Halle Berry's 'Jewish Nose' Joke Cut From 'Leno' Tonight Show; Berry Apologetic

I thought anti-semitism was racism, the Jewish race.

And from all of what she said she was repeating a joke her "Jewish" assistant had just made moments earlier. Either the comment is anti-semitic or not, no matter who says it.

If a black person says all black people speak broken English, that is just as racist and ignorant as if a white person said it.

Lastly it was a joke. A joke her Jewish friend had just told moment earlier. A joke which may be considered by some, like virtually all jokes, to be in poor taste. She did state that all Jews have big noses, which is the equivilent of the racist statement made by the "good Doctor" when stating his "scientific" opinion that blacks are not as intelligent as whites.

It's odd that some thought the "joke" was racist but not the racist idea that she'd lose her "career in Hollywood" for making a Jewish joke, as if the stereotype that the Jews run Hollywood were true.

Again as I did state... the joke was certainly in poor taste, I'm not defending what she said. Yet it was a joke, merely repeating what was just told to her by her Jewish assistant. I'll assume you feel the Jewish friend was just as wrong you claim Berry and the scientist to be, since you didn't mention her. Is the Jewish assistant racist/anti-semitic?

Most importantly, the only difference I was pointing out between Berry & the assistant versus the scientist is that he was stating that the position as his personal belief and scientific opinion and then presenting it also as if it were a fact, in addition to purposely hurtful words, not a slip of the tongue, not a misstatement, not an error in judgment. I was happy to see that he "expressed" remorse as well, yet he has a history of such statements. There is a difference.

...their intelligence is the same as ours...

While he hopes everyone is equal, "people who have to deal with black employees find this is not true," ....

"If you could find the gene which determines sexuality and a woman decides she doesn't want a homosexual child, well, let her."

And the his beliefs and his scientific theory is not supported by science:

In the United States, the Federation of American Scientists said it was outraged that Watson "chose to use his unique stature to promote personal prejudices that are racist, vicious and unsupported by science."

His co-chair has known his for close to 40 years and called the man a disgrace...

Mike Botchan, co-chair of the molecular and cell biology department at the University of California, Berkeley, who's known Watson since 1970, said the Nobelist's personal beliefs are less important than the impact of what he says. "I think Jim Watson is now essentially a disgrace to his own legacy. And it's very sad for me to say this, because he's one of the great figures of 20th century biology."

Agree.

FYI - Michael Richards was not telling jokes.

Actually, he wasn't. I've watched a dozen times like most people. That's why most call it "angry tirade". Richards said as much himself, which is why he apologized. How soon we forget.

He called two black hecklers the "n-word" and enthusiastically referenced a time when blacks were often victims of civil rights abuses, but Michael Richards said his verbal barrage during a stand-up routine was fueled by anger and not bigotry.

I'm curious as to which part was the joke? Help me out here:

Richards[1][8] shouting "Shut up" at an audience member, followed by "He's a @!$%#!" to the rest of the audience[9] (using the word at 6 times altogether), and also making a reference to lynching [10] He was addressing a group of black hecklers.[11] by saying "50 years ago you would have been hanging upside down with a pitchfork up your ass" to a black audience member.

The only point that I keep disputing with you is that Richards' rant was not an out of place joke. The quoted text above was actual transcript, but in addition I also quoted Richards himself saying it was not comedy but anger.

Michael Richards said his verbal barrage during a stand-up routine was fueled by anger

That is a completely different discussion as to whether any comedian uses in the n-word in jokes or tells racist jokes, which I don't think any comedian, actor, or otherwise should, and Berry comments fall into that category, an inappropriate joke.

Ditto.

I usually don't have high expectations of having such a civil discussion when opinions differ. To be honest, I try not to comment in discussions of race and religion. I find a good discussion to jump in periodically but as you say people are generally so rude and arrogant, that it's not worth my time.

Enjoyed. Next time...