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1. thelesbianlifestyle.com » Blog Archive » Rosie: Not My Ideal by a Long Shot on 09 Jan 2008 at 11:20 am

   […] your memory. After she made her ching chong mockery she remained wholly indignant on the matter until she watched a video by Beau Sia. Only then did she get it but still needed to plead victim & compare with her own issues around […]

Comments

1. Kynn wrote:

   Good that she finally seems to get it!

   Is it okay I am still pulling my hair out at the way she writes?

   Posted 01 Mar 2007 at 11:59 am ¶

2. Donovon wrote:

   wow, I almost had a tear in my eye.

   I am going to send this to every Asian person I know. I know soooo many people who feel this way. ( good thing too, cause that whole “why I hate blacks” things really upset me)

   Posted 01 Mar 2007 at 12:07 pm ¶

3. Dumi wrote:

   That’s a pleasant suprise. So do you think Michael Richard’s will tune into Def Poetry Jam any time soon??

   Posted 01 Mar 2007 at 2:22 pm ¶

4. B wrote:

   It is good to know that someone finally got through to her.

   Posted 01 Mar 2007 at 5:19 pm ¶

5. makethelogobigger wrote:

   Now, if she would just stop typing like she’s in a chat room and 12, we’d be cool.

   Posted 01 Mar 2007 at 7:20 pm ¶

6. ally wrote:

   I saw the episode where she said ‘ching chong,’ and she never, ever, EVER meant it in a mocking way. It was an unfortunate choice of words on her part, but she sincerely was not aware that Asian-Americans view those words as an attack on their American-ness. In fact, she wasn’t impersonating an Asian-American — she was trying to explain that Danny DeVito’s drunken performance on ‘The View’ was news around the world, and she chose China as an example when she pretended to be a Chinese (NOT Asian-American) newscaster and used two words that many non-Chinese speakers associate with the language, never realizing it was hurtful to Asian-Americans.

   Asian-Americans’ portrayal in the media is normally relegated to stereotypical roles. We very infrequently see their stories being told, so it’s not so unusual for a fellow American to not be fully cognizant of every facet of the Asian-American experience and, more importantly, what they find offensive, particularly with something as seemingly innocuous as two Chinese words.

   For people to continue to attack her after she explained herself and having apologized a second time just shows that they’re more interested in fighting than accepting that she didn’t intend to offend. As they say, you need to pick your battles, and this one is DONE!

   Posted 01 Mar 2007 at 7:50 pm ¶

7. Colin wrote:

   Ally,

   Do you work on electoral campaigns? You sound like a spinmeister, heh…

   Really though, she never, ever, EVER meant it in a mocking way? Word? You’re really going to argue that one? This seems almost like satire. I mean, how could she have not made it more clear that she was mocking not just the Chinese, but all Asians? Would she have had to squint or stand with her hands interlocked in her sleeves and shuffle around as she said it? The very use of “ching chong” over and over to mean, to her, the Chinese language was quite mocking of the Chinese and it reflects on her opinions of Asian people in general.

   I cannot think that a person who thinks or pretends to think the Chinese language is “ching chong ching ching ching chong [insert random English here] ching chong” would be able to or really give a damn to be sensitive to the notion of cultural, geographic, political, etc. differences between Asian people. That’s like someone making fun of African languages by making an idiotic series of clicking noises, and then we’re supposed to believe that drivel has some sort of nuance? I simply cannot and will not insult my own intelligence that far, esp. not after she came out with a crap “apology” the first time and with a defensive swing at those she hurt. She was (and probably still is) beyond-the-pale ignorant, and beyond-the-pale disdainful until this second apology.

   Also, that she apologized now doesn’t make her earlier transgression just GO AWAY, I mean, ally, why? Do not get me wrong, I do praise Rosie (though hesitantly) for her seemingly heartfelt apology, (more so than the last one) but I don’t think her words should be forgotten. She should not forget the hurt she caused lest she think to do such a thing again, and we should not let her.

   To criticize racist speech and their racist speakers is not to attack the WRONG battle, but to lob another important shot in the RIGHT war, and I hope to whatever God you pray to, or in holding true to whatever morals and ethics you hold dear, that you and all the Rosie O’ Donnells in the world come to fight on our side as well.

   Posted 01 Mar 2007 at 10:53 pm ¶

8. kim wrote:

   Wow. Did she really do that?

   Beau Sia did an excellent job at speaking to another’s humanity, and opening the door to exchange and consideration.

   Wonderful example. (Of course, this should be a segment on The View, both his and her statements, and not found on page 22 of … well, you get it.

   Posted 01 Mar 2007 at 11:05 pm ¶

9. CScarlet wrote:

   “Ching” 請 and “Chong” 衝 are two words that, while they do exist in the Chinese language aren’t anything meaningful when used together. The only meaning they have, when used by a non Chinese speaker consecutively is to mock the Chinese language and Chinese people.

   You can scream till the cows come about her intent, and I think we can recognize that she didn’t mean to offend anyone. That does’nt mean she didn’t and shouldn’t be called on it, as we all should want to be.

   Posted 01 Mar 2007 at 11:13 pm ¶

10. esme wrote:

    NO, NO, NO! She doesn’t get it! She posted her art the next day (after her “get it” post). Asian faces from Toronto during the Sars crisis. Mask covering everything except the obvious—Asian eyes. I live in Toronto and know that Asian took the brunt of SARS. People were afraid to go near an Asian person, The wonderful Toronto Sun slaughter the Asian community in Toronto. In her “read the answers” section she acknowledge that it was a collage of Sars in Toronto. My question was why. Why show Asian in this negative light after acknowledging Beau statement in a positive light.

    She has since pull the offensive “art”.

    She doesn’t get it. One step forward, two back.

    Prior to that post she posted this
    “im hardaway…pathetic
    he hates gays
    says it with impunity
    a proud black man”

    I asked her what does “proud black man mean”
    She replied “what does it mean to you”

    I then emailed back to say that she shares her bias (I was being kind) when she mentions race, sex, religion, sexual preference when it’s not needed. She didn’t reply.

    Posted 02 Mar 2007 at 1:33 am ¶

11. makethelogobigger wrote:

    “For people to continue to attack her after she explained herself and having apologized a second time just shows that they’re more interested in fighting than accepting that she didn’t intend to offend.

    Uh, no, it shoes that her inital explanation was bullshit and didn’t ring true, that’s why people persist with something like this. Until it’s right, then the calls righfully continued.

    And the arguement ’she didn’t intend to’ is the problem. The person making the racist, the sexist, the whatever remark, never thinks they did anything wrong.

    She deserves credit now for owning up to it and at least coming off like she ‘gets’ it. I have to say it sure rings a lot more true than Richards ‘I’m not a racist’ or Gibson’s alcohol defense, that’s for sure.

    Posted 02 Mar 2007 at 2:15 am ¶

12. makethelogobigger wrote:

    (shows)

    Posted 02 Mar 2007 at 2:15 am ¶

13. jc wrote:

    exactly. people need to be held accountable for what they say (i would argue, especially those in the limelight who have influence over the public)…. a quick apology never does it for me. showing that you have heard the feedback, internalized it, and then have come to a different conclusion about it…that’s what shows me that you are actually thinking about what you have said.

    when we begin to “let these things go,” we have begun to stop caring.

    Posted 02 Mar 2007 at 8:29 am ¶

14. ally wrote:

    Colin,

    Haha. Not since student council in high school have I worked on an electoral campaign. I have lived in Asia for 8 years and I have a degree in Asian Studies, so I’ve had a lot of discussions — both casually and in an academic setting — about racism against Asians and Asian-Americans and it’s a topic I’m passionate about. So not only am I on ‘your’ side, but I put over four years of my life into studying the culture and language of all the Asian countries.

    ‘Ching Chong,’ until the Rosie incident, was not a widely-known racial slur, and it is beyond evident that she didn’t use it to be offensive. You need to accept that she didn’t mean to insult Asians on any level. Now that she knows, obviously she’ll never do it again, nor will any other entertainer since they’re aware it’s offensive.

    The lesson learned from this event, I’ll repeat, is the lack of representation of Asian-Americans and their perspectives and stories in the US media. You’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone in this country who isn’t aware of the many forms of racism toward African-Americans, who, although they’re not represented in the media as equally as whites, are better represented than Asian-Americans. THAT is where the ‘ching chong’ discussion needs to go and not remain stagnant over whether Rosie O’Donnell hates Asians or intentionally tried to offend them. It’s a missed opportunity to turn this incident into something productive by wasting time not accepting Rosie made a human error when we should be talking about how to explicate and educate about Asian-Americans’ experience in this country. I’d bet if there were more Asian-American stories being told, the ‘ching chong’ slur would have been more widely-known and Rosie would never have said it.

    Whatever God it is that I pray to, I’ll tell you this: s/he forgives. Does yours?

    Posted 02 Mar 2007 at 8:56 am ¶

15. ally wrote:

    Also, I think we should all email Barbara Walters at ‘The View’ and ask her to invite an Asian-American to co-host. All I’ve seen so far are whites and African-Americans, and after the incident, I thought for sure they would have more Asian-Americans on the show.

    Posted 02 Mar 2007 at 9:07 am ¶

16. Rob wrote:

    Intention is bullshit because it’s impossible to prove. Additionally, ignorance is no excuse.

    If you were told it’s wrong, stop doing it. Instead, she chose to ignore complaints.

    She was told it was offensive and she was extremely dismissive of the issue; condescending even. Therefore, Asian Americans have every right to be furious at her.

    Posted 02 Mar 2007 at 11:41 am ¶

17. Incredibly_Annoyed wrote:

    you’re posting spam filter is lame… very lame

    Posted 02 Mar 2007 at 1:06 pm ¶

18. Incredibly_Annoyed wrote:

    is there any reason for this? It kinda stunts discussion don’t you think?

    Posted 02 Mar 2007 at 1:28 pm ¶

19. Ka_Jun wrote:

    “‘Ching Chong,’ until the Rosie incident, was not a widely-known racial slur”

    I can attest that it’s widely known in the Asian-American community. Ignorance does not exonerate her.

    Posted 02 Mar 2007 at 1:38 pm ¶

20. Carmen Van Kerckhove wrote:

    Incredibly_Annoyed, I realize you’re probably new to this blog.

    Comment moderation is a recent development. We had a few really, really bad experiences here - like people calling for all-out race wars, inciting violence, etc.

    I too would prefer to have a unmoderated discussion, but unfortunately that has proven to be impossible, due to a handful of individuals who can’t act like grown-ups.

    Posted 02 Mar 2007 at 1:47 pm ¶

21. ally wrote:

    ka-ju, is Rosie a member of the Asian-American community? No. Is it widely known in other communities? It is now, but it wasn’t before. But I see people would still rather focus on how angry they are with her and not allow forgiveness into their hearts. The issue of racism toward Asian-Americans is being given its moment in the spotlight and I think it’s sad that people would rather use this time to keep talking about how she doesn’t deserve to be forgiven and not something productive like the root cause of her not knowing and what to do about it. That’s my last two-cents’ worth on the topic. Ciao.

    Posted 02 Mar 2007 at 4:16 pm ¶

22. ally wrote:

    My apologies, i meant ‘Ka_Jun’ — it was a typo.

    Posted 02 Mar 2007 at 4:19 pm ¶

23. Rob wrote:

    Again, it’s not that people were mainly angry at her for saying “ching chong” but rather her attitude after being told it was offensive.

    Posted 02 Mar 2007 at 10:33 pm ¶

24. Colin wrote:

    Ally,

    I don’t pray to a forgiving god (agnostic atheist), and I’m not in the power to forgive Rosie. I wasn’t a part of the offended party. I also do not see how it’s “beyond evident” that Rosie’s intentions were benign.

    Posted 03 Mar 2007 at 12:38 am ¶

25. N wrote:

    Not sure if anyone has already posted this since I haven’t read through all the comments. But the phrase in the post “deaf ears” is abelist and discriminatory. Just thought I should share this because I see this site as striving for justice.

    Thanks!

    Posted 22 Mar 2007 at 8:22 pm ¶

26. Muhoh wrote:

    Rosie specializes in shock and confrontation. It isn’t meant to be politically correct or any other kind of correct.

    Beau Sia, promoting Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, uses confrontation and alienation in a promo. It isn’t meant to be politically correct, either.

    Confrontation, Alienation, Shock = Viewers

    Viewers follow the Controversy. Use a negative tone, get in someone’s face, and attract viewers. “The View” survives on it. Beau Sia used a confrontational delivery to promote Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

    Is it even about racism? Or, is it more about $$$.

    Either way, mission accomplished. Everyone has their tail in a knot.

    Posted 28 May 2007 at 5:42 pm ¶

27. Sdot wrote:

    muoh - I don’t think Beau said anything too shocking that i can recall, and i don’t know that there is much if any money involved in this situation.

    i know i’m running alittle late on this discussion but i’d like to say that Beau called Rosie ignorant, not hateful. Ally is defending Rosie with ignorance, others are saying that is not an excuse. The correct answer is that ignorance IS the error that was made and the flaw in of itself.

    Posted 31 May 2007 at 12:52 pm ¶

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