Ok, ok. But mention of Silverman is the perfect example. It's funny not because she is simply so smart and awesome that whatever comes out of her mouth is funny and observant and not offensive , but moreso that her audience is a specific target of people who "get her" and "get the joke", supposedly. But if you happen to catch her on HBO, never heard of her, what she says is ridiculously capable of misconception. Now, I don't argue that you have the right to not be offended, that's PC police, I'm arguing that if you do not wish to perceived in this light, if you wish to not offend and to not have to explain how someone isn't "getting it" (which most likely is Imus and every other assholes'(racist intent or not) story), then try not to offend rather than be witty. That is a misplaced racial solidarity effort. Silverman-whatever- she's on public record... Racism is felt at public annonymous places, like overhearing the n-bomb at a restaurant, not so much on HBO. I argue for minding your own beeswax and not trying to impress your own friends by being ironically funny with this as the fodder- mainly jokes about already perpetuated and conceived stereotypes(Silverman's routine) . Just let them die. If you think I don't get the joke- well you should have heard some I have told when I was less concerned with peace. I am now more concerned with not being preceived as offensive, and also in not offending. Broad assumptions(In lewe of a darn clear post) are something we all scoff at from strangers.

I have noticed this trend becoming something dark and awful for sometime. I think Elektro 87 has missed the real injury of racism. Like the use of the "n-word" in music- not everyone can get a free license to drop it at will because not everyone will immediately assume you are being ironic or masking a truly sympathetic view- especially if you're a white guy. Instead of assuming everyone can or even should recognise a joke-let's assume these words hurt at face value regardless, because, in truth, they do. I know this idea shocks a lot of ironic racists. It's as if, -if you are "hip" enough, then it's somehow impossible for you to be truly racist, and any misconception must be just that- a misconception. Irony is nothing if not an invitation to misconception. Ironically adopting cultural hyperbole, like an airbrushed Tupac Shakur t shirt, while jokingly drinking some malt liquor and dropping n-bombs has been the type that I have picked up on the most lately. However, much like the recent college "bling" party controversies, I think the underlying point here is that if you are offending someone by mocking or superficially celebrating racial stereotypes, regardless of how smart aleck'y and tolerant and funny you really believe you are, it is racist. The surface IS what counts. The intent to offend or hurt is arbitrary when the action itself achieves it on it's own. Worse yet, when it becomes culturally acceptable to do this sort of thing, then guys like your Uncle Terry, or Don Imus or whoever, those who truly "don't get it", then think it's OK to jump on this bandwagon for all of the really wrong reasons. I've seen it happen. So, for all the reasons you can give to justify it, it's better to just stop it, that way, there can be no misconception.