The best Jewish jokes I have heard have always come from Jews. It's funnier that way. And the best gay, black, lesbian and Tibetan monk jokes I have heard have come form gays, blacks, lesbians, and Tibetan monks. Or would have if I new Tibetan monks.
Let me start off buy saying I am Jewish. I am proud of being Jewish. I have encountered anti-Semitism several times in my life. It doesn't give me a particular good feeling. It's normally silent and quiet and hard to pin point. But I know what it is. Which is why this email from a friend of a fiend, someone I was at school with annoyed me.
Hello,Anybody got a muzzle for Jeremy Mansfield? I don't often speak out against things but now it is time for action. I must share with you my total disgust at his joke this morning on the radio. This so-called 'joke' was a tasteless, crude and insulting jab aimed at Jews. It was so defamatory that I do not wish to share it with everyone but I am sure that many people, both Jewish and non-Jewish heard it and were disgusted.
The punchline was (word for word) - "That F*ing Jew!!!". I have attached a Winamp audio file of the joke, which I downloaded, from the Highveld Stereo website.
I felt so angry after hearing this joke and decided to take action and tell all my fellow Jewish radio listeners about this injurious insult.
With a listernership of millions and a large following of morning commuters, he thinks that he has ultimate power to do whatever he wants. I am an avid Highveld Stereo listener and his words have tarnished the reputation of this great radio station. He has been reprimanded many times by the BCC (Broadcasting Complaints
Commission) for his words and insulted many religious, cultural and ethnic groups.WHEN WILL IT STOP???
I want to call all Jewish people … and other people who were disgusted by this mornings joke … to unite and boycott Jeremy… WE WILL NOT LISTEN TO YOU INSULT OUR RELIGION.
Pass this on to your family and friends … lets take a stand!
Thanks,
XXXXXXX
Some background. Jeremy Mansfield is a DJ on a South African station called Highveld. He's a really annoying DJ who I have never liked. He tries to be controversial and funny, but really is just annoying. The joke can be heard here if you really want to or I found some copies of the original on several joke sites and you can read it below if you prefer.
What annoys me about this is it's a joke. Granted it's not the funniest thing in the world, and Mansfield may be guilty of being an idiot or choosing poor quality material but its not better or worse than half the shit I hear on email. No one seemed to object to the Taliban or Saddam jokes that did the rounds as anti-arab. Because it was a joke and needed to be taken with about as much salt. Yes I agree that some jokes can cut, and are anti-Semitic. But this barely qualifies. Yes the phrase that fucking jew in isolation is anti-Semitic. But in the context of the joke is more of a dig at anti-Semitism than anything else.
I would agree that the telling of a joke like this on national radio is probably a bad choice. But do I feel the need, as a Jew to rise up against Mansfield? Hardly. I get annoyed when any group, be it lesbian or Jewish or Tibetan monks becomes unable to laugh at themselves. It is a sign the plague of over political correctness that means all jokes are wrong as the single out a group for discrimination. Which is not quite true. Some things are funny cause they highlight a stereotype. Somethings are funny because they are satire. Somethings are not funny and are raciest or anti-Semitic. One needs to get some perspective and tell the difference. Not to group everything together.
Interestingly many of the Jews I know from SA are blind raciest. Many Jews I know from back home will get upset at this kind of thing. Will boycott a restaurant where the owner was rumoured to make an anti-Semiotic statement with little or no proof. Will heed the call to arms against anything suspected to be slightly anti-Semitic. But will still talk about kaffers, shogs and garden boys and make equally raciest jokes.. Hardly balanced.
So I am annoyed at being included on this campaign. I feel that its insulting to Jews and gives Jews a bad name. Mansfield's a twat, but thats. Hardly worth lynching him for it.
I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend, to the death, your right to say it. - Voltaire
The transcript of the joke
A Jewish family is considering putting their grandfather in a nursing home. All the Jewish facilities are completely full so they have to put him in a Catholic home. After a few weeks in the Catholic facility they come to visit grandpa."How do you like it here?" asks the grandson.
"It's wonderful. Everyone here is so courteous and respectful," says grandpa.
"We're so happy for you. We were worried that this was the wrong place for you."
"Let me tell you about how wonderfully they treat the residents here," grandpa says with a big smile.
"There's a musician here -- he's 85 years old. He hasn't played the violin in 20 years, and everyone still calls him 'Maestro'!"
"And there's a physician here -- 90 years old. He hasn't been practicing medicine for 25 years and everyone still call him 'Doctor'!"
"And me, I haven't had sex for 30 years and they still call me 'the Fucking Jew'."
1. Simon
Hear, hear - could not have said it better myself
2. Dave
“…friend of a fiend..” - deliberate typo? ;-)
Completely agree with everything you’ve said there. I hate the way that political correctness has so much influence, despite the fact that most common-sensicle (is that a word?) disagree with it. Fairness for all, not enforced ‘equality’.
As a white, heterosexual, nominally-christian man, I don’t receive any of the normal types of discrimination. However, I am bald and have been since my late teens. While not in the same league as, say, Anti-Semitism, if I was unable to laugh at myself I’d spend far too much time brooding on it.
That Voltaire quote applies in all but one situation; if you are in America, it seems, you are not allowed to say anything that can be remotely construed as ‘Anti-War’. A sorry state of affairs for a country that lauds its freedom of speech so much.
3. David Yule
Am I allowed to admit I thought it was quite funny? (But Tibetan monks can have a very strange sense of humour)
Nearly all jokes have a target, and so whether they’re funny or offensive depends on the context. I would guess the atmosphere in South Africa is much more racially charged than most. However, even given that, the reaction seems masively OTT.
Incidentally, What did the Dalai Lama say to the hotdog seller? “Make me one with everything” … and when he asked for his change, the vendor said “but, change comes from within.”
4. d
Eh, I’m on both sides of the fence on this one.
On the one hand, I don’t believe it is right or funny to make racist jokes, or stereotypes for that matter. My dad made a racist comment about Jews a few years back, and even though I’d never met a Jewish person at the time, we all gave him grief for it.
On the other hand, I believe in freedom of speech and don’t think people should be censored, but I will not glibly tolerate racism in my presence. And (is this racist to say?) I’m always getting in fights with South Africans as a result.
d
- something along the lines of, his accountant was Jewish, and mentioned he was a spendthirft, and dad said: “Well, that figures!”
5. d
Also, my boss made a funny comment the other day. He’s jewish, and an accountant, and he was chatting to someone on the phone about a client, and he said:
“Well, I think the problem that they have with him being thier accountant is that he’s not Jewish enough.”
And I was like: ???
So is there some kind of accounting gene that Jews are supposed to have or something? Should I have called my boss on that, or is it okay to stereotype a people if you are part of the group you’re classifying?
For example, the greatest New Zealand comedian of all time was a guy named Billy T. James, who was a Maori* fulla who basically made a lot of jokes about Maori fullas, and got a lot of stick from Maori and guilty white people about how he was basically reinforcing people’s perceptions of Maori as thieves/liars/sexually out-of-control. And he would always say: “Well I’m just making jokes about me! All the white comedians do it and nobody gives them a problem.”
d
*Er, that’s NZ’s indigenous people, for those of you not all schooled up in NZ socio-political geography.
6. Adrian
Some people use stereotyped jokes as a way to be nasty. Not all that funny. Some people (Seinfeld) use stereotypes to highlight points of real amusement. It can go either way. It’s the ability to differentiate in both the telling and the listening.
I find the comment about an accountant not being Jewish enough quite funny. Sometimes its worth pointing out that something is probably racially charged and sometimes, it’s just a comment and not worth worrying over it.
Normally it’s more acceptable if you are part of that group. Black Americans call themselves Nigger and its ok (and in fairness I am taking this from tv/movies so if I am wrong I apologise) but if white people do it, it’s racism.
I make jewish jokes all the time. I can’t be anti-Semitic, cause I am jewish. But that doesn;t mean if you make the joke you are anti-Semitic, or you are just seeing humour in a situation. I as an intelligent clear thinking human need to be able to tell the difference.
The worst kind of racism and anti-Semitism is the kind where people don’t realise they are being derogatory or when it’s hidden two faced. I am far more worried about someone who proclaims to have no problem with jews/blacks/Tibetan monks but then will pass over their CV when it comes to hiring them, than someone who makes a harmless joke.
7. d
True Dat.
Guess it has to be taken case by case. But like you say, some people don’t even realize they’re being offensive. What’s funny or inoffensive to one person is disgusting to another.
When someone’s racist around me, I tell them so (unless I’m a guest of thiers at the time), and that I have a problem with it. Just telling them how I feel. They can do with that information whatever they like.
I think some groups are more sensitive that others. I tell Irish jokes all the time, but I don’t think I know any black jokes. Except that one about the dude who had ‘welcome to jamaica mon, have a nice day’ on his dong.
d
8. nkl
Jokes about the Irish????????
HOW DARE YOU. I TAKE GREAT OFFENCE. What is there possibly to joke about? Actually……..please dont answer that :-)
9. d
Okay okay okay, so there’s this Catholic Priest, and Prodestant Priest, and they both get into this car accident….
10. Daisy
Agree with everything. I was a little apprehensive at reading the joke but to me (“a white, heterosexual, nominally-christian woman”, to misquote Dave) it’s a joke that pokes fun at anti-semitism.
I don’t receive any of the normal types of discrimination (except from Anne “Tourettes” Robinson)…
11. billy kotster
i respect jews and i like to party with them all the time.
12. White guy
Hey get over it stop being such a jew. White people get made fun of all the time. No one stands up for us. You damn pp own alot of bisness so chill out.
13. Destructor
White guy,
Who the fuck did you trick yourself into thinking you were when you found this website? What fantasy is in the thought bubble above that bowling ball you call a head? You’re a fucking blue ribbon idiot. Go pretend to have a tea party with a stuffed animal somewhere. You can practice putting it to sleep using only the power of stating your redundant perspective.
You’re a fucking lump of hamburger with a hat and glasses on it. What the fuck kind of Chinese restaurant placemat did you accidentally read that tricked you into thinking you were allowed an insight or opinion about anything? What do you think you could possibly have to share with someone like me? Knowledge? Insight? I’m a human being and you’re a boiled hot dog.
For the rest of your life, every conversation you ever have, every time you open your mouth from now until the day you die, unless you’re talking to a fucking pickle or a rock, I want you to START, not END, START your half of the conversation with, “of course, I don’t know what the fuck I’m talking about.” Save the universe some energy. Make a sign and put it on your forehead. “Hi. I’m half potato. Do you value time? If so, run.”
14. Adrian
PWND.
Totally and utterly.
15. IHATEJEWS
JEWS U SHOULD BURN IN A FUCKING OVEN!!! OH MY GOD I HATE JEWS SO BAD! I WISH U GUYS ANOTHER HOLOCAUST! FUCKING JEWS! pARASITES OF THE FUCKING WORLD!!!
16. Dave MaK
Well the one thing about stupid and oblivious racist assholes like these is that they make themselves look like idiots by their actions. Simply proving that racism is for the weak and cowardly who have no better thing to do than put others down. No intelligent modern man could make such childish and naive comments. 20 bucks says the guy barely makes 5 figures, I on the other hand, a stupid fucking jew make 7 figures at the age of 24 working as an aeronautical engineer for Lockheed Martin. Stupid me.
17. Nuge
What an idiot
18. michael lee
I SAY TO WHO EVER YOU ARE THAT MADE THAT STATEMENT ABOUT MY GODS PEOPLE (THE JEWS) I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE IN YOUR SHOES, THAT IS GODS PEOPLE AND GOD WAS A JEW HIMSELF, BY THE WAY I AM NOT A JEW, BUT I LOVE THE JEWS THEY ARE GOOD PEOPLE AND THEY ALL HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON THAT YOU SIR DON’T HAVE AND THAT IS ANOTHER CHANCE TO ACCEPT JESUS, SO I SAY TO YOU SIR IF I WAS YOU I WOULD REPENT BEFORE GOD RIGHT NOW AND ASK HIM TO FORGIVE YOU FOR THAT STATEMENT BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE FOR YOU.
YOU KNOW SIR I HAD THAT SAME FEELING ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE AND THEY ARE NOT JEWS, BUT GOD SHOWED ME THAT YOU CAN’T HATE NO ONE AND MAKE IT TO HEAVEN, THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO LIKE THEIR WAYS YOU JUST HAVE TO LIKE THEM AS A PERSON. PLEASE THANK ABOUT THIS AND IN THE FUTURE PLEASE DO NOT SPEAK ABOUT JEWS LIKE THAT.
MAY GOD HOW MERCY ON YOUR SOUL IS MY PRAYER. MIKE AT MLEE822657@AOL.COM
19. Adrian
Hmm, do I delete all this crap or let it run?
20. Lyle
Oh, let it run - it’s quite amusing, in a sad “fuckwit” kind of way…
21. matthew
I say let it run too… It may be sad and fuckwitty, but it remains an interesting debate (and the constant PWN-ing of the haters is fantastic).
22. Destructor
Irrespective of his religion, I hate the guy who makes 7 figures at the age of 24.
23. Adrian
I hate Jews who use the fact they are successful as an argument against people who don’t like Jews. All it ends up doing is giving people who don’t like Jews justification for their attitudes.
24. Destructor
I esteem all Jews, inasmuch as one can make such an illiberal and comprehensive statement about a huge body of people.
There is no justification for those attitudes.
25. Lyle
To quote someone else,
“All generalisations are wrong. Even this one”
26. Tom
Everybody makes generalisations.
27. HitlerBUddy
You fucking Jews get me sick. Always complaining about Anti-semitism when in fact you fuckers are the biggest UNDERCOVER racist in the world. You smile at people and stab them them in the back any chance you get. Hitler should have not been so anxious and simply waited longer to slowly Get rid of all you fuckers. I hate you all you maggots. Only wish another Hitler would come along and start a new Holocaust!!! Stick that on your Blog!!!
28. Destructor
Why do trolls always seem to have their exclamation point keys jammed down? Must be all that masturbating over their keyboard.
29. Adrian
The question is, do I leave these up, or trash them?
Maybe I’ll just apply the comments policy.
30. Destructor
I would delete it. There’s no room in the world for this trash.
31. Jack
My policy on comment lunatics was always to leave their comments up. I figure there’s nothing I can do or say that can show them to be as entirely riduculous as they are than their own words.
32. Destructor
Yeah but you can tell Trolls totally get off on their own, pathetic little displays of malediction- he’s no doubt in paroxysms of joy even now, observing that people are, for once in his semen-stain-in-a-tissue of an existence, actually paying him any kind of attention. Poor little thing, it’s probably the only time he gets any kind of regard from his fellow humans.
If I heard this guy ranting this bile as he walked down the street, slobbering on himself and jerking his head spasmodically, I’d simply ignore him- to say: “Shut the fuck up you discarded bucket of preused anal bleach.” would simply encourage him to direct more ranting in my direction. Deleting his comment is the online equivalent.
33. Jack
Well quite - this is why such comments should live, unregarded and undeleted. Alas, that particular path of action has already been blocked to us, and it would be a shame to let this carefully crafted conversation concerning it languish into orphaned silence, future readers of this imformative and enlightened thread scratching their heads over its late and perplexing deletion.
34. Adrian
Because ‘discarded bucket of preused anal bleach’ is just the best phrase ever, previous comments will stand, although flagged as trolls as above. Note to self, get a troll cap for next redesign.
Future crap on this blog will be deleted without warning.
See you, yes you, you who is about to post crap. It’ll be deleted so don’t bother. Yes I am talking to you.
35. Samuel
I work as a bartender for private parties. Without doubt, Jewish people are the cheapest, nastiest, pushiest people I EVER have the displeasure to serve. They never wait their turn, bark orders at you, are extremely condescending and just plain vile. They are concerned with appearences above all else, hire too few staff to deal with large crowds, and pay you as little as possible. They don’t even understand common courtesy. The phrases “Thank you” or “please” must have been left out of the torah.
And after you and your co-bartender are done busting your ass dealing with 500 guests (a party that size needs at least 4-6 bartenders, but jews are too cheap to hire the help), you will never get even a dollar as a tip.
Oh wait… there is one exception to the tipping rule. I’ve done this for ten years and worked at least 250 Jewish parties. So far the most tips I’ve received from a Jewish event is six dollars. I’m not basing this truth on one experience but a prolonged series of ones. Ask anybody else who has dealt with Jewish people in this capacity and I guarentee you’ll get the same answer.
There is a reason everybody hates the Jews. They care about NOTHING unless it benefits them. They are selfish, rude and focus on social-jockeying above all else. Try working for one and you’ll know why.
36. Adrian
At every single Jewish event I have been two, a plate went round each and every table, where everyone lift some money for a tip, and normally a pretty big tip.
At each and every single time I was rude, my mother clipped me across the back of the head. I have never been condescending (ok perhaps to my friends, but never to staff) or vile, and have never been to an event where this was considered acceptable behaviour. Sure, you get nasty and rude Jews. This is no different to non Jews.
My friend you are simply anti-semitic, and even if you have encountered a rude Jew, I cannot believe of a moment that a crowd of Jewish people has more than a small percentage of people who are not nice people, nor that out of 250 parties, which is say 5000-10000 Jews they have all been the kind of people you describe.
However I can believe you are a narrow minded person who built up a preconceived notion of particular people somewhere, and are not able to look past this.
Damn, I thought I wasn’t going to reply to these.
You my friend, make me sad. And by friend, I mean someone I never would want to meet.
37. Destructor
Samuel, I hope you’re not a troll and I hope I’m not rising to some sort of bait. On the assumption that you’re on the level, I have to say that I disagree with you vigorously- “everyone” does not hate the Jews.
New Zealand must not have a very large Jewish population, because the first Jewish person I ever met was Adrian, here in the UK. Prior to this I never really encountered anti-semitism, and now that I have I have to say I really don’t get it. Since moving to London I have worked directly for Jewish people. I currently work alongside several Jewish people. Several of my good mates are Jewish. Without exception they are all kind, polite, friendly and generous- nothing like what you describe.
It’s really unfortunately that you’ve had a rough time in your role as a bartender. A lot of my mates are bartenders and they often have a rough time as well- from all sorts of folk. They probably get more male patrons than female ones- should they start hating me for being part of a group that can be rude? They probably get more straight patrons than gay patrons- should they start hating me for being part of a group that doesn’t always tip? (and, while we’re on it, am I meant to be tipping bartenders?) Most of their patrons are probably white anglo-saxons, should they hate me because some people who happen to share some visual characteristics with me sometimes get rude and start fights in their bar?
I’m here to tell you you are wrong about Jewish people, and to say that if you hate an entire culture just because of your bad experience, you’re not just doing that culture a disservice, but you’re doing yourself a disservice as well, because you are missing out on knowing and befriending some great people. I am not trying to say all Jews are great. I generally find most people to be insufferable idiots. But I don’t make that determination based on their race, and if I did, I’d be the idiot.
The world has plenty of pointless hatred already. Don’t add to it.