How to really advance the progression of equality among black people and homosexuals.
68Contents.
Problems in the portrayals of black people and gays.
Coronation Street shows the way for gays.
How people should feel about Barack Obama as President.
Remember. If I'm black I can be stupid. If I'm gay I can be an ignorant slob.
Evil James advances the cause of gay equality.
Problems in the portrayals of black people and gays.
It is one of the strange things about human beings and especially their attitudes to the minorities within our society, that the more liberal, "right on" types always want to see positive pictures painted about the groups that were formally feared or, in some cases, hated in the past. To the ultra-politically correct the notion that someone might portray a black person as evil, or stupid is anathema, and that person is to be condemned for being racist or worse.
The same situation arises in the portrayal of homosexuals. In our television dramas, and in a lot of the books we read, we have all become familiar with the stock "gay" character. This person is usually funny, probably talented, very neat and tidy, of course, and almost invariably good and very kind.
The very notion that someone might pen a portrayal of a lazy, shiftless, ignorant gay character, who poisons his granny, and kicks fluffy kittens for fun, is absolutely unthinkable.
I have to say now that those who feel that you must always paint a "minority" character as positively as possible are actually doing a grave disservice to the people they are purporting to help. The reason here is because in always insisting that gay and black people should be seen as good role models, they are denying these minorities their essential humanity.
There are stupid black people, just as there are stupid white people. People are sometimes stupid. It’s not a race issue.
Equally there are gay people who are mean, untalented slobs. It is what some people of all sexual persuasions are.
In this street something queer and evil lives. Yippee!
Coronation Street shows the way for gays.
For those of you not familiar with it, Coronation Street is a soap that has been running on british television for over fifty years now. It has been staple viewing for a large proportion of that section of the public who could put "soap addiction" as a hobby on their C.V.
I can count myself as one of those. The gritty accounts of the travails of a small working class community in the north of England has captured the hearts of over fifty years of British television viewers, and it has also got a lot of devoted followers on cable channels throughout the world. For the first forty odd years of its transmission there were no homosexual characters. The stories about divorces, births, marriages etc, always were played out amongst an exclusively heterosexual character list. It really was as if homosexuality did not exist.
Then in the mid-nineties there was a change. Coronation Street got its first gay character. Since then there have been a succession of them, and gay storylines have almost been put on a par with the straight ones. The homosexual characters have however followed the familiar formula. The murders, the criminal acts, and the twistedness, that can make hate figures out of soap characters, have been so far reserved for the heterosexual inhabitants of the fictional street. The gay characters have been tiresomely wholesome throughout.
But this week there has been a change, and a most welcome one at that.
James Barlow is a character that was introduced to Coronation Street about six months ago. James is a young gay man. He came into the soap, when he fell out with his very homophobe father, and came to live with his much more tolerant and welcoming grandfather.
James followed the stock portrayal of gay characters. He was kind (worked as a volunteer for the homeless). He always seemed neat and tidy. No "Hetero" failings of sloppiness about him. Almost all the other characters liked him. It seemed like we were going to be treated to the usual yawn making picture of the good, talented, neat, gay character yet again.
But something different happened this week. It turns out that the "good gay" James is really the evil manipulative, "rip off merchant gay". He helped to rob the people that contributed money to the homeless, (and the homeless themselves). He is secretly remortgaging his kind grandfather's house, with the intention of stealing £50,000 from a mortgage company. And what is best of all. His lovely little six year old niece came home unexpectedly when the mortgage surveyor was in the house. Now James is terrorising her into keeping silent.
How refreshing, and exhilarating is that? A totally evil slimy scumbag gay character. At last gay characters are being allowed to join the human race.
If you hate him, hate him as a politician.
How people should feel about Barack Obama as President.
I made a reference to stupid black people earlier on, and that brings me to my next subject. President Barack Obama.
The current president of The United States has proved to be a divisive figure, and apparently a lot of people, especially in his own country hate him. I don’t. I think he is just another American, and since all Americans have been traitors since 1776, I lump them all in together.
But that is a different story.
Back to Barack. The people who hate him as a politician are actually doing a great service to the black community in America. They are saying that
"we detest you Obama because of your policies, or your weaknesses, or your slipperiness".
This is good because they are putting aside considerations of his colour,(which should be irrelevant anyway), and dignifying him with the right to be a figure of hate, on the basis of what they feel he is doing, rather than on some spurious racial issue.
Those who hate Barack Obama because he is a black man in The White House are just stupid and racist.
Equally those who feel that they should support President Obama because he is a black man in the White House, but don’t support his policies,(or like his character), should think about things again. If you hate the guy, feel free to do so. Don’t feel guilty about it because he is black. You are not supporting the cause of racial freedom by lessening the hatred you feel for Barack Obama just because of his skin colour.
Could I also say, that if you love Barack Obama, and approve of his policies, and/or feel he is of excellent character, support him on that basis. The fact that he is a black man should be totally immaterial.
Remember. If I'm black I can be stupid. If I'm gay I can be an ignorant slob.
To conclude could I say that the greatest compliment that can be paid to members of society's minorities is to treat them exactly as everyone else. Airbrushing character failings just because the person is black or gay, (or black and gay), is not advancing the cause of equality or understanding one iota.
There are totally stupid black people, and totally slobbish boring gay people.
Once we get used to that idea, we can all move on.
Evil James advances the cause of gay equality.
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Thanks for looking in Wesman, and I hope you enjoy the video. James was a really boring "goddy goody" character. But when he suddenly turned evil, as a fictional character, he suddenly became so much more interesting and real. He is bound to come to a seriously awful end. "Coronation Street" is famous for bringing really "bad ends" to their villains
I hope he is on the roof and has a terrible fall. What a little scammer. Robbing his own grandfather! What does he need the money for? Gambling debts?
Hi Austinstar.
I dont know why he's doing it yet, as we have all just discovered he was evil this week. Its early days with this story. If it follows the usual pattern, it will gets a lot worse, and then reach some sort of dramatic climax for the Christmas episode.
Well, you're right about one thing for sure, misguided folks come in all shades and orientations. I've never figured bigotry out. Even growing up I could never understand why I couldn't play with someone who was "different". My mom didn't tolerate folks who were non-WASP and non-Texan. So, as a rebellious teen I deliberately tried to date boys from every race and creed, my family went nuts! But I had a great time.
I still never figured out what was so "different" about them.
One theory I pondered on was we were put here on Earth by aliens and they grew us in different FLAVORS! Someday they'll come back when they're hungry for a little Chinese take out or some spicy Mexican food. Hahahahaha, ponder that one, Earthlings....
Austinstar. I like your ideas, although it intrigues me what I might taste like.
James IS a naughty boy, Christopher, and James Barlow does a bang-up job portraying him. Barlow, BTW, reminds me of the American actor, James Franco (he portrayed Jimmy Dean in a movie about Dean's life).
This was a thoughtful examination of the topic and I enjoyed the read.
You can always coat yourself in some whipped cream or chocolate!
Humans probably taste like pork or chicken. Maybe we'll never know.
Hi drbj.
The really odd thing about that storyline is that the actor playing James is actually the real grandson of the actor playing his grandfather. That must feel very odd to be acting such a part.
Thanks for the compliments. I'm glad you liked it.
Austinstar.
In the old south seas the cannibal word for "missionary" was the same as "long pig", so you might have a point there.
Christopher, as always, I really enjoyed this piece, and I've yet to watch the video but will before I leave this page and it may produce a further comment. Hate is such a bad thing, it took me a few years to learn not to hate any person, but their actions are what I feel is to be hated. Obama is as good an example as one could find, he is a person first and foremost, regardless of color or sexual orientation. He is a living breathing human capable of the same action that we all could be or are. I personally don't care for his actions as president and with that thought, I doubt that given his surroundings that I could do a better job than he is doing other than projecting a more likeable character by simply being more respectful of other folks and their thought process. I think that has caused much of his failings due to people not getting past his actions like the [now] famous double handed crotch salute at Ft. Hood, many went ballistic over that action or lack of action that he will remain in, as the photo is being used still yet today. Like it or not, "Commander in Chief" of the US Military is a title and major part of his job. Being a former active Marine, part of my job was feigning respect for people with more stripes than me and saluting officers. I didn't have to smile or like the officer, I got to think "fukking asshole" while waiting for the return salute and dropping my arm and just shuffle off. He could have made a gesture of presentation while thinking "so what?" that would have furthered his poll ratings of like or not. His job is deception and fooling people just as every other president, the difference is he is allowing judgement in the "now" instead of in the hindsight that most presidents have done in large getting slapped by history evaluations as they build their libraries it seems. So for me their is no color issue or hate of person, it's just lack of respect of who he is and how he conducts himself in the public eye. It really is amazing to me a man who hit the top spot and owns the main stream media, where all but Fox News leans his way is still loosing his toe hold on what I think is and always has been a popularity contest, but this time we have a guy who seems to want instant gratification, after all he had two autobiography books published at [I may be wrong on the age] some 40 years of age, almost like he didn't expect to live this long?
I became aware of gay people while in the military. I'd take a bus that left the Marine bases from 29 Palms with stops at both airbases that were 15 or 20 miles apart, picking up soldiers with nothing to do but stay on base and get drunk or catch the bus to the USO entertainment hall in Hollywood. Where I first went to start my tattoo collection getting 6 in one night. It meant finding out where the tattoo studio was and walking 5 or six blocks to the grouping of 3 or 4 studios. While waiting for the walk light at intersections, men would ask "do you want to come to my apartment and relax?" I remember thinking why would a stranger ask me that out of the blue? I didn't get it, but "no thanks" was taken and that was that. After 6 tattoos and it being 2am I had missed the last bus back to base and the next was at 8 am. I got the deal when waiting for a light walking back to the USO hall when a guy said, "I see you like pain, you want to come to my apartment and I'll tie you down and fukk you in the ass, and give you some more pain". I remember laughing out loud while saying no thanks that was taken as no and no further pick up lines. I still didn't get it until later after getting a 5 dollar room in a flop house across from the USO, in a bare room with a broke down 1950s bed and lamp. It was broke down in the middle and I just laid on top of it with my clothes and boots on. It was when I realized the intent of both of the guys, it hit me like a brick and made me laugh and wonder how many things happened in that broke down bed. I took a serious harassing after spending a night in Hollywood, by the guys who knew already what I just learned. All I can say it was like a guy asking a woman at the enlisted club on base to dance and getting told no, you just moved on to the next. So my introduction to the gay community, I remember as saying no thanks was good enough to get out of the situation, I just thought walking the streets and propositioning people for some butt hole was a weird way for anyone to spend a Friday evening where the military people were prevalent and walking the streets. I think there had to be an element of those who said yes or the actions wouldn't have been so blatant and on every corner.So allowing the military to openly serve isn't adding gays to the military, they are there already, it's just allowing them to broadcast the fact and in the 4 men room barracks they will start trading rooms until they segregate themselves into rooms that they will practice their likes, so I think they should allow men and women the same option of cohabitation with each other. It's free will granted by God in the first place. I just wouldn't want to room in either circumstance where walking in or waking up to people banging each other, they should go to the back seat of their car or town and get a room.
I've gone on too long here, butt nonetheless a stirring article and will vote it up, dusty
Cheers Dusty. I enjoyed your comment. You should edit it and publish it as a hub. I learned a lot from it.
Hi, christopher, well as a person who has dated the whole 'league of nations' black, white, inbetween, indian french, canadian and I think, If I remember correctly, a few Scotsmen, I totally agree! ha ha the one thing that does get my goat, back to edibles! is why on earth do people have to be politically correct to someone who has been in England five minutes, and before they get here are criminals, murderers or just not very nice people, and when they get on the plane they are bad, but when they get off the plane in England, they are the ones in the right and we are wrong? stupid! I used to watch corrie, but gave up on it, it drove me mad in the end, I realised that I hated virtually every single character! whats the point of watching a tv programme when you hate everybody? I think it was jealousy meself! ha ha Gail the turtle kept getting new husbands, how? seriously, great points, nice one! cheers nell
What you say there Nell, is true. We just have good people and bad people, sexuality, and colour have nothing to do with it.
I'm still a "Corrie" fan myself. I find it rather addictive, although I second your remarks about "Gail".
Love this hub. I've been saying this same thing for years but nobody listens to me. LOL. I wish I could get this soap here in the states. Maybe I need to subscribe to more channels. James is not just bad, he is REALLY bad. I love him. LOl. I had the giggles all through this hub. His character is too much. They have him robbing the homeless, stealing from his grandfather, the mortgage company, terrorizing his niece. If it is found out that he is a slob and leaves dirty dishes in the sink, well, then he is Satan incarnated. LOL. As far as Obama, well all of our presidents are idiots. Idiocy is commonplace in American government along with self servitude and that my friend, has no color. I want to hear more of James. Do keep us posted.
Hi Lisa.
Annoyingly, James was written out of Coronation Street, the same week that we found out he was such a bad character. He just left with a snarl. Maybe he might come back into it at some point. I thought there was plenty of mileage left in his story. It is not shown on US television, but if you have cable, it is on some Canadian channels.
Dagnabbit! I was so loving James's character. Maybe if enough people wrote in demanding that he come back they would have to write him back in. They could have at least sent him to prison for his outlandish, dirty deeds.
Actually, you've inspired a good idea. How about we write a screen play for a mostly all gay soap? Portraying all non traditional gay roles. Some characters like James and some just devious, and of course, the stereotypical gays as well. We could portray all of the human characteristics of soaps such as greed, jealousy, ambition, revenge, promiscuity, maternal and paternal cravings, etc. along with dealing with the issues that many gays are faced with politically. My writing partner at the newspaper thinks it's a great idea. What do you think? It would be fun to weave in the ongoing plots and it would be new to America, I think. I don't watch much tv anymore but I'm sure I would have heard if something were out there like this. Just a thought.
Hi lisadpreston.
I think your idea is a good one,and I wopuld like to give it some thought.
I have been offline for a week or so due to a housemove. But I wiil contact you by PM about this when I get a bit more organised.
Oh my, how exciting! You must be soooo busy. Do you love your new home?
lisaadpreston. It is brilliant, but it does involve a lot of work. But I will get it sorted eventually.
Wesman Todd Shaw 10 months ago
Damn. You know I have the overwhelming desire now to know about this British (or would just "U.K." be more appropriate?) teledrama.
I'll certainly watch the video after I have some coffee.
This is wild - you've just sort of . . .forced me into comparing you with Hubpages "feenix," as your position (which I can agree to - about doing a dis service to a group by always painting an individual member of a group as positive in television or otherwise mass media entertainment) here is similar to what his would be. . . .
I'm a member of an outstanding facebook group of thinkers and debaters. . . .and already this morning I've felt prompted to tell a sort of humorous story about the differing cultural attitudes about male homosexuality with "white" America, and Mexican Americans.
Oh I'd tell you the story - no problems there, but I'm trying to think of how I could present it on hubpages without getting massacred by crazy comments.
In any case - CHEERS for tackling such a tough subject!!