Didnt anyone notice that this is sort of racist? i really dont care most of the time, but as far as i know this is a reference to when asian people that have just learned english have problems with words that have an R in them... they pronounce it as an L...
as said before, this is because R and L have the same sound in Malay, but this was also a pretty bad ethnic slur/stereotype from a long time ago when american made fun of asian people like, 40-50 years ago.
It's common in Chinese-ancestry Singaporeans too, all too often we say 'laylio' instead of 'radio' and so on. And it still happens rather often nowadays, IMHO.
"calgary_user" wrote in message news:IbjP7.98580$[email]...
They make fun of EVERY nationality. No one should be exempt.
For Example, -K'lau Khalesh/Crab Juice -Marge: What's in this? Manjula: Chick Peas Lentils and Rice Marge: What's this? Manjula: Chick peas and lentils Apu: Try it with some rice. -Lenny = White, Carl = Black -I'm Urban Lenny -Numerous Vishnu/Ganesh jokes -AND most importantly, the entire show is designed to make fun of AMERICANS via the typical family, OFF. -Me No Speaky Chinee -Alex: Something something Greaseball something something. Mario: I just bringa da pizza, why do you haveta maka da fun? -And tons more
Isn't usually the "L" sound that is turned into the "R" sound? Deck the halls
with boughs of horry, fa ra ra ra ra, ra ra ra ra.
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If love of money is the root of all evil, why do churches want it so badly?
The "L" joke is no more offensive to Asians than Cletus jokes are to Europeans or Professor Frink jokes are to us smart folk! Lighten up! Remember - tragedy is only funny if it happens to other people.
Wow, that Cletus making fun of Europeans came out or "reft" field.
Cletus so obviously makes fun of American Hillbillies, the scourge of the Appalachians. Them mountain folk need to be made fun of. I should know, most of my family are redneck hillbillies.
Well, it's, in general, offensive to me when someone gets up in my face and does it (usually happens when I'm farther away from the city), especially since the only accent I have is a Chicago one (North side, and it only comes out when I'm talking quickly).
But I know, I know. It's a cartoon. *Urgh* You could probably add the Bumblebee Man as another stereotype to that list, even though he does sort of exist in real life (as a cricket?).
Okay, I know I've been complaining, but I've thought about it a little, and although I'm still a little iffy on the rickshaw/"You call yourself a Chinaman?" (later changed in syndication) scene in "New Kids on the Blecch," I think that in last week's episode, one needs to go past the knee-jerk reaction of, "Hey, they're making fun of the way people talk" thing to ask, "But who is it that the *writers* are pointing out in this scene as the object of fun?"
I remember my first reaction to the "Thank you, Ping Pong," "My name is Craig," sequence, once the whole joke sequence in it was completed, was laughter. I was kind of peeved at the beginning of the sequence because I've been in the same situation- having my speaking imitated derisively and incorrectly despite the fact that my English is perfectly Midwestern neutral- but focusing on just the first part of the sequence doesn't allow you to see who it is that's being made fun of. It's not the Asian guy in the scene who's being mocked- it's Grandpa. Likewise, in the recent episode, it's not the delivery guy who's being made fun of, it's Mr. Burns. In both cases, because their thinking about both minorities is based merely on appearances and remains backward even in the face of evidence to the contrary.
Is it an obvious point? Absolutely. But it sometimes gets overshadowed by the immediate emotional reactions to the surface of the joke- like I did- which is, I suppose, exactly what satire is supposed to do. Makes ya think.
/ Kristian
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|Kristian Ronge |[email]|[email]|
|d99, datateknik, KTH (Kungliga Tekniska H�gskolan) |
|d99, Computer Science, Royal Institute of Technology |
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-"If ignorance is bliss, why aren't there more happy
people?"
IMO this is why P.C. is so distressing. The Simpsons has lampooned P.C. subjects from time to time, and P.C. itself. We recognize the reference, and laugh because it comes from our world. Does this mean we'll come away from the episode with a determination to treat Asian people worse? Is the joke a good excuse to openly mock a group of people when we get the chance? Is this reference a precursor to hate? IMO absolutely not. It's ridiculous. Thinking people with good hearts would treat everyone kindly, but laugh at the ridiculous stereotypes lampooned on The Simpsons.
I am so sick and tired of white middle Americans being made fun of! Homer is always drinking beer or bowling. He is bald, and he is fat. He has obnoxious in-laws. He has a car full of dents that leaks oil all over the driveway. His next door neighbor is a goody-two-shoes religious fundamentalist. He neglects his intelligent child, and encourages his stupid child.
/ Kristian
+-------------------------------------------------------+
|Kristian Ronge |[email]|[email]|
|d99, datateknik, KTH (Kungliga Tekniska H�gskolan) |
|d99, Computer Science, Royal Institute of Technology |
+-------------------------------------------------------+
-"If ignorance is bliss, why aren't there more happy
people?"
In other Asian countries, there's a reversal of L pronounced as an R, so... oh, just chalk it up to stereotype :/ I know people who also have problems with the "a" sound like in "apple," which comes out as an "eh" instead, like in "egg."