In the tribute below, Crystal shows a progression of clips from Williams’ brilliant career starting with his early appearance on the Tonight Show and going to some standup routines. The clips highlighted Williams’ ability to improvise, including one scene where he borrows a pink scarf from an audience member in the front row and wraps its round his head like a Hijab, or Islamic headscarf. He then says “I would like to welcome you to Iran . . . Help me!”
The response was outrage on social media sites which called both Williams and Crystal racists and the tribute “offensive” speech. One critic objected that “After that, people who’d never heard of Robin Williams would think he’s Billy Crystal’s racist friend who was on a lot of talk shows?” Others called for apologies and sanctions. While Williams did a brief accent of a women from Bombay, it was the use of the scarf as a veil that led to the posting of most of the objections.
However, the critics ignore the alternative meaning of the joke. I took the joke as less as statement on Islam generally as a statement on the treatment of women in Iran — a subject of continued discussion on this blog. Clearly many women choose to wear burkas and veils and they should have every right to do so. However, we have also discussed how women have been abused in Iran and other Muslim countries when they have tried to resist discriminatory rules and compelled clothing requirements. Comedians use such controversies as the grist for their comedic mills. The best comedians have an edge and a point of view. While to some the veil is a religious symbol, it is also to others a symbol of the plight of many women who want greater freedom from Sharia law and cultural/religious restrictions. There are many women in Iran, Saudi Arabia, and other countries who have fought bravely for equal rights. The veil is often a symbol of that political struggle, including the continued abuses by morality police against women in countries like Saudi Arabia. This includes the recent sentence of flogging for a women who insulted the morality police and the earlier tragedy of girls forced back into a building school because they were not wearing veils and appropriate coverings.
The greatest concern is that in some Western countries like France, England, and Canada, we are now seeing people criminally charged after complaints have been filed over speech deemed to be offensive by particularly groups or individuals. It is part of a growing threat to free speech that I have written about. For recent columns, click here and here and here and here. When (as we have seen) this crackdown starts to include even standup routines, we have reached an unnerving point in our treatment of free speech and expression. In addition to the prosecutions of such cases, there is the creation of a chilling effect on many who do not want to be accused and potentially charged. The result is a type of self-censorship.
To be honest, I do find some comedians to be incredibly offensive and not funny: I would put Andrew Dice Clay and Kathy Griffin among them. I have even objected to the airing of inappropriate sexual displays during Superbowl shows or New Year shows due to the audience. Indeed, as many have noted, I tend to be a bit old-fashioned (some would say prudish) about crude jokes and a thuggish conduct. However, these objections go further than folks saying that they disliked the joke and raise the question of whether some jokes should be labeled and sanctioned as hate speech or racist. Kathy Griffin simulating oral sex on Anderson Coopers is hardly a disagreement of interpretation. It is appropriate (though in my view still decidedly not funny) in some contests (like a comedy club) and not others (like a television audience with kids celebrating the New Year). The Williams clip controversy turns more on the content of the joke and its meaning.
The clip below can be seen by different people in different ways. However we appear to be losing our tolerance for different or opposing views — even in a comedic routine. The result is pressure to strip away controversial or edgy elements — leaving a type of vanilla flavored level of discourse in our society. The free speech community needs to do a better job in advancing the notion of tolerance for speech in a pluralistic society. It may require giving the benefit of the doubt to people like Williams or Crystal and just not laughing at a joke.
What do you think?
“Non compliance and ridicule.” An odd Gandhi/Zinn hybrid that is quite effective.
Michael Haz
The “we” is a very small group of humorless dolts who gain power by being easily offended. They are essentially telling all of us to take the bacon off of our menu.
Non-compliance and ridicule are the best responses.
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Unfortunately those humorless dolts are gaining power. That’s why we have free speech zones at college campuses, protesters being assaulted, and why people like Brendan Eich are forced out of their jobs for having a belief that runs contrary to what the “correct” position is. It’s why the push has been so hard for donor lists to right wing groups that are otherwise secret. Freedom of speech is quickly becoming allowed only when it’s the correct speech. And in the name of tolerance dissent is no longer tolerated.
“Comedy is truth, only faster.”
Joseph, Good comment. “Comedy is not pretty.”
I believe the irony in the criticism is that the Iranian joke is actually both funny and tragic. It actually has nothing to do with Race, and everything to do with Culture. The bit causes the observer to say, “how true?” Some of the best comedy is exploiting and exaggerating actual life events. Sometimes it is the discomfort of the truth of the reality that causes us to laugh it is a way for us to handle our discomfort. If they can’t stand the humor, I would rather the Twitter-sphere respond with outrage about how we should involve ourselves to save the people for whom this skit may be real to their life. Instead, many people choose to avoid any discomfort, and make the easy criticism.
His improvisation was at once funny and serious. The plight of so many women wanting but denied fundamental human rights needs many avenues of expression, and the relief a comic can bring is certainly one. Let us hope the comedian is not the last person standing up against intolerance.
“…we appear to be losing our tolerance for different or opposing views…”
The “we” is a very small group of humorless dolts who gain power by being easily offended. They are essentially telling all of us to take the bacon off of our menu.
Non-compliance and ridicule are the best responses.
I believe that one of the main problems in this world is that people think too highly of themselves and therefore are unable to laugh at their own idiosyncracies. PC is now and has always been a sword USED by the humourously disabled. Get over yourselves!!!
oops. Hit enter too soon.
There have always been people who are extremely easy to insult, but now with social media they have a voice. So what? I don’t think we need to hyper focus on the craziest people in the room and announce that they’re starting a trend.
Simms, I think the anonymity is useful. It allows these folks to tell us how they think. I commented about this Robin Williams Twitter thing last night on the Bacon thread. I read many of the Tweets and was sickened. I’m no longer shocked by PC, just sickened.
Bailers, I will be totally forthcoming. I am POSITIVE that seeing how PC people think is the only way to stop it. When people who have never thought about this, and have not been indoctrinated into it, they reject PC out of hand. Because it is antithetical to everything the First Amendment is about. That’s why I want PC people to be completely open and tell us how they think. Now, they will want to tell us how they feel, but we need to stay focused on how they think.
I think we’re giving too much credence to a bunch of anonymous nobodies on twitter.
Nick, I hope they do. I’d really like to hear their viewpoint. I just can’t understand it personally and would love it if someone could present their case.
Here’s my fear. I know there are some folks here who believe that was racist but they won’t some forward. I don’t like that. Although I am on the record as despising PC, I will not only be civil to someone who comes and makes the case this is, racist. I will be their bodyguard as long as they don’t get whacky about it.
wrxdave, Bingo!
I think there is a common if crude phrase that is appropriate:
F#ck’em if they can’t take a joke.
I had absolutely no problem with that segment when I saw it initially. I think the unfortunate reality is that some people are so easily offended Robin Williams could have talked about mer-people and someone would have been offended and screamed racism.
The funniest part of this? It’s not even racism. If anything he’s making fun of a religion that subjugates women and keeps them second class citizens. I think there’s a bunch of people that need to read a dictionary once in a while.
It’s a very sad commentary on our society, but I see it every day as western society becomes more intolerant as we pursue some misplaced notion and meaning of tolerance.
Political correctness is not just a sword used to impose conformity of thought through fear, guilt, and ostracization. It is also a shield that protects the user from both reasoned counterarguments and merciless lampooning.
Sooo, no it isn ‘t “racist”, and I am not even sure what “race” it would be that wears headcoverings like this. Those shouting about it are on the level of the “Redskins” complainers, i.e. race baiters and race hustlers seeking votes or money or personal aggrandizement. Or just plain idiots.
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
I took the joke just the way you did, JT. But, comedians are our fail safe system to stop PC. I watched a roundtable w/ Louis CK, Seinfeld, Chris Rock and Ricky Gervais. It was brilliant. I wanted to kiss all of them. NNTTAWWT.
NO!!