Long Overdue Sound Advice Comes From Clint Eastwood

On Jokes About Races

Clint Eastwood just became my personal hero.

In a recent interview with Der Spiegel magazine, veteran actor/director declared that "We're all spending too much time and energy trying to be politically correct about everything" while nostalgically recounting the years when they "constantly made jokes about different races" without excessively worrying about being labeled a 'racist'. He wisely understands that the road to fully integrating any racial minority to any society they belong to, goes through being able to joke about them as freely and conveniently as one can about anyone else. The idea that these minorities are as 'normal' and 'natural' as others who are lucky enough to fall within the boundaries of social norms, and the stance that bootlessly yet fiercely defends political correctness in every aspect of life, cannot be the implications of the same mindset - in fact, they are vastly different. Needless to say, the same statement goes for non-heterosexual orientations, disabilities, gender, political opinions and any other comparatively  marginal notions that we face today.

Eastwood continues:

People have lost their sense of humour [...] In former times we constantly made jokes about different races. You can only tell them today with one hand over your mouth otherwise you will be insulted as a racist. I find that ridiculous. In those earlier days every friendly clique had a "Sam the Jew" or "Jose the Mexican" - but we didn't think anything of it or have a racist thought. It was normal that we made jokes based on our nationality or ethnicity. That was never a problem.

I'm sure Spike Lee, along with others, will be spitting venom all over this statement, and accuse him of racism even because of it. Lee's efforts for the good of the black community in United States is definitely to be admired, yet he fails to realize that such relentless protection only serves to further alienate these people (like the case of an overprotective parent), constantly emphasizing their 'otherness' and the need to approach and treat them differently. As an accurate enough example, imagine someone coming up with the black version of the popular blog Stuff White People Like; and how the overall response towards this hypothetical website would be like. I guess my point is, I don't see much meaning in the term 'equality' as long as its implications are conditional. If I have to restrain myself from acting naturally around a group of people just because of certain traits they possess, I will fail to fully integrate them to my life in any conceivable way. It is for this reason that I see little difference between political correctness and positive discrimination in a broad sense.

Oops. Being the closeted racist I am, I uttered the term 'black'. I should've known better and used 'African-Americans' or 'people of African descent' instead; both of which, by the way, might be the most demeaning pair of terms I've heard that are being used to categorize and distinguish minorities ("Hey, don't you ever forget you have roots in Africa; and that you are not really one of us!")

There is another celebrity who opposes this trend more slyly and hilariously, and that is the acclaimed comedian/actor/director/producer/author/screenwriter Ricky Gervais (so much for the titles). While certain stereotypes are often cheaply used for corny stand-up punchlines, the way Gervais delivers them has a lot of intrinsic substance and therefore is infinitely funnier. Without doubt, some circles at the top of certain ivory towers find his jokes about physical disabilities, sexual orientations, political opinions, religion or even the Holocaust itself rather 'tasteless' and maybe even 'disturbing'; but their importance in implicitly advising us to "loosen up and stop being hung up on labels" is undeniable. Trying to maintain an excessively formal attitude towards things we deem sensitive definitely fattens up the elephant in the room to such an extent that it becomes uncomfortable and irritating for both parties. Being the comedic genius he is, he's able to satirize all this without crossing the line of disrespect that would've brought him quicker fame but a less durable one.

In the meantime, Reuters reported that Eastwood recently won a Palme d'Or for a lifetime of achievements, which was previously given only once to Ingmar Bergman in 1997. Among the living directors let alone the ones that passed away since then, he is definitely far from being the number one candidate for the award; but I am willing to overlook this single instance because of his important message for the future of humanity (if I had not, I'm sure I would've caused a great deal of turmoil). He is also maybe the oldest living director who also is significantly prolific (along with Woody Allen) so at least his reputation probably lives up to the standards and the meaning of this award. In any case, I will take this opportunity to congratulate both of Eastwood and Gervais for their meaningful stance regarding the subject at hand, which I'm sure will make both of them childishly happy.

We will continue with more reviews and articles about both the upcoming films and the most recent ones, as previously promised.