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Isaiah Washington, enough is enough
By Stone Martindale Jan 22, 2007, 23:57 GMT
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Older Talkback
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it seems when it comes to the 'n.....' word used, it continues to make long...long....air time..............so you are saying since it was an african american making this 'rude' comment we should just let it slide??? it was embarassing to his fellow cast members and i know his family for such an uncalled remark as this.....'wear the shoe of the other person' now 'he/they' know how it feels............maybe he might be trying to 'cover up' something of his own.........................it shows who has style and who does not.........no matter what gender/color and so forth....
those of you out there criticizing Isaiah for his actions need to take a long look at his acting skills and maybe he just has a hard time saying the right thing. Believe me I have had my taste of saying the wrong thing and wondering why I said what I said or that it didin't come out like I meant. I mean, I am not famous (thank god) so don't tell me you have never had an oops moment. Isaiah has the bum luck of the whole nation hearing his mistake. Don't judge him for being human and see him for what he wants us all to see, his great role as the DR. that everyone looks up to. and he plays that part well.
If this guy was White, he would have been fired back in October.
So much for free speech. Hitler moved into Germany with the same pattern-attack anyone that speaks against them.
As soon as the free speech was stopped it was just a matter of time.
Other movements used the same pattern-look at the pro-abortion side. It's not murder, it a right to choose.
Gay is a right to choose-the same concept.
The destructive-ness of all of this is not considered.
That is how countries fall. It's a clear step-by-step blueprint.
People lose regard for right or wrong. Up becomes down, they don't know the difference.
What would have been the reaction had T.R.Knight called Isaiah Washington a 'nigger'? There's no difference in what Isaiah Washington did, but the reaction would have been HUGE in the African-American sector, had the situation been reversed. T.R. surely wouldn't have kept his position in the cast, had that happened. Why should Isaiah Washington be given preferential treatment because he is a so-called 'minority'? Cannot T.R. claim the same minority status? I believe Isaiah Washington MEANT to lie, and also meant to humiliate T.R. That is what the reaction of his work mates that night tells me. They were shocked and embarrassed, obviously. The full weight of disdain should come down on his shoulders, because, as a decent human being, he miserably failed, in front of millions of people. He knows that. It matters not what color his skin, he failed the 'decency factor' as a human being.
Teresa
There are no excuses for this type of behavior. If you are an educated individual you should know better... He should be fired for being so insensitive, especially in an environment where diversity is embraced...not bashed.
Where is the Reverand Al now? Or is he only interested in protecting the civil rights of of African Americans? Aren't we all shocked that he has nothing to say in regards to T.R.'s right to not be discriminated against? Interesting isn't it!
The guy is out of the closet, a faggot can be a meat pie or a piece of wood thrown on the fire. We are all in kindergarten again and our feeling may get hurt if teacher like somes picture more than mine. Who really cares! Tell the meat pie to go jump in a fire and get over it. Political correctness has gone too far. In the effort not to offend people now cry foul before the person speaking has a chance to finish a sentence. Get real no one cares what one overpaid tv star said about another. If people are going to have alternative lifestyles then they must remember that everyone is not as progressive as they are.
People whoi live in glass houses should not throw stones.....yet again he is an A.American so they have to milk it until they see blood or the man has no career. Enough is enough!!!
There is a big difference between using the N word and the derogatory term for gays. Without slave labor, America would not be the super power it is today. Not saying that gays do not deserve their rights but there will always be something unnatural about homosexuality. Not everybody will be comfortable with seeing two men kissing. At least the gays are not being assembled and forced into unbearable situations against their will.
Unnatural? Like the various species of animals that engage in same-sex behavior? I'm pretty sure that penguins don't choose to be gay.
Yeah, wouldn't it have been horrible for the gays if they were, say, rounded up and shipped off to concentration camps to be experimented on, tortured, and gassed to death? Of course, the gays were only one of many groups that Hitler targeted, so not trying to take away from Jewish people, or the Poles, or the various other groups that got sent off to death camps.
My point is, instead of telling people 'Big deal! He called you a name, get over it,' wouldn't the world be a better place if people stopped crapping all over other people by calling them derogatory names, and started at least *trying* to be considerate? That is, after all, Jesus's second Great Commandment: 'Love thy neighbor as thyself.' Not that I can think of one single person who actually, truly does that, but we at least should try.
So what! Get over it. People say things all the time. Just because it was a black man it is a big problem? We (black people) are called things all the time. We don't cry and make it a big issue. Get over it life must go on , Uless you dont have anything else to talk about!!!!
I read each and every opinion posted, all have some merit, but keeping it real and being a african american who is gay, my prospective is that life is short, when all is said and done we are all the same inside. If we as a people tried to better the world and help those in need rather than judge one another based on color, sexual orientation it would be a better world. We have are troops fighting some place that should not be, gang wars among the races, people working hard still living in poverty. Washington has issues, serious issues, the one bad thing is that he spreads hatred on national TV.
I don't see what is crying about. So Issac called him a f****. IT TRUE!! HE EVEN ADMIT THAT IS WAS GAY!!! IT IS JUST USED IN DIFFERENT WAY, STILL MEAN THE SAME THING!!!!
I just read Karens comment, she seems to think its no big deal, she even said its true, he is a ......, sorry Karen they need to keep your .... in the kitchen, people like you are ignorant, sad that you even have a computer to express your opinion, silly witch.
Let's see.
If you're not black you can't say the n word
If you're not gay, you can't say the f word.
If you're not Italian, you can't say the w word
If you're not Filipino, you can't say the d word.
If you're not Swedish, you can't say the b word.
If you're not Jewish, you can't say the k word.
Hmmmm....Ok. I am gay, have all of the above ethnicities in my family history. So I can say all those words. Right? And by the way, if you don't know what some of those words are, I'm not supposed to tell you.
The gay community needs to stop being such a hypocrite. It wants us to be more tolerant, sensitive and understanding...yet they toss about such hurtful terms as 'bitch,' 'slut' and 'ho' to describe a woman. I am 100% woman and I'm not a female dog. Neither am I a slut or a whore. Get over yourselves, gay men, and stop demeaning women!!
Jay's comment is outrageous! Both the N word and the F word are both full of hatred and to declare one worse than the other is crazy. They are both insensitive and hurtful and serve no place in society except to further discrimination and hatred. The historical treatment of African Americans is shameful and well documented. At least there are laws in place today to fight discrimination against African Americans. In contrast, the laws currently in place, completely discriminate against homosexuals and deny their equal rights. Homosexuality my be unnatural to some straight people but homosexuality is completely natural to homosexuals. Neither slur is acceptable.
'The gay community needs to stop being such a hypocrite. It wants us to be more tolerant, sensitive and understanding...yet they toss about such hurtful terms as 'bitch,' 'slut' and 'ho' to describe a woman. I am 100% woman and I'm not a female dog. Neither am I a slut or a whore. Get over yourselves, gay men, and stop demeaning women!!'
Uh... what? I mean... who exactly are you referring to here? I would say that gay men use these words far less often than straight men. It's especially odd given that these words are routinely used in popular rap music, a largely African-American musical genre.
I personally think this is overblown a bit. Not saying the use of the f-word is right, but the media has just blown this out of proportionate. He displayed major insensitivity, but it didn't seem like maliciousness (at least the denial didn't - maybe the onset thing was malicious at the most, stupid at the least). This isn't the same as the Kramer thing, where someone was maliciously attacking and advocating hateful actions. This is a situation where someone didn't know how to handle themselves, or how to handle the consequences of that initial inability. This is getting way too PC only because the media throws around insulting and degrading remarks all the time, but people want to only get sensitive about certain things in certain situations. The n-word, the f-word, they are both wrong/insensitive to use. But so are the b-word, the h-word, and many others.
Also, a little off the subject, but I am getting tired of people comparing African-Americans with homosexuals, as if our struggle is the same. Slurs of any kinds are wrong. But African Americans are offended by the n-word becasue it is a derogatory term directed at something we were born with and cannot change. No matter what psychologists and other people say, homosexuality is not something people are born with. No one sees a baby and thinks to call it the f-word because of it's sexuality - what sexuality! But someone may see a black baby and think to call it the n-word becasue of its race.
you all have way too much time on your hands to embroil yourselves in this little drama. You're not in kindergarten (well, some of you might be judging by your posts). Grow up already and get a life!
Ali please do not comment on something you know nothing about. I have known I was gay since I was a little boy. When I was baptized I prayed that I would come out of the waters straight, but it didn't happen. I prayed every night for 10 years I would wake up different, but that also never happened. So once again please don't comment on something that you know nothing about; I have lived it.
OK, Melissa Rosenberg -- I mean 'Rivers.' I'll agree that it's gotten out of control as long as you don't mind my calling your a Horseface Heeb.
F*ggot is just a word. As a gay person, I say we take the word back to empower us. If someone calls me that, it rolls off my back. In my real life encounters, if someone displays what I would consider homophobic tendencies, I would ignore them. The same goes for celebrities. I wouldn't want to be entertained by an openly homophobic actor. So I choose not to watch Grey's Anatomy. That's the most powerful message.
Have any of you seen The Vagina Monologues? I love the section of the show where they talk about the c word (c*nt). Toward the end of the section, they have all the audience members yelling out the word. To me, it was a powerful statement. They took a word that carries such hate and disrespect - and made it powerless as a hate statement.
So what would be the difference if he was on the street and somebody called him a faggot? He would walk away and keep it moving....
Hey the guy is an a-hole. We got it! He and Rush should get together for a tea party. Have him go into homophobe rehab, so that we can all move on and prepare for his follow up stupid outburst.
I don't know why I have to use stars when writing the word f*** or n***
They are insulting words. They are rude. But we need to be more concerned about the tone and time they are used. When an insult is hurled at someone, then there is a response. When rude behavior or language is used, then there is offense taken. F*** and N*** are no worse that calling someone a fatso or a stupid idiot or a myriad of other words we hear all the time. Perhaps we can aim to elevating our behavior and refining our vocabulary to demonstrate respect, consideration, maturity, and poise. There is the real challenge - then individual words become just that.
hey if you're gay you're gay! faggot is a dictionary word. Gay is a PC word.
If you're black you're black ! African American is a PC word.
I apologized repeatedly and now they're just trying to lynch me.
Isiah W.
I have seen comments so far stating that everyone has a right to free speech. Mr. Washington certainly has the right to say any outrageous thing he pleases. The people who criticize him for these outrageous things ALSO have a right to free speech, which they are also exercising. To say that no one can be taken to task for statements they make is a true march toward Hitler's ideal - making sure only one party has a right to say whatever they please.
I completely retract what I said. I have had my eyes opened by those who have chosen to educate me about homosexuality. I embrace all of God's children and I am truly sorry for what I have posted.
Please don't forget that there are African-Americans who are also gay.... Why don't we ask how they feel when a member of their ethnic communtiy states homophobic slurs?
Also, please remember that gays were in concentration camps in Nazi Germany as well; the symbol of the pink triangle is a reminder....
2 men kissing makes me uncomfortable. but 2 women kissing is hot.
'Gays have not been assembled and forced into unbearable situations' Clearly this person has not read much history. Gays were the first to be taken to concentration camps during world war II. There are also reports that they were left in the camps long after the other prisoners were liberated. The word fa--t is used in violent acts all throughout this country. There is no humor in it. It has been the last word heard by thousands of gay individuals as they have been beaten and lynched. Even Isiah Washington agrees with this and has appropriatly chosen to address it with the remorse and gravity that such a filthy word deserves.
This is not about white and black, gay or straight, angry or happy. And it is most certainly not about first amendment rights! It is about RESPONSIBILITY and ACCOUNTABILITY. Mr. Washington created a hostile enviroment when he used his ACTIONS to insult or hurt someone else. ABC (and Disney) have the FEDERAL REQUIREMENT to correct the actions of their employees when the line is crossed and a hostile enviroment is created. ABC (and Disney) tried to calm the waters (and most of the crew agreed that it was a DONE ISSUE back in October 2006 when it originally occured). Take a 3 month journey to the Golden Globe Awards in January 2007. After the ABC meeting, after apologizing to all involved, after the issue was done, Mr. Washington decided to re-open the can of worms by his ACTIONS of 1.) stating that he did not use that word, ever. 2.) using the word that he stated he never uses.
What is ABC (and Disney) supposed to do? What would your boss do if you made a mistake, apologized for making the mistake and then RAN as fast as you could to the mike to make the same mistake again? What would you do if you were the boss?
ABC is required by law to provide a place of employment that is free from discrimination. That is ABC's responsibility. Mr. Washington must be held accountable for his ACTIONS - creating a hostile work enviroment.
Are you kidding me? This is still being discussed? He now has entered a 'rehab' and agreed to undergo phsycological testing becuase he uttered a distasteful word? I can't even fathom what our world has come to when somebody, with no previous history of making such statements, is persecuted for a WORD. A WORD that was spoken, not to the media, but in a private setting. A WORD that was spoken in anger.
Yes, words have power. But they only have the power that is given to them by people. This word has been said many times, in many situations, and has never been such a topic as this.
Haven't any of you made a mistake when angry and wished that you could undo it? Retract a statement made in anger? What if every single word you said was scrutinized and poored over for possible offense? This man is possibly facing the loss of his career for saying a WORD.
To suggest that he is a homo-phobe or anti-gay from his speaking a single WORD is unbeleivable. How can he be in such trouble over saying a WORD once, and then repeating it another time in his denial?
I thought this was America but mabey I am wrong. Mabey he doesn't like homosexuals or approve of their lifestyle but how do we know this from one WORD?!?!? Besides, isn't it his right to have such feelings (if he actually does) and make statements to this affect?
What if he referred to his co-star as a midget(because he is short)? That would be offensive and derogatory to 'little people' but I bet that the world would never have cared. It would be the same situation - using an offensive term towards a group of people that would [prefer not to be addressed as such.
And honestly, I am sure that we all use words much more offensive and biggoted that this on a daily basis. We use them with our friends, in our homes, and we laugh at them as long as no one says they are offended. And when people are offended, we wait for them to leave and then talk about how they need to 'lighten up' and 'not take things so seriously'.
I am sure that many people who read this will shake their heads and say that I am not understanding of the problem. That I am minimizing a serious situation. That I am obviously small minded or uncaring towards others........take you pick. But those same people are guilty of this tiny offense, in many different forms, each day. In fact, I bet that if we all really thought about, we could find somethjing that we have each done or said in the last week that is more offensive than saying one negative WORD.
The issue is the behavior and outrage, not just the calling of name that he reffered to TR as being gay. He grabbed the one actor by the throat. He needs anger management. Quite a few years ago, he already lost a job due to his outburst. There is a pattern here. And people should not just point out the 'gay' slur as being the real issue.. it is just one of them, but the big thing is that this guy is very anger and very unprofessional to work with.
Again, this is not about a 'word'. It is about a person creating and recreating a hostile enviroment. It is about a management fix action that was then ignored by the person. And it is about the responsibility (Federal requirement) of the company to provide a work enviroment that is free from discrimination and hostility.
If the company doesn't hold the person that created the hostile work enviroment responsible, then THE COMPANY will be held responsible. It's as easy as that. It really, really has nothing to do with the 'words' that were used.
And yes, I do believe that Mr. Washington has issues that need to be addressed. This issue of going into rehab is bunk. If he would have apologized in October and then SHUT UP, this would be over and done. Mr. Washington chose not to adhere to managements recommendations so now he will be held accountable for his actions (of creating the hostile enviroment), not for saying a 'bad' word.
I agree that this issue has been blown WAY out of proportion.
This was nothing more than an on-set spat that got blown up.
Since we don't know exactly what happened how can anyone really say what was going on?
I have to laugh at those who say IW should be fired.
How would you like it if strangers were demanding you be fired and burnt at the stake based on a situation which they didn't witness and barely know anything about?
I am sure you would appreciate it if you every possible utterance whether uttered in public or private was scrutinized for possible offense and then public demands made for you to be fired by people who (for the most part) don't even really know what was happening.
Bottomline: There is ZERO evidence that IW has a history of hatred towards homosexuals. He made an unfortunate choice of words while arguing with Patrick Dempsey. I am sure NONE of you have EVER used words that you end up regretting!
He then tried to address the issue at the Golden Globes and was RAKED over the coals a SECOND time.
HOW the hell does trying to deny something make you more guilty of that very thing?
He only using the word in order to deny using it!
Hmmm... trying to deny something only makes you more guilty.... sounds very Kafka-esque.
I hope IW isn't fired. He made some poor decisions, but at the end of the day, I believe he is basically a good guy who carelessly blundered into a media sh*t storm.
I know some of you are know convinced that IW is the very impersonation of pure evil but I think you are wrong and in reality you don't know what is in his heart any more than I do.
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