Hitler, Nazis, Black-Face and Making Slanted-Eyes:
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Things That Are NOT Funny
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Very recently, I read a Business blog post in which a video of Adolf Hitler was transformed into a video in which the Fuhrer was dubbed. He was portrayed as a stark-raving lunatic, upset that his Business blog was not getting enough hits or comments.
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I registered my revulsion at the use of the man who was responsible for the deaths of 50 MILLION HUMAN BEINGS! The author of the post claimed he just wanted "To have some fun." What I found most disturbing is that the blogger is a professional businessman, ostensibly, using this video to attract customers and clients.
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On the video itself I was dismayed, but not at all surprised to see some different opinions: "You’re a talented guy!" "I’m laughing my ass off!" "That was hilarious and you did a great job! Classic my friend, just classic!"
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I was not "LOL!" 50 Million fucking people!
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More disturbing perhaps is the New York Times article which explains how to create your own funny Hitler video. They call it "refreshingly easy!" Pardon my language, but FUCK YOU!
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Nazis:
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Who can forget Prince Harry "yucking it up" at a costume party in a Nazi uniform replete with swastika. As a Jew, I don’t point to the "six million" murdered by the Nazis, rather to the 50 Million: Americans, French, British, Dutch, Canadian, African, Australian, New Zealanders, Poles, Russians, etc., etc., etc. 50 Million people, not just six-million Jews…it’s just NOT funny! And this guy ain’t a blogger; he just might be king one day!
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Black-Face:
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Ahh…College Fraternity life! Alcohol, babes, and "Black-Face" oh boy! At least five U.S. college fraternities have been suspended or lost their charters in the past few years for laughing it up in one of the most racist and painful get-ups known to African-Americans. It was an image used to cement racist attitudes and stereotypes in America for centuries. Let’s take a vote…and the survey says…"Not at all funny!"
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For an excellent summarization of the pain, anguish and negativity which this degrading and sterotypical imagery has caused to African-Americans, you might be interested in the website black-face.com
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Making "Oriental Eyes":
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And finally, at least for this post, who could forget Spain’s Olympic Basketball Team, pulling their eyes to the slanted position as they were ready to take the court against their Chinese counterparts. Another mocking, dehumanizing bit of rip-roaring comedy. Did they receive the laughs they were hoping for? Nope, world-wide condemnation was the rather predictable outcome.
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African-Americans, Africans, Jews, Italians, Christians, Catholics, Irish, Native-Americans, Arabs, etc., etc,. So many painful, racist, stereotypes, gestures and ways to mock and cause pain…and so little time. I even saw videos on YouTube mocking The Disabled. Yup, as if these people don’t already have enough challenges and barriers to overcome!
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One might think that he or she is on the verge of evoking side-splitting laughter and comedic-genius when putting into gear one of the above…and many, many others. But more often than not, and rightfully so…
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It is the "comedic-wannabe" who ends up looking like…
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An I-D-I-O-T!
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Image Credits: "It’s Not Funny": www.myconfinedspace.com; Prince Harry: www.thesun.co.uk;
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Yonatan Maisel is a Business blogger, history buff and author. He specializes in all aspects of Business writing.
From speeches to resumes, from corporate bios to research, from blogging to website content, from articles to ghost-writing
Not funny.
Yet, somehow I already expect responses saying things like “Come on man, laugh…it’s just humor.” And “Come on dude, you take life too seriously!”
What can I say. It’s my two-cents and I had to write it!
Yoni
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Shosh,
Thanks for your support, here, on Bizsugar and on JBlog!
Much appreciated!
Regards,
Yoni
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Judy,
Thank you for your kind, heartening words of support!
I was appalled at the video which prompted this article. I am equally disconcerted to see, as you say, “casual’ use of these types of things, be they in the form of videos, images or words.
I read an article recently on another site about “How My Boss is Hitler.” Wow? is he a mass-murderer? Does he “gas” people to death? Is he planning and carrying out genocide?
I don’t think objecting is PC, it is just being human. These things must not be trivialized!
Thanks for reading and for taking time from your day to reply!
Yoni
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Peter,
Insults hurt, especially when it is children. Anyone who is different seems to be a target. I myself went to a school with very few Jews. I remember as a child having some other kids throw pennies and say “Pick ’em up Jew.”
It sucks.
Thanks for taking the time to comment. Much appreciated!
Yoni
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Hamed,
As always, thanks for your interest in the blog and for your wonderful feedback and support!
Yoni
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Thanks B.G.
Yoni
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Thank you Ben!
Very much appreciated!
Yoni
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Ofira,
Thank you for your valued and valuable feedback.
And thank you for the link to the informative and educational article.
All the best,
Yoni
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Ollie,
Thank you for your kind feedback.
Your words of support and very heartening!
Yoni
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Ruhama,
Thank you for your readership and for your kind words and thoughts!
I’m glad you enjoyed and thankful that you stopped by for a read!
regards,
Yoni
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Jackie,
Thanks for your kind words of support and validation of my feelings.
Much appreciated!
Yoni
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Ronika,
Thanks!
Personally I had very mixed feelings about the video. I started off by thinking it was just offensive. Then I asked myself what it had to do with business and just couldn’t come up with a legitimate answer.
I will continue to visit your wonderful blog! I have been stopping by regularly for updates but haven’t seen any. Your blog is on my must-read list!
With kind regards,
Yoni
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Ronika,
Although I’m not on Bizsugar anymore, I do continue to read there. I’m still waiting for some sort of explanation from Anita or a new submission guideline for what constitutes an appropriate business post.
Sadly, the witing will probably not bear any fruit. 70 comments have been left there and I feel that it’s like trying to talk to a brick wall.
If you see this Anita…come on, as a professional and CEO you can do better!!!!!
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