Dame Edna `joke' went far too far

Houston Chronicle ^ | Feb. 23, 2003, 12:18AM | By ANA VECIANA-SUAREZ

[weegee]

We all know the medicinal value of laughter. A good chuckle clears the air, draws song from silence.

In my book, a sense of humor is one of the prime qualities I would look for in a mate. After all, how can we get through life, through this valley of tears, without a healthy bit of hysterics?

Sometimes the best satire is the one aimed squarely between our eyes. The one that elicits an ouch. The one that, between hiccups, makes us nod in recognition.

The ability to laugh at ourselves is a blessing. A blessing and an affirmation. Nothing like a joke to wring hope from despair, don't you think?

So I thought.

I've been musing about the purpose -- and the caustic sting -- of humor since one of my sisters forwarded me an e-mail about Dame Edna. Yes, possums, that Dame Edna, the one with the out-there glasses and the what's-that-awful-color tresses.

Those who have followed the Australian dame's meteoric rise in the humor factory know she skewers whatever and whomever she wants, and with lacerating delight.

This month, though, the self-described housewife, social anthropologist, swami, megastar and (for the uninitiated) alter ego of comedian Barry Humphries has gotten herself into trouble. A very American kind of trouble.

In her February column in the chi-chi magazine Vanity Fair, Edna dear Edna answers a letter from a fictional reader who wonders if Spanish is worth learning: "Forget Spanish. There's nothing in that language worth reading except Don Quixote, and a quick listen to the CD of Man of La Mancha will take care of that."

After dismissing poet Garcia Lorca to the intellectual back burner, she goes on to opine: "Who speaks it that you are really desperate to talk to? The help? Your leaf blower? Study French or German, where there are at least a few books worth reading, or, if you're American, try English."

A firestorm of outrage followed, including a letter from the president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, calling Dame Edna's column "an appalling display of bigotry."

In its regret, Vanity Fair officially responded that the comments "were offered in the spirit of outrageous comedy and were never intended to be taken to heart." In other words: What you so uptight about, man? Don't you get it?

Which brings me back to my original musings about humor. See, I do get it. I do, I do. Just hold the laughter until I get a tissue for my tears.

I get it because I -- and all those who bear my kind of surname -- have been the butt of so many demeaning jokes and such debasing stereotypes that we have a trigger-quick sensitivity to these things. It's not funny anymore.

On one level, I know that by its very nature humor is bound to stomp on some toes. But on another, on that level that has had doors slammed, backs turned, hopes dashed, I also understand that too often satire masks prejudice and a joke can be just another word for discrimination.

I wonder what kind of reaction the Dame might have garnered had she written about the dearth of African-American lit other than Toni Morrison's.

The sad part about Dame Edna's advice is not her words but Vanity Fair's decision to run them, thinking that the "patently absurd comments" -- the magazine's phrase -- wouldn't offend.

Are we so removed from each other, so ignorant of others' thinking, that we don't know when a swipe goes far too far?

Now, here's a real joke for you, if you like irony.

Guess who's on the cover of the magazine? Salma Hayek. Mexican.

Veciana-Suarez is a family columnist for the Miami Herald. She welcomes readers' responses at aveciana@herald.com

[george wythe]

I thought you meant to say

Perhaps it's because most French Spanish literature that I've had to read has reeked of Marxist sympathies. Perhaps it's because the French they are largely Catholic and I value the Protestant ethic more.

[A_perfect_lady]

Well, I made a point of stating that I liked the older French literature. The 20th century stuff DOES reek of Marxist sympathies and I don't care for it at all. As for the French being Catholic, they really don't embrace it like Hispanic Americans do. So I gravitate to the British and French influences that led to the modern day Anglo-American ethic.

It's bizarre to find, on Free Republic, people who still march to the multi-culti relativist beat, but whatever.

[rwfromkansas]

If this is the crap this hyphenated author cares about at this time, she doesn't have a sack of rocks for brains.

[george wythe]

As for the French being Christian Catholic, they really don't embrace it like Hispanic Americans do.

Is that a good thing?

It's bizarre to find, on Free Republic, people who still march to the anti-Catholic bigotry multi-culti relativist beat, but whatever.

Good to know where you stand.

[Hoverbug]

Spanish is a better language to learn than French

Yep, you're right. I've tried to learn French 3 times now but every time I tried, for some reason, the feeling to give up swept over me, and I surrendered to the feeling.:^)

[Lizavetta]

but when I was in college, there was a rumor that one of the professors told students they should all learn spanish, since in the future, they won't be able to get jobs with just english, and in fact, could wind up losing there jobs to people who only speak spanish and don't know english.

It will only be necessary if you want to become a government school teacher or a government welfare case worker. Think about it. The Mexicans who want to succeed in this country will anglicize and LEARN ENGLISH. The ones who hang on to their 'heritage' and Latino identity will remain on welfare and poor.

[mabelkitty]

Great. New American Minority taking Jesse Jackson playbook and putting their name on it.

[A_perfect_lady]

Gosh, I'm really sorry you can't stand people who prefer their own roots to Catholic and/or Hispanic roots. Perhaps, like liberals, you've decided that tolerance is no longer enough, now they demand we celebrate any culture they designate a victim culture. Well, not me. I'm a fan of mere tolerance. See, I tolerate Hispanics and Catholics, I just don't care to immerse myself in their culture. And I ask only that they tolerate me. If they don't "get" my culture's literature or music, well, oh well. They can stick with their 100 Years of Salsa.

But you, you don't even tolerate my lack of enthusiasm for a culture different from my own. Everybody MUST BE A FAN of Hispanic culture. Well, sorry. Even if it means engendering your dislike, I will continue to prefer what I prefer, and you make all the insinuations you want about it.

[weegee]

Dame Edna is just getting ready to run for the Senate as a Democrat and wants to make sure she is on the right page on the hispanic issue....

Then Dame Edna had better be prepared to get some kids and an undocumented nanny. The Clintons' nominated up a number of Democrats who knowingly had illegal aliens working as nannys.

[weegee]

I was taught a little Spanish when I went to primary school in Houston. Then when I moved to Louisiana, they taught French in the schools. When I moved to Ohio I had to choose a foreign language in high school (french, spanish, or german), I took spanish and continued when I finished up high school back in Houston.

When I went to college, I selected a language I wanted to study (and did not even need to for engineering degree). I studied Japanese and did well in the course but couldn't fit it in my schedule with all of the "requirements" for my degree (I had to take socio-humanities courses but was not permitted to take courses that would actually teach a skill; thus I could take Art History but not a drawing or painting course; I could take a national history course, but not a foreign language course towards my requirements).

[george wythe]

I’m just pointing out your inaccuracies.

To insinuate that Spanish lit was not as good as French lit because Spanish lit had Marxist leanings was asinine.

And to applaud the current secularism sweeping through France, where their Christian religion is not being followed, is not very conservative either.

You have no idea where I stand with respect to likes or dislikes, or whether I speak French or not.

You are trying to deflect your erroneous statements by falsely accusing me of favoring liberal multiculturism.

Have a good day.

[weegee]

Doesn't a lot of "literature" post 1920 reek of Marxism regardless of the nation?

Not all fiction is considered "literature".

[537 Votes]

Learning Spanish is important so that you know whether people on the street are talking about weather, sports, or whether to push you into an alley and kill you.

[weegee]

I've tried to learn French 3 times now but every time I tried, for some reason, the feeling to give up swept over me, and I surrendered to the feeling.:^)

Don't worry my friend. These rules in Clouseau speech will have people thinking you can speak French in no time. There was also a sketch on National Lampoon Radio where they described "ow you say..." techniques to sound like you know French.

Inspector Clouseau's rules of speech (How to speak Clouseauese)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rule #1: Any word with a 'ah', 'oh', or 'oo' sound, you must add a short 'eh' sound before it.
Examples: bomb = "behm", phone = 'pheone', room = 'rheum'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rule #2: Any word with a 'uh' sound, you must replace it with a 'ih' sound.
Ex. monkey = 'minkey.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rule #3: Any word with a long 'ay' or 'ee' sound, replace it with a short 'ah' sound, but don't apply rule #1.
Ex. crazy = 'crahzy', repair = 'rahpair'.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rule #4: For a past tense word ending with an 'ed', you must split the word in the wrong place or accent the wrong syllable.
Ex. solved = 'sol-ved', received = 'rah-ceived'.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Review: "Yeuw have rah-ceived a bimp". Can you see the application of rules #1,2,3 and 4?.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rule #5: To reflect anger or dissatifaction with an object, animal or person, add the word "swine" before it.
Ex. 'swine' moat, 'swine' parrot, 'swine' maid.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rule #6: If you are ever presented with information or facts you are unaware of, immediately respond as if you already had knowledge of it.
Ex. "Yes, I kneuw that... I kneuw that". (remember to apply rule #1 to the word 'know')

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rule #7: Any person who does not understand a word you are saying must be referred to as a fool or an idiot.
Ex. "Yes, a rheumm... that is what I have been saying you idiot!"

[A_perfect_lady]

Unlike me, apparently, you are entitled to your opinions. You have a good day too.

[weegee]

People still learn Latin but I don't know who they talk to.

[A_perfect_lady]

Doesn't a lot of "literature" post 1920 reek of Marxism regardless of the nation?

Yes, it really does. I tend to stay in the 18th and 19th century.

[headsonpikes]

"...if you're American, try English."

"Sounds like a dig at American English."

Those sorts of Americans are infra dig, don't you agree?

Even espanol would be preferable to that savage tongue spoken by the American yokelry, right, lady?

;^)

[A_perfect_lady]

Even espanol would be preferable to that savage tongue spoken by the American yokelry, right, lady?

Watch it, buddy, or me an' my yokel kin gonna haf to rize up an gitcha!

[aruanan]

When I went to college, I selected a language I wanted to study (and did not even need to for engineering degree). I studied Japanese and did well in the course but couldn't fit it in my schedule with all of the "requirements" for my degree (I had to take socio-humanities courses but was not permitted to take courses that would actually teach a skill; thus I could take Art History but not a drawing or painting course; I could take a national history course, but not a foreign language course towards my requirements).

Isn't that ridiculous? I just stayed in school long enough to take all the Spanish I wanted. I ended up with more credits than a Spanish major and got to spend two summers and an interterm in the Dominican Republic and another interterm in Mexico. I also spent two fall semesters with Hispanos Unidos of Park Slope through NYC's Urban Corps and a spring semester in Brooklyn doing my student teaching in a bilingual classroom.