Over-Simplified Chinese
(The above video may not display in some feed readers.)
As a China blogger, I suppose I’m ablidged to comment on the above one-liner recently made by American comedian, gay rights activist, and buffet line regular Rosie O’Donnell. As you can see, she simplifies the Chinese language, in classic style, down to a series of “chings” and “chongs” (pinyin: qing4, chang4).
The comment is being called racist, but to me that’s a bit of an overreaction. I cede, however, that I myself am not Asian and apparently many of those who are have had to endure this kind of ridicule on the schoolyard playgrounds of their childhoods. That said, I’ve heard many an anecdote about non-English speakers grunting out crude impressions of English as well. If I overheard such an outburst myself, I can’t say that I’d be offended unless the speaker’s tone was clearly hostile. From seeing the video of Rosie speak, it seems fairly obvious that she wasn’t trying to attack anyone.
Still, while this may not be racist, it fits with Rosie’s history of saying incredibly stupid and hypocritical things. She had previously championed tighter gun control in part by saying “You are not allowed to own a gun, and if you do own a gun, I think you should go to prison.” Regardless, she later attempted to arrange for an armed bodyguard to shadow her son at his school. Furthermore, an open homosexual and a campaigner for gay rights, Rosie had labeled Kelly Ripa “homophobic” for a comment she made to American Idol star Clay Aiken in which she said that she didn’t know “where his hand had been”.
Now, after the “Ching Chong” incident, Rosie’s spokesman has simply stated that she hopes people will be able to “grasp” Rosie’s humor. Apparently any joke is fine by Rosie so long as there is zero chance the punchline could be construed as anti-gay.
Also: Right-wing web pundit and Asian American Michelle Malkin has a nearly-humorous video take on this as well.
As well: It occurs to me, I once saw an Asian comic on Leno who talked about this same kind of thing by saying something along the lines of “Come on! What’s up with this “ching chong ching chong chong” stuff, people? When I walk by you, I don’t shout ‘car-house-dog-apple-tree-hammer!’”
If anyone knows this guy’s name or can drudge up a video of that bit, you’ll have my momentary respect.