You can tell by the title of this video that it’s gonna be good.
Here’s the question: We know Chris Rock is funny, and by being extraordinarily funny, does he get away with more jokes about race, sex, homosexuality, and marriage than most people?
What do you think about race jokes like these? Are they damaging to people or a healthy way of poking the bear that is racial relations in the USA?
One small clarification : Institutions for me, religious or otherwise, can do what and how they want. But. If we’ve determined it’s not ok for an employer to refuse an applicant based on sexual orientation, how is it ok for access to birth control to be restricted on the basis of similar views?
Is this allowed only because those affected by it have less power?
…/end rant.
Melba, the great thing about this democracy is freedom of conscience.
I try to use mine wisely.
I voted for obama last time because I thought he was way more progressive than he actually is. This time im voting for jill stein. Seriously. If I cant vote for whoevee I want, then its not democracy. Anyway , I dont think chris rock is blinded by “racial victimhood” I think hes making a point to those who arent voting for him because theyre actually rascist. I think these jokes point out well rascist constructs in our society. The only joke that didnt sit well for me was the one about black men and marriage. Dont tell me about… Read more »
Ditto; Stein’s got my vote. I prefer to support liberal candidates, and Obama doesn’t even come close.
Fair enough. I can’t speak to powers or the economy. I now don’t have to pay for birth control, which as a woman & comparatively poorer one, is a boon. And, the birth control mandate encourages individual rights, which in my case are the ones that matter. Institutions don’t have rights; people do. Not sure if you’re male or female, or whether that matters (actually, it doesn’t!) – but isn’t “safe, legal & rare” better than “unsafe/murderously dangerous, illegal, & rare?” Just a few talking points. Also, a note: How do we treat the least among us? I’m not sure… Read more »
@Texpat, cool.
Why the switch?
At the risk of having the masses around here go up in arms: 1. I want to see more federal authority and powers pushed to the states. 2. In my opinion President Obama’s economic record is an umitigated disaster. Blaming Bush at this point is ridiculous. 3. The ACA absolutely ruined my family’s health insurance coverage- my estimated expenses in 2013 will be 2-3X what they were in 2012. 4. The birth control mandate of the ACA, in my opinion, tramples the rights of institutions. 5. As a nominally pro-life voter- the shift from the “Safe, Legal and Rare” position… Read more »
The video is funny as is pretty much everything by Chris Rock. The dangerous thing (which Rock is NOT doing) is to assume that the only reason people vote against Obama is because of his race.
I voted for Obama in 08 but switched to Romney in 2012. According to James (above) I either am too stupid to understand or forgot how to speak Klingon.
Ken, you serious?
“racial victimhood?”
The man’s a comedian.
Rocks bit is silly and not offensive except that it continues the dumb lie that people only oppose Obama because his father is from Kenya. Obama is little more than Nancy Pelosi with a permanent tan and a penis, and Pelsosi is a rich, white fascist who would make a horrible president. Rock is too blinded by racial victimhood and too ignorant of public policy to know the truth.
Though I found it hilarious, I already have a (very) basic understanding of the racial inequality that exists in America. My parents, or my extremely conservative younger sisters (both who will be voting this election season for the first time), wouldn’t understand this video other than to say Chris Rock is being crass. This joke doesn’t actually explain the racial inequality or why we should question racial attitudes surrounding this election. That’s my biggest grief with this video, it makes fun of the people who don’t understand the situation that’s before them. We might as be speaking Klingon to Romney-voters,… Read more »
If anyone is offended by this, it will be those that are voting against Obama because he’s black but won’t admit that’s why they’re against him.
It Rocks!!! Love it!!!
Nope.
I think it’s hilarious.
How else are we going to see ourselves?
Or, you know, myself.
Too far? Goodness no. It’s perfect.
With comedy (as with so many things) it’s all about context. It’s social commentary that is not meant to offend anyone and isn’t truly insulting anyone…it’s a comedic version of some things Chris Rock has observed about the world…in particular the idiotic “one drop” rule we’ve got when it comes to race. He’s not poking at actual people; he’s poking at social constructs…which is a world of difference.