H -°, L 6° | Tomorrow: 
H 18°, L 6°On a recent episode of Jon Stewart's Comedy Central hit, "The Daily Show," reporter Rob Riggle made his way to Platteville, Wis. for a segment on the local sheriff's race. The story was about joke-candidate Will Fenrick, whose basis for running was to mock the boorishness of his own town. Prior to the race, he changed his name to Andy Griffith in an attempt to compare Platteville to the fictional Mayberry of "The Andy Griffith Show." His campaign slogan was, "Vote for me, you hicks." Of course, "The Daily Show" had great fun with the story, agreeing with Fenrick's analysis of the people of Platteville as crude and backward.
Most liberals no doubt approved of the piece, enjoying a few laughs at the expense of rural, conservative Americans. Indeed, ridiculing red-state culture has become a staple of American comedy. It seems that, these days, laughing at the backwardness of the South, for example, just makes for quality humor. But here's the best part about it: Comedians can get away with this behavior because mocking traditionalist, white Americans isn't bigotry.
Or is it? It seems political correctness offers NASCAR culture no refuge. Laughing at the church rituals of the evangelicals, using a Southern accent when depicting the uneducated, or wondering aloud how people can be so fascinated by a sport — which consists of people driving in circles — is all considered to be acceptable.
But should it be? Consider if similar humor was applied to the cultural attitudes and practices of racial minorities: The response would be justified outrage. This is interesting, since many cultural elements that liberal elitists are so intent on criticizing conservative whites for apply only more so to oppressed groups. For example, the religious orthodoxy of Southerners — via the Southern Baptist Church of Jerry Falwell and the like — is a common source of ridicule. And yet, according to a recent Associated Press poll, 38 percent of Southerners reported to attend church regularly, while more than four in 10 African-Americans gave the same response.
Another poignant example comes from liberal treatment of homophobes. In the aftermath of the disappointing marriage referendum results in November 2006, most leftists turned to rural Wisconsin as the culprit. The sentiment on the UW campus and elsewhere was one of rage toward the backward bigots from up Nort'. Curiously, this type of demeaning treatment doesn't extend toward the almost universal homophobia of the Muslim world. According to Amnesty International, Saudi Arabia leads the world in public beheadings for the "crime" of homosexuality. Where is the anger and ridicule?
A common response to this obvious double standard is that minority groups — like African-Americans and Muslims — deserve protection in virtue of their oppression. Conservative whites, as the argument goes, do not merit such special treatment. This argument would have validity if the whites who faced the brunt of Jon Stewart's comedy were not at the bottom of the economic ladder; it is the poor, the rural and the uneducated that the people of New York and Madison love to laugh at.
The sad reality of this liberal pretentiousness is that it alienates the very people needed to bring about social change. And what a waste of potential it is. Poor whites, after all, understand what it means to live without health care, to work for minimum wage and to worry about paying the heating bill. This untapped source of political support is a tragedy and only limits the path to social equality for all Americans.
Still, red-state residents do stand on the reactionary side of many social issues. Gay rights, reproductive rights and the death penalty are just a few such examples. It is these few hyped issues that mark the fundamental difference between liberals and conservatives. The goal progressives should have is to transcend such issues by uniting people on the concerns that actually affect their lives. Moreover, bringing traditionalist whites into the progressive fold is likely to convince them the Republican wedge issues — like whether John marries Bill — really don't matter after all.
Either way, scorning blue-collar whites for their conservatism only further increases America's artificial political divide. Perhaps Jon Stewart and the like believe that laughing at the heartland hicks will convince them they're wrong. More likely, rich East Coast liberals like Stewart are more interested in just laughing, since they have no concern with the issues most hardworking Americans face. So, Stewart, instead of laughing, do us all a favor: Shut up.
Kyle Szarzynski ([email protected]) is a sophomore majoring in Spanish and history.
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This is total nonsense. The Daily Show’s satire is directed towards everyone, rich or poor, black and white, conservative and liberal, Christian and Muslim.
American bigots and homophobes are still a disgrace, and don’t deserve sympathy, no matter how poor they are.
Please. Let your heart bleed somewhere else.
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If the “Man” is keeping the black man down, who is keeping the poor white man down? By this article, you are suggesting that being a slack-jawed yokel, hillbilly, sister lover, sheep-humper, is color blind.
Being poor and stupid is the only non-biased employer in America.
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Wisconsin ain’t no red state, yeehaw!
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Ah yes the peril of the while male (of which I am). Reading the BH over these years I have learned that I am the target of discrimination and scorn and that I really should be descriminating against the “muslim comunitiy” and not my of fellow whities. Hey Extra-Bucket-of-white-Kyle: Maybe the platville hicks deserved to be made fun of. Its the least the rest of us can do while the racist, homophobic, white douchebags of this nation prevent universal civil liberties and encourage christian religious zealotry to (really) divide this nation. Get over yourself.
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“Curiously, this type of demeaning treatment doesn't extend toward the almost universal homophobia of the Muslim world.”
You think Jon is stupid? He doesn’t want to see a death fatwa issued, have the show bombed or see rioting/burning/killling right outside his door.
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Of course bigotry is wrong no matter who the victim. But, when it comes to broad social efforts (or “political correctness”), attacks on those groups that are suffering hugely disproportionate social problems like poverty, prison and poor health take precedence.
So yes, it is just as wrong to mock rural whites as it is to mock anyone based on an immutable physical characteristic. But it’s just not as serious because whites are doing overwhelmingly better than non-whites in America.
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Thanks, man. I think.
Signed,
poor white guy
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Did you see the same piece that I did?? Yes they “agreed” with the candidate, which is the Daily Show’s way of mocking somebody. Much the same way that Colbert “agrees” with George Bush. The candidate is obviously a joke and the Daily Show pointed that out. Sorry if that satire went over your head buddy. Then again, it’s not your fault your a slack jawed hillbilly right?
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“And yet, according to a recent Associated Press poll, 38 percent of Southerners reported to attend church regularly, while more than four in 10 African-Americans gave the same response.”
Nice job trying to skew numbers.
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if you want to write about prejudice against red-staters, just do it. Don’t hang your argument on the thin thread of the Platteville Sheriff’s race which has nothing to do with your argument. They were making fun of the douche who changed his name to a popular TV-sheriff’s name, as much if not more than they were making fun of Platteville or hicks.
Your poor, picked-on white conservatives argument is a tired and lazy argument that has been made much more clearly and concisely in other forums. If you can’t think of something original to say, just skip it — tell your editor you were too pressed for time or uninspired to do your column this week.
Sheesh!
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Stewart’s whole shtick is so tired he stopped being funny 8 years ago. Seriously, he’s on par with Adam Sandler.
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Lawl, ok well you are on the right track with
“The sad reality of this liberal pretentiousness is that it alienates the very people needed to bring about social change.”
the sad reality is that even by seperating yourself (obviously a conservative as picked up from this piece)from the liberals, you are in fact supporting the further seperation of two ‘types’ of Americans.
In the end it is not Jon Stewart who is the problem. It’s people who stick up for homophobic( because they want to be), ignorant (because they want to be), religious fanatic (because they want to be), racist (because they want to be), people who still believe that there is a war going on between the Union and Confederacy.
But nice try anyway.
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I agree with this. There is a difference between being accepting and open-minded and being accepting and open-minded only to those whose values seem to match yours. I completely disagree with most of things a lot of rural Americans might stand for, but creating change for a liberal cause isn’t going to happen while everyone who disagrees with liberal values are being ridiculed. You can be hateful, but then don’t expect change.
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Yes, because the Muslims in the Middle East voted in the last election. There is no “lesser evil” when dealing with these issues.
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Apparently Kyle, you’ve never seen Chappelle’s Show…
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Wow. You didn’t understand the piece, did you? In fact, did you even watch it?
Everyone was laughing at the guy running, not everyone else. Most of the jokes about hicks given by Rob Riggle and Jon Stewart, were toung-in-cheek.
The irony of the piece, which was about Local hereos, was not that “Andy Griffin” was the local hero, but the fraternity he went to and offered a free pass. That’s why they were signaled out. They turned him down.
The audience were laughing at how jackass and stupid “Andy” was.
-.-‘
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You act as though Jon Stewart is the only person to make fun of anyone. Ever heard of Carlos Mencia? He makes fun of blacks, whites and Latinos. Or basically any black comedian ever — Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy — they make fun of everyone, including their own race. If they can do that, why aren’t we allowed to make fun of ignorant white people? Are whites that far above the rest of the world that they can’t be subject to ridicule?
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“Consider if similar humor was applied to the cultural attitudes and practices of racial minorities: The response would be justified outrage.”
or ridiculously high ratings…….
(the chappelle show, anyone?)
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Did anybody else get that Kyle isn’t a conservative, but an ISO member?
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“It’s people who stick up for homophobic (because they want to be), ignorant (because they want to be), religious fanatic (because they want to be), racist (because they want to be), people”
That would describe 99.9 pecent of the Muslims in the world. Also seems that Muslims think slavery is still a great thing to have, must be some great jokes there.
Let’s see Big Jon take some shots at the Muslims.
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Apparently, the world’s problems would be solved if we all stopped making fun of each other? But then there wouldn’t be anything good on TV :/
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I’ll make fun of Evangelical groups, be they black or white. Why? Because they are one of the major forces that are preventing the uneducated and unsuccessful of both races from becoming more educated and successful. They say the truly only important thing is faith in God, leaving out the vastly greater importance in the real world of education (which includes things like safe sex and not speaking like a hilljack or someone from the ghetto).
And, in case you didn’t notice, a lot of times people make fun of what they really know. John Stewart and the Daily Show knows white America. Dave Chapelle knows black America. In case you didn’t notice, Mr. Chapelle used to make fun of black culture a WHOLE lot.
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Finally, someone sticking up for the oppressed white man. These last 400 years have really been hell for us. Keep fighting the good fight. But in all seriousness; you're not nearly as clever as you think you are. I hope the slew of negative comments about your piece wipes that pretentious grin off your face.
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Kyle is no longer a part of the ISO. In fact, Kyle Szarzynski is a card carrying member of the republican party, and I know this for a fact.
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It really, really bothers me when people just don’t get the joke. I think you need to head over to CC’s Motherload and watch that piece again.