Comedy And Incitement To Racial Hatred

Posted by: DAVOhorn on 11 December 2004

It seems this is causing some concern among comedians.

If this is taken too far comedians will be as interesting as the jokes in X mas Crackers.

Coming back from London on the train yesterday i read the Independents arts and books review pull out.

In it was an article on this very subject.

There were also examples of jokes that may cause problems with the proposed new legislation.

3 of the examples were very funny IMHO.

1: By Bill Hicks

I did this nasty (christian) joke once at a show in ALABAMA , and these three rednecks came up to me and said "Hey Mr Comedian, we didn't like that stuff you did - we are Christians."

He replied

"WELL THEN, FORGIVE ME"

The other joke i enjoyed was by Bernard Manning.

It involves two Irish Men one of whom is Catholic and the other Protestant.

Anyway they both win money on the lottery. The Protestant asks the Catholic what he is going to do with his money. He replies that he will put a window in at the Vatican. The protestant replies that he will join him and PUT ALL THE WINDOWS IN.

These jokes are considered risque and probably poor taste.

But i would reply, that if your faith is strong enough you can withstand these jibes.

Eddie Izzard's joke was about what God did in creating the world. He listed the wonders of gods creation and followed this by listing all the horrors of Gods creation.

I have for years enjoyed comedians and a wide variety of humour. I would be saddened if Race Religion Politics were no longer considered suitable material.
I always thought humour was based on observation and then presenting the ridiculous and absurd in a humorous light.

I am enjoying Billy Connoly's program and i think some of his material could be considered bad taste.

It would be sad if humour was to fall foul of the Politically Correct Lobby.

regards David

Posted on: 13 December 2004 by Brian OReilly

I suppose it depends how you frame the joke. If you were to say "you catholics/muslims/sikhs/bhudists are all terrorists etc", then yeah, it's tantamount to racism and should be legislated against. If it's an attack on the religion rather than its members, then that's different and should be permitted. Saying that "catholism is a violent religion" for example should be allowed under the right of free speech and open debate.

If humour is caught in the net of this Bill, then one of the ways, sometimes the only way, of legitamately critcising elements of a religion will be neutered. There often appears to be no political will to prosecute criminal acts within a religion, and so the use of comedy is a way of shining a light into areas the church and state would rather see swept under the rug, and ultimately effect a change.

Brian OReilly

Posted on: 13 December 2004 by Mike Hughes

I am somewhat bemused by the notion of people "choosing" their religion. Generally speaking one is born into a particular religion and "chooses" to opt out. Even that may be a luxury that one may not be able to afford.

I agree with the comments about the close links between race and religion. You can't legitimately separate them in this context because ultimately such a separation is just a ruse to disguise racism when everyone knew what the comedian means really.

Interesting article by Barbara Ellen in this Sunday's Observer magazine re: what is so wrong with Little Britain. She's highly variable but this article absolutely nails what it is about Little Britain that so riles me.

Mike

Posted on: 13 December 2004 by Tarquin Maynard - Portly

quote:
Originally posted by Mike Hughes:
I
Interesting article by Barbara Ellen in this Sunday's Observer magazine re: what is so wrong with Little Britain.

Its not all bad. The "I'm the only gay in this village" sketches are hilarious. The other bloke gets on my wick, though.

Regards

Mike

Spending money I don't have on things I don't need.

Posted on: 13 December 2004 by Berlin Fritz

"Choosing my religion" "You wot John ? " tantamount to Hurricaine forces, innit.

Fritz Von Doomed Doomed Doomed

Posted on: 13 December 2004 by Berlin Fritz

"Choosing my religion" "You wot John ? " tanatamount to Hurricaine forces, innit.

Fritz Von Doomed Doomed Doomed

N.B. I mean I never loved Racial, but I never hated her either, though OI must admit <I> was pretty affeared of the big bad Virginia

Posted on: 13 December 2004 by Steve Toy

I was walking around the Costco Wholesale warehouse at Star City in Brum tonight when a couple of Asian Dudes were walking past the rows of beer and spirits, and one of them said,

"I can't walk down there cos it's against my religion."

I just laughed, and caught his eye as he grinned back at me.

Bad laws such as this one will create paranoia and further division between different ethnic and religious groups.

Regards,

Steve.

Posted on: 13 December 2004 by Steve Toy

I've just had a fine meal at my favourite curry house (run by Bangladeshi Muslims) that backs onto our taxi office. It has got Christmas decorations in there, and on Christmas day each year they bring round a turkey dinner (English style) for our radio controller on a plate with a knife and fork. A couple of hours later they come back to take away his empty plate and cutlery. FOC.

Regards,

Steve.

Posted on: 14 December 2004 by Kevin-W

This proposed law is a piece of quite breathtaking cynicism by the government. The vast majority of Muslims live in deprived areas and have always voted Labour.

Since the disastrous adventure in Iraq, erstwhile Muslim voters have been deserting the party indroves. Added to that, anti-terrorism laws mean that an increasing numbeer of British Muslim citizens get hassle from the authorities.

Many (most, I suspect) of those Muslims would support a law which meant that anyone who criticised or mocked their religion would be prosecuted. This ridiculous proposal probably wouldn't go that far, but for the ever-cynical Blunkett and Blair, it's a good way of bringing those drifting voters back into the fold.

I have to say that think this is an exceptionally dangerous - and totally uneccessary piece of legislation. Minorities are already protected under the law. The proposed legislation is a licence for censors (it will also impose a creeping self-censorship) and a green flag for the fascists of the Islamist, Jewish and Christian far right. Once the gate is pushed ever-so-slightly open, it's very difficult to close it again. All dor the sake of a few extra votes. Wankers.

Kevin

Posted on: 14 December 2004 by Berlin Fritz

An excellent post Our Kev, & most carefully put together, and I don't mean that just because I agree with you, I mean you've hit the nail on the bloody head old son, and got to the core of the problem in one swoop in respect of Britain's free culture & World renouned tolerance of other societies being gnawed away with no avenue of return to repair the damage, it's definately a one way street, and like most good things they are only appreciated when they're gone.

Fritz Von Obviousinnittom !

P.S. Dolphin sandwiches are great with remoulade & chilli