Bugs Bunny & Ignatieff - racists?

[Brill]

Do you think it's racist to say "just a cotton-pickin' minute"?

There's a Conservative senator who thinks so.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/...acist-slur-in-cotton-picking-controversy?bn=1

 

[Aardvark154]

Do you think it's racist to say "just a cotton-pickin' minute"?

There's a Conservative senator who thinks so.

It is shall we say slightly misleading to fail to mention that the Senator in question is a Person of Colour and of Jamaican ancestry and birth.

Although I do not consider it racist and am known to use the expression myself, I understand why Senator Meredith took umbrage.

 

[Brill]

It is shall we say slightly misleading to fail to mention that the Senator in question is a Person of Colour and of Jamaican ancestry and birth.

Although I do not consider it racist and am known to use the expression myself, I understand why Senator Meredith took umbrage.

Well excuuuuuse me!
I also didn't mention that Michael Ignatieff is a pasty white old guy, don't see how it makes a difference.

Should I take umbrage in the fact the Star didn't mention Iggy is white as well?

 

[Aardvark154]

Well excuuuuuse me!
I also didn't mention that Michael Ignatieff is a pasty white old guy, don't see how it makes a difference.

Because it is actually a race issue, not a political ideology issue.

You're excused

 

[Mervyn]

It's like almost any phrase , it's dependent on the context on which it was used, the term itself I don't believe is racist , but depending on the context I can see how it could be perceived as such.

However it does make Iggy look like a fool if he believes the term originated from Bugs Bunny... not only is that not true ... since when is it considered normal to quote cartoon characters ?

 

[RandyAndy2]

Because it is actually a race issue, not a political ideology issue.

Actually, the Senator NOT calling out Conservatives who used the same phrase 4 times makes him a bit of a hypocrite, in the least.

 

[Questor]

I've heard Dr. Phil use the expression to "gyp someone" a couple of times. As a gypsie myself, I prefer the expression to "jew someone." But its not so popular these days, especially in Hollywood.

 

[Asterix]

The phrase "wait a cotton picking minute", has been around since at least the early 1700's and very likely before. It referred to the difficulty of having to stoop down and pick the crop by hand. It's entirely different from "cotton picker" which was clearly a racial slur.

 

[james t kirk]

I've heard Dr. Phil use the expression to "gyp someone" a couple of times. As a gypsie myself, I prefer the expression to "jew someone." But its not so popular these days, especially in Hollywood.

or to say, "He jewed him down"

Anyway, thanks for the link to the old Bugs episode. Those cartoons were pure genius and they have never been bested in 60 years.

 

[69Shooter]

When I was a youngster, the expresion "nigger rigged" was used a lot; meaning to fix something by any means available or putting something together haphazardly. This would probably be more inappropriate than "cotton-pickin minute".

 

[james t kirk]

This is one of the best Bugs episodes.....

"Ah sure, I know, but aren't they all witches on the inside"

No truer words have ever been spoken.

 

[Mr. Lucky]

Well anything from the 30's 40's 50's Had many cartoons and commercials that were racists. I don't see the Bugs Bunny was an issue though

 

[Aardvark154]

Or maybe it is just someone using an old saying without any malice?

Indeed, that would be my take.

I'm merely stating that I can see the Senator's point, not that I agree.

 

[Aardvark154]

Actually, the Senator NOT calling out Conservatives who used the same phrase 4 times makes him a bit of a hypocrite, in the least.

If those comments had been made while he was a Senator that charge would be valid. However the article states that "Liberals sent out examples of at least three Conservative MPs and former Reform Party MPs using the phrase through the years." That goes to the fact that others have used the expression not really to hypocrisy.

 

[Possum Trot]

Or maybe it is just someone using an old saying without any malice?

Bingo - Anyone younger than 70 doesn't even associate it with being racist. Possibly because "cotton picking" has pretty much disappeared due to machine harvesting and losing the market to other continents. Another example of political correctness gone mad.

 

[escortsxxx]

Clearly the English Language, the language of slavery, should be abolsihed. We should start fresh with a more neutral non-racist language like Chinese. Its going to be the next world lanagauge anyway.