about why they are suing them for money, trying to "get rich" off of this, etc. Really getting on their case.

First of all, there has been nothing said so far that they will sue him for any certain monitary value. Sure, that might be in the future... but the answer they have always given is that they want justice in the way the (retired) judge sees fit. And if they WERE to sure him for tons of money, shoot... why would that be wrong? Obviously you can't lock a person up for racist slander, but you can hit them where it hurts. And for Michael Richards, it's not like he can;t afford to pay a fine anyway. he is rich as ****.

Of course he is apologizing now, but do you think he is really sorry? He didn't come out and say anything until after this was in the news. And when he did, it was basicly to the general public and not to the men he was saying all that stuff to.

[davidals]

An interesting viewpoint on the word ######, here.

[gs3]

I can't believe Richards said these things in the first place. There is no room for his comments in the America we live in today. I found his apology rather weak. I found his appearance on Jesse Jackson show odd and I also found Jesse Jacksons demands while having Richards on his show hypocritical, considering Jackson and his racist remarks calling Jews "hymies" and New York "hymietown" several years back.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/polit...nzy/jackson.htm

[Pillsbury]

^ Very true. It's still okay to make fun of Jews and Gays. In fact, if you're a liberal--and I hate to say this--it's like you get a free pass on that kind of stuff. I hope we never get to the point where we can't make fun of each other---but there is a pretty well-marked line separating fun and outright hate. Richards was definately on the hate side of things, and I can't even understand why he said it. Why would he say it? I can't seem to get over that. He was acting like a crazy man.

[Snowguy716]

I think that everyone is at least a little bit racist. I mean, sure, it might not be "KKK" racism, but there's a certain amount of racism there... for example, there's a very patronizing tone towards blacks.. many get this feeling of "Wow, I just said hi to a black guy.. I must not be racist".. this self stroking.. or a feeling of "Oh, I just went and fed sick kids at an African orphanage.. I am like their savior"...

People need to recognize their racism, however great or small it may be, and need to overcome it. Everybody has it, it's not a race-specific thing, and we should work on getting over it rather than chastizing those who blurt out racist remarks and pretending we, ourselves, are not racist in any way.

[Captain Worley]

I think we're all a little prejudiced, but I don't think we're all a little racist. Big difference IMO.

[tamias6]

So Richard Apology was weak. So what do all of you plan to do in reprisal to his racial slurring? Would the simple act of not watching any shows he may be in be enough? That's what I will do.

I think its funny how if a normal John Doe exibits a politically incorrect behavior, nothing happens. But when a celeb starts acting up, the media starts into a feeding frenzy and everybody in America wants to tar and feather the offending celeb, and run him/her out of town on a rail road. I'm not trying to stick up for Richard as I don't like the "n" word and other racial insults flying around. But the thing is it seems that Americans are more wrapped up in screaming about skeletons in a celebs closet than keeping track of people who have real affects on our lives such as one's state rep. or members of one's city commision. Heck, we all know Jacko, Britteny Spears, Mill Gibson, etc. But how many people out there can name there local mayor, state senetor, commisioner, etc.

[nowensone]

I am probably in a very small minority here, but I think Richards' apology was sincere. Yes, he did seem a little "off" while giving it, but I believe this is because he truly was perplexed by his own behavior. It is usually the reaction of children to be tongue tied when at a loss to explain their actions, but is, I think, appropriate in this case. If his "act" is about energy and interacting with the his environment, improvization, emotions, etc., then his outburst is not necessarily any kind of view into his inner thoughts and feelings as some have suggested. Ultimately, who knows.

I am not defending the guy in case that is the impression, but I find this subject dripping just a little of hypocracy and misguided PCness. Frankly, it is to me worse that he made the comments about being "hung upside down with a fork up your ass", not using the n-word repeatedly. On an aside, no one has brought up the fact Richards is a Freemason, are they considered to be a racist organization? Hard to find any real information about them.

[MadVlad]

Jesse Jackson is a hypocrit. It wasn't that long ago he was calling Jews Hymies and NYC hymietown. He needs to pipe down a little.

[Charlotteman]

When Jesse Jackson called Jews ugly names, he essentially got away with it. And he was sober.

When Mel Gibson did it drunk, there was a huge public outcry (which there should be in both incidences).

[dimebag1980]

I'm not sure about the entire chain, but one of my local Raising Cane's restaurants has placed a sticker over the face of Richards' character, Kramer, which has been on the wall of the restaurant since it opened last year.

[davidals]

I am probably in a very small minority here, but I think Richards' apology was sincere. Yes, he did seem a little "off" while giving it, but I believe this is because he truly was perplexed by his own behavior. It is usually the reaction of children to be tongue tied when at a loss to explain their actions, but is, I think, appropriate in this case. If his "act" is about energy and interacting with the his environment, improvization, emotions, etc., then his outburst is not necessarily any kind of view into his inner thoughts and feelings as some have suggested. Ultimately, who knows.

I am not defending the guy in case that is the impression, but I find this subject dripping just a little of hypocracy and misguided PCness. Frankly, it is to me worse that he made the comments about being "hung upside down with a fork up your ass", not using the n-word repeatedly. On an aside, no one has brought up the fact Richards is a Freemason, are they considered to be a racist organization? Hard to find any real information about them.

[Pillsbury]

I'm not sure about the entire chain, but one of my local Raising Cane's restaurants has placed a sticker over the face of Richards' character, Kramer, which has been on the wall of the restaurant since it opened last year.