Because charity is part of the Christmas spirit.

While Ms. O’Donnell is a vile, uncouth, and slovenly woman with whom we share no common ground as it pertains to politics and we would gladly welcome her retirement from the public eye (yes, that’s our obligatory disclaimer), the ongoing controversy over her recent “ching chong” remarks has created a situation compelling us to step up to her defense.

If we only had a nickel for every time someone made fun of us. But that’s life.

AP reports: “Rosie O’Donnell says she’s sorry for mocking spoken Chinese on ‘The View,’ but an association that represents journalists from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, including Chinese American, says it wasn’t enough.”

And therein lies the rub. Who cares?

In 2006, some of the highlights we covered included: Muslims demanding “further apology” from the Pope, Muslims killing people after being offended by some cartoons (Christians don’t riot), Mel Gibson apologizing for a drunken rant, and Michael Richards apologizing for his onstage tirade — and Al Sharpton, predictably, said it’s “not enough”. Before all that, the S.F. Giants fired their PR director because some special interests took offense to a (internal, not-made-for-the-public) training video, KNBR sports radio host gets fired because a black coach took offense to some remarks about the players, and a political campaign manager gets fired because some people took offense to his remarks about black and white.

Everybody is taking offense and the grievance industry is in full swing. It’s gone so far that many companies (and people) today are afraid to say “Merry Christmas” lest someone gets offended*. And all the while the New York Times and liberals cry that “President Bush is taking away our freedoms.” Seems like the freedom to speak your mind has already been compromised, and the reason is obvious: political correctness.

What does “being PC” even mean? Most people think politicians can’t be trusted. They only do and say what they think will get them elected. That’s the general perception, right? So, being “politically correct” can only mean that you’re premeditating your remarks and being disingenous. In other words, it’s mandatory deception. And it’s created a culture of group-think.

Back to Rosie. She apologized.

“You know, you can imagine in China it’s like ‘ching chong, ching chong chong, Danny DeVito, ching chong chong chong, drunk, “The View,” ching chong,’” the 44-year-old comedian said.

On Thursday’s show, she told the audience: “To say ching chong to someone is very offensive, and some Asian people have told me it’s as bad as the n-word. Which I was like, ‘Really? I didn’t know that.’”

That’s news to us as well — and evidently also the audience laughing along. Since when? Had Rosie said, “ping pong, sing song, ting ling” would the reaction have been different?

And why is it that the “n-word” can’t be spelled out, but black rappers litter their work with it, black comedians use it frequently in their performances, and many black youths use it amongst themselves with regularity and comfort? If it’s so bad, so offensive, so evil, why use it? Who cares?

This is America, and they are free to do so.

Lincoln Michel said Unity was waiting for Barbara Walters, who created the show, to respond to a letter asking her to publicly acknowledge that O’Donnell’s remarks were “patently offensive.”

“I think by allowing Rosie O’Donnell’s cheap jabs at Chinese Americans to go unchecked, then the network is essentially condoning racial and ethnic slurs,” Lincoln Michel told the AP in a phone interview.

Point of fact: Rosie was not making fun of Chinese Americans, she was mimicking an Asian newscast. Like this one. But for any grievance to gain steam, the facts usually don’t matter: just grandstand and scream louder and you’ll get results.**

“You know it was never (my) intent to mock,” O’Donnell said on Thursday’s show, “and I’m sorry for those people who felt hurt or were teased on the playground.”

“But I’m also gonna give you a fair warning that there’s a good chance I’ll do something like that again, probably in the next week — not on purpose. Only ’cause it’s how my brain works.”

And because it’s America and freedom of speech hasn’t been entirely muzzled yet. Although, for whites (e.g. not “people of color”) and especially conservatives, the bar will always be held higher. That’s how that works.

Rosie can say whatever she wants on TV, her fans and Hollywood will support her, and those who don’t are always free to change the channel.

If her ratings drop and the networks lose money, she’ll get fired. It’s just business. Nothing personal. It’s a free market.

However, if the media, businesses, and citizens start basing their opinions and decisions on the concerns that every group with a grievance will start rioting in the streets, then we’ll be no different than a terrorist nation run by religious extremists. They also don’t accept apologies.

** Dr. Sanity’s Practical Guide To Victimhood

RELATED:
Ching Chong, Tacos Burritos, Yo Yo!, Durka Durka,
and Crazy Crackas, Too: “Celebrate Diversity,”
It’s “Our Strength”

1. [...] Original post by California Conservative and software by Elliott Back [...]

   Pingback by In Defense of Rosie O’Donnell at Conservative Times — December 20, 2006 @ 12:29 pm

2. [...] RELATED: In Defense of Rosie O’Donnell These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]

   Pingback by California Conservative » Don Imus: Jivin’ While White — April 12, 2007 @ 7:18 pm

3. [...] RELATED: In Defense of Rosie O’Donnell [...]

   Pingback by Don Imus: Jivin’ While White at Conservative Times--Republican GOP news source. — April 12, 2007 @ 7:22 pm

1. What our “Conservative” President thinks:
   “Mary Cheney is going to make a fine mom and she’s going to love this child a lot”
   Is this the kind of “Family Values” we voted for?

   Comment by Benn — December 15, 2006 @ 12:41 pm

2. PC is a plague on the West. We deceive ourselves so much that we cannot see reality. The truth lies buried under piles of deception. it’s pathetic.

   Comment by John Sobieski — December 15, 2006 @ 9:08 pm

3. If I had a dime for the amount of times Fonies O’drunkle has said “Really? I didn’t know that.” I would be filthy rich. It’s the liberal excuse for everything.

   Comment by rosiescrewal — December 15, 2006 @ 9:09 pm

4. Then someone can say “I want to F* your **** in front of you and shovel some *** up your A***” They have the freedom of speech. And this is America.

   Comment by ching chong — December 18, 2006 @ 11:45 am