MovieChat Forums > Gentleman's Agreement Discussion > So this is the birth of political correc...

So this is the birth of political correctness.

posted 8 years ago by henrimaine
12 replies | jump to latest

That's a great movie that, to this, day stirs up a lot of thought in people. One thing I cannot agree with is the suggestion that "Jew jokes" are not OK and that people telling such jokes should be openly criticized. That seemed to be the message of the scene at the end of the movie when Kathy and Dave were sitting in the bar talking about somebody having made a "Jew joke" at a party. That scene basically marked the birth of political correctness - an attitude of intolerance towards any talk that could be viewed as demeaning towards some group of people, even if that talk is not meant to be taken seriously. I think the proponents of political correctness blow things out of proportion. There's nothing wrong with jokes about Jews, Blacks, Chinese, Whites, Americans, Russians, gays, men, women, etc. Such joking is a natural part of human life. Instead of feeling anger towards the person telling that joke, you should relax and laugh along, while remembering that this is nothing personal, this is just a joke and the next joke could be at your expense.

[–] ncdwbmk6 8 years ago

I tend to agree. But then Kathy and Dave were likewise entitled to express their opinions as well.

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Choocheechoo choocheechoo choocheechoo ya ya pow!

[–] Outstandingness 8 years ago

Agreed but their opinions were more than just opinions on the joke, they were demanding public action taken against any offenders.

[–] ncdwbmk6 8 years ago

"they were demanding public action taken against any offenders."

What public action were they demanding? The conclusion of Dave and Kathy's conversation was merely that if you hear something you disagree with, you should express your opinion.

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Fowler's knots? Did you say ... fowler's knots?

[–] Outstandingness 8 years ago

Expressing your opinion is one thing, but if your opinion is that others shouldn't express themselves however they feel, then that's something else completely different.

[–] ncdwbmk6 8 years ago

Yes, that's true.

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Fowler's knots? Did you say ... fowler's knots?

[–] Outstandingness 8 years ago

Yes context has to be part of the equation. People shouldn't rush to judgement so quickly.

[–] kimasabe90035-1 8 years ago

Hmmm.... bigotry and racism is wrong. That is moral message of movie.
If you think "jokes" made at any group's expense are funny, this film was created particularly with you in mind.
Prejudice is not acceptable, in any context. Sad to read here that you think, it can be humorous. That is racist thinking.

[–] Trax-3 8 years ago

Nope, there's no group or topic sacred enough not to be joked about.

Also, a joke that offends no one is probably not all that funny.

[–] stanleycoleman 7 years ago

Ellen Degeneres' brand of comedy doesn't involve offending groups of people, and it works just fine.

Also, in the scene described by the OP, it was clear that the people in the audience were all offended and felt uncomfortable, yet no one found it funny. Intent matters, but it doesn't override impact.

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[–] marktayloruk 7 years ago

When it comes to humour-anything goes.There's nothing that cannot be joked about.I write as an overweight Billy Bunter fan and stammering fan of "Open All Hours."I remember finding Peck's character an unpleasant and obnoxious character.like all the PC brigade.

[–] stanleycoleman 7 years ago

Way to miss the point of the movie - which is that not all forms of prejudice/discrimination are blatant/overt; that it's a complex layered issue, with many forms of microaggressions.

I'm amazed how you could watch an entire film built around the narrative of exposing antisemitism, and you chose to re-frame it through your own apologist lens; a fictional scenario as "the guy was just joking". There may be instances where that applies, but CLEARLY, that was not what the film was trying to illustrate. The scenario was not set-up for the viewer to believe that the person delivering the joke was just trying to be humorous and facetious, or that feeling offended or uncomfortable was an unreasonable response.

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[–] 7 years ago

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