4 ms·

Or maybe it's a form of harmless-but-pointed civil disobedience by people who don't want their society to merge with those of the Middle East.

vkou 11y ago
Much like how blackface is a harmless-but-pointed take on American race relations?
- daenz 11y ago
  False equivalence. Blackface was not civil disobedience. Not even sure why you're bringing that up unless it is to tie white guilt in America to white guilt in Sweden.
  - vkou 11y ago
    Assuming best intentions on the part of everyone involved (Which, let's face it, is being too charitable): No, it was white people pretending to be black people, with the intent of caricaturing them, without having any sense of propriety or mindfullness. This is white people pretending to be of Arabic origin, with the intent of caricaturing them, without any sense of propriety or mindfullness. Since when is calling a racist spade a spade white guilt?
    - daenz 11y ago
      The intent behind the two instances is different. With blackface, it was part of entertainment, not political protest. With this Sweden thing (which I'm assuming is legitimate, as I've yet to see a source by the person claiming it, although I've asked), the intent seems clear, to me, to be political protest of the perceived dilution of their culture. Now if black people in America were wearing white face to politically protest gentrification, I would say that's more equivalent to this Sweden thing than historical blackface.
    - Snargorf 11y ago
      Who said anything about anyone 'caricaturing' people of Arabic origin? They spoke the language. That is not by itself a 'caricature'. Moreover, blackface was done to be funny (you know, like an actual caricature). This is done to make a political point. If it was Americans answering a phone line like this with an exaggerated Texas accent, you wouldn't bat an eye. That's how we know you're driven by white guilt.
      - vkou 11y ago
        If you would prefer, you could replace 'blackface' with 'speaking ebonics.' I'm sure that would be a real hoot. Eveybody, laugh at the white man pretending to be a black man who can barely speak understandable English! I wonder what kind of political statement that would make... A caricature is 'a picture, description, or imitation of a person or thing in which certain striking characteristics are exaggerated in order to create a comic or grotesque effect.' Blackface absolutely qualifies. Pretending to speak another language/dialect for grotesque effect absolutely qualifies. And yes, if America had a large group of people who would put on black hoods, and stand on metaphorical soapboxes, shouting about how Texans are destroying the country, how they are rapists and thieves, and they should be sent back to <Wherever>, I'd have a problem with that, too. For some reason, though, this form of racism doesn't seem to be particularly popular...

vkou 11y ago

Much like how blackface is a harmless-but-pointed take on American race relations?

daenz 11y ago
False equivalence. Blackface was not civil disobedience. Not even sure why you're bringing that up unless it is to tie white guilt in America to white guilt in Sweden.
- vkou 11y ago
  Assuming best intentions on the part of everyone involved (Which, let's face it, is being too charitable): No, it was white people pretending to be black people, with the intent of caricaturing them, without having any sense of propriety or mindfullness. This is white people pretending to be of Arabic origin, with the intent of caricaturing them, without any sense of propriety or mindfullness. Since when is calling a racist spade a spade white guilt?
  - daenz 11y ago
    The intent behind the two instances is different. With blackface, it was part of entertainment, not political protest. With this Sweden thing (which I'm assuming is legitimate, as I've yet to see a source by the person claiming it, although I've asked), the intent seems clear, to me, to be political protest of the perceived dilution of their culture. Now if black people in America were wearing white face to politically protest gentrification, I would say that's more equivalent to this Sweden thing than historical blackface.
  - Snargorf 11y ago
    Who said anything about anyone 'caricaturing' people of Arabic origin? They spoke the language. That is not by itself a 'caricature'. Moreover, blackface was done to be funny (you know, like an actual caricature). This is done to make a political point. If it was Americans answering a phone line like this with an exaggerated Texas accent, you wouldn't bat an eye. That's how we know you're driven by white guilt.
    - vkou 11y ago
      If you would prefer, you could replace 'blackface' with 'speaking ebonics.' I'm sure that would be a real hoot. Eveybody, laugh at the white man pretending to be a black man who can barely speak understandable English! I wonder what kind of political statement that would make... A caricature is 'a picture, description, or imitation of a person or thing in which certain striking characteristics are exaggerated in order to create a comic or grotesque effect.' Blackface absolutely qualifies. Pretending to speak another language/dialect for grotesque effect absolutely qualifies. And yes, if America had a large group of people who would put on black hoods, and stand on metaphorical soapboxes, shouting about how Texans are destroying the country, how they are rapists and thieves, and they should be sent back to <Wherever>, I'd have a problem with that, too. For some reason, though, this form of racism doesn't seem to be particularly popular...