'HEY HEY' SKIT

The Age

Friday October 9, 2009

An appalling lack of sensitivityI WAS staggered, deeply disappointed and hugely embarrassed to hear about the skit on Channel 9 on Wednesday night featuring performers wearing so-called ��blackface��.The racial connotations associated with this kind of act are well known around the world and a source of great distress to many African Americans as well as other nationalities, including indigenous Australians, who have been historically oppressed and discriminated against due to the darker colour of their skin.And then to subject a visitor from the American South to the indignities of that performance is even more insulting to the reputation of Victoria and Australia as a modern, multicultural society.For this act to be approved by the producers shows a scandalous lack of maturity, sensitivity and accordance with 21st-century standards of tolerance. It is also worth noting that many of the same voices of outrage about the suitability of other jokes in recent months seemingly believe the ��blackface�� skit is harmless fun.If questions are going to be asked about the acceptability of some subject matter, then racially charged material should not be casually dismissed. It is not harmless. For many around the world, it is deeply hurtful, and as Victorians we should all be aspiring to do better.Sam Afra, chairman, Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, CarltonDo-gooders on soapboxI'M SICK of "do-gooders" like Harry Connick jnr getting up on their soap box over issues that are none of their business. Perhaps while he's up there he'd also like to apologise over the disgraceful portrayal of Steve Irwin's death at the hands ofhis own country's South Park. To the best of my knowledge the country still airs Al Jolson's The Jazz Singer in the United States, black face and all. Mr Connick should better spend his time looking at issues from a more appropriate perspective before he starts insulting our taste in humour.Neil Scholes, Muswellbrook, NSWHumourless YanksHARRY Connick jnr's comments are more laughable than the skit he was condemning. These remarks coming from a citizen of the world's most racist country are the real joke. Mr Connick proves yet again that the Yanks are devoid of any humour and he should just go back from whence he came.Craig Cahill, Blessington, TasMade to look foolishI USED to refer to Hey Hey It's Saturday as an embarrassment, especially the thought of it being seen overseas �� and this sort of thing is exactly why. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. They have made Australians look ignorant and foolish.To those "lighten up" people, it is rude to invite a guest and his band, which contains black people, and insult them. Sam Newman couldn't get away with blackface on The Footy Show, so why would these people have expected to?And what was funny about "The Amazing Jonathan" doing a punch-an-infant-in-the-face skit on the first show? The show obviously seeks to appeal to the lowest common denominator. With its nasty idea of humour, it deserves to stay gone!Axella Johannesson, Traralgon

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