When foolish anti-equality marriage supporters* made signs at a rally, gay actor George Takei (Star Trek) used his words to respond.
*They’re not foolish for being anti-marriage. They’re foolish for making it too easy for George Takei to take them down.
Thanks to Laughing Squid.
A recent article from Vic Alhadeff in the Sydney Morning Herald chose to criticise the famous Seinfeld ‘Soup Nazi’ episode for trivialising Nazism:
It’s witty and well scripted, but it commits a cardinal offence: it trivialises the meaning of what a Nazi is, and in doing so degrades the language associated with those who devised, planned and perpetrated the most grotesque genocide in history.
He drew a connection between the characters’ use of the word ‘Nazi’ in this 1995 episode and the current use of the word by shock jocks and journalists to describe everything from their political enemies (e.g. those femo-nazis) to everyday sticklers (e.g. those grammar-Nazis):
“In the context of trite Nazi references they become cheapened, the experience is diluted and the words are offensive and hurtful, particularly to those who suffered.”
Now do I have perspective here to talk about this heated topic? Probably not. Am I Jewish? Not really.
But like the Seinfeld dentist who converted to Judaism so he could make Jewish jokes, I too am adopted-Jewish. My father has remarried a Jewish woman, and as us Jews know, if your mother is Jewish then…
Is it wrong to joke about the holocaust? Almost always. Is it wrong to use the term Nazi tritely? Sure.
But dismiss Seinfeld’s use of the word Nazi as being trite as you miss the point of comedy. Read this short scene from the famous ‘Soup Nazi’ episode:
Jerry Seinfeld: What are you gonna get?
Sheila: I’ll decide at the last minute.
Jerry Seinfeld: You better decide, sister. You’re on deck.
[Sheila kisses him]
Jerry Seinfeld: Sheila!
Soup Nazi: [pounds on the counter hard] HEY!
Jerry Seinfeld: Uh oh.
Soup Nazi: What is this? You’re kissing in my line? NOBODY KISSES IN MY LINE!
Sheila: I can kiss anywhere I want to.
Soup Nazi: You just cost yourself a soup!
Sheila: HOW DARE YOU! C’mon Jerry, we’re leaving.
[leaves the soup kitchen, but Jerry stays. Sheila comes back in]
Sheila: Jerry?
Jerry Seinfeld: Do I know you?
Jerry pretends not to know his friend in the face of appeasing a ‘Nazi’. The soup queue in the episode is not a scene where one person is an annoying pedant-like Nazi. It’s a comedic take on the ‘blind-eye’ behaviour of Germans in the 1940′s’. 18 years after the episode aired, and 70 years since World War II it’s still relevant.
Oh and another point.
It’s funny. It just is. The fact that Vic Alhadeff can reference something that was aired 18 years ago and we all know what he’s talking about proves it resonated. It was funny. It was funny and it is still funny.
Forget everything else I said, that should be enough of defense.
It’s been reported everywhere that the feud (that’s right a mammoth battle of family generations living in angry medieval times. Unless I’m mixing up the meanings of the word) between Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia has reached super new epicness.
It’s claimed that Woods was trying to create noise in the crowd while Garcia was taking a swing, when as we all know expressing any kind of interest when watching golf is both illegal and in fact impossible.
This feud has killed golf forever. Why? Because it’s the dullest feud in the long proud history of feuds. Take a look:
Garcia ““He’s not my favourite guy to play with. He’s not the nicest guy on tour.”
Oh no what will Tiger say?
Woods “It’s not real surprising that he’s complaining about something.”
Hit’s Garcia right where it hurts, in the sooky pants.
Garcia ”At least I’m true to myself. I know what I’m doing. He can do whatever he wants.”
Maybe that’s go home and cry into his bed made of money?
Woods “We didn’t do a lot of talking.
Probably because you’re both unbelievably dull.
Does anyone remember when this guy (John Daley) was the face of golf?
He was amazing. He was outstanding. He was special. And I have no idea if he was any good at golf, and you know what kids, it doesn’t matter.
After a long battle with finding any reason to go on, golf is dead. Let’s hope that not too many people fell into a coma while watching it die.
Check out how not angry golf is with the Top 10 Angriest moments in Golf.
It’s really not very angry.
A busy cafe at the top of my street…
Has a second floor no customer knows about….
So I now have a free quiet office with park views.
Thanks Le Petite Tart Cafe Glebe. Please visit them for a coffee.
Just stay out of my office.
Dear Daily Telegraph, This is the front page of the your paper today – something something horses it seems.
The next four pages – the same story. Something something horses.
What’s the problem? Something something horses but nothing nothing Jarryd.
Your failure to mention the Parramatta Eels biggest star (me) anywhere on the first 5 pages is an offense to people who love NRL, cars and the one real side of the boat people issue. Which I’m pretty sure is everyone.
On they’re behalf I’m I’m bringing a class action against you. And it’s going to be full class – rats tail. So watch out.
We will be claiming that you’re stupid 5 page story today has denied us all the real information about Jarryd and other important things we can usually get from you:
What is happening with Kyle Sandilands?
Just put this lady on the cover and say ‘naked’. That’s all I need to know – it’s called being efficient.
Give me an awesomely crazy lead story and an even crazier banner full of famous people who couldn’t possibly be linked.
Say ‘ALP’ and ‘waste’….then just put a photo of a cute deer. Job done.
You know this so why are you hurting all of us now?
It’s called NEWS and it should should be on the first 5 pages. As a Parramatta guy I need to be out there driving up and down church street revving my engine.
I don’t have time to turn pages Daily Telegraph.
Please make Lotto twice as big tomorrow and I’ll withdraw my law suit. Actually, I didn’t know you needed a special suit to wear to court anyway.
Thank you.
Jarryd
(I think that’s how I spell my name)
