Comments on: Why Do They Call It The Great Northeast?

By: rory

rory — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:18:05 +0000

Robert,

right after getting mad about self-righteousness, a little bit of self-righteousness yourself coupled with some offensive terms? Stay classy.

Someone utters one of those words in a conversation, that conversation is now over. Good job.

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 30 May 2008 00:30:49 +0000

BTW, Rory, no word is toxic. Be it NIGGER, KIKE, CRACKER, SPIC or the like. Not a single word or statement is toxic.

Forgive me if I’m stretching here, but it goes in the same vain as “Ceci n’est pas une pipe.”

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 30 May 2008 00:26:18 +0000

God bless Free Speech and Free Expression, huh, just as long as the other party’s speech doesn’t offend you. Then everything is ‘love and roses’. Typical liberal drivel… much like that foamy saliva that collects in the corner of Ed Rendell’s mouth when he speaks.

Get off your high horse, you pompous ass. Self-righteousness is so wrong.

Don Russell should stick with beer or report more black on black crime for a newspaper that’s no better than what I use to wipe my ass with.

If Don went to a Sixers game and sold a black guy wearing a t-shirt from Lou & Choo’s Lounge on Hunting Park Ave with a vaguely racist pun about ol’ Whitey, Don wouldn’t have batted an eyelash about it.

Stick to beer, Joe, stick to beer.

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 20 May 2008 20:24:42 +0000

Mike said : “I argued that there’s a qualitative difference between a business with an active policy of exclusion – that wears racism literally on its sleeve – and one that is in the words of Laban “unfortunately named”. In the latter case, there is no exclusionary policy and no intent of malice”

Very well said Mike. It was the founders nickname – like it or not. A successful business should be able to keep the name its had for decades. Don’t like it? Don’t go there. I see no evidence that anyone would be denied service in there based on ethnicity. Some of you really need to grow up – by creating a silly controversy where there was none you harm the very cause you claim to support.
BTW, I tried one of their cheesesteaks for the first time recently, and I have to say – it was among the best I’ve ever had. I’ll be back!

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:52:55 +0000

I didn’t argue that the term itself is inoffensive (though I think you and Ms. Henri overestimate the degree to which it offends (I haven’t heard that pejorative uttered since elementary school 30 years ago)).

I argued that there’s a qualitative difference between a business with an active policy of exclusion – that wears racism literally on its sleeve – and one that is in the words of Laban “unfortunately named”. In the latter case, there is no exclusionary policy and no intent of malice

By: rory

rory — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:37:37 +0000

Mike,

No, that’s not true. The term itself is bad. Would a shirt that reads “I love k*kes” or “Fan of N*****”, etc. be appropriate? of course not. the term is toxic, regardless of message (except, MAYBE, when used to ironically subvert the word.

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 13:53:47 +0000

When Chink’s prints T-shirts that say “No Chinks Allowed”, you’ll have a case. Until then, there’s simply no equivalence

There are plenty of actual outrages to get upset about. Charging malice where there is none makes one look silly, at best.

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 23:11:48 +0000

You sorta had me till the end: “Of course, Northeast Philadelphia seems to support it wholeheartedly, since it’s still in business and still named Chink’s even after this hubbub started back in 2004…” It’s acceptable to paint the Northeast with the same racist brush, just because you grew up there and managed to escape to Center City? That smacks of smug elitism to me.

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:11:32 +0000

An important topic, without question. But, is this what Foobooz is turning into?

By: tanglethis

tanglethis — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:39:11 +0000

I’m never impressed by the “we’re taking PC too far” argument. It’s too conveniently vague… How far is far enough? How bad does a racist slur have to be before you call people out for it?

Why not try this instead: eat at Chink’s if you’re not offended; don’t eat there if you are. But don’t justify yourself by telling other people that they shouldn’t be offended. It’s always worthwhile to think carefully about the ways we (subtly or not-so-subtly) condone racism.

By: G

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:36:12 +0000

The “Greater Northeast” is such a misnomer. One area of the City comprises approximately 1/3 of the City’s entire land mass. Of course you will find racist assholes there, just like you will in S. Philly, and in N. Philly and in W. Philly, and in CC (they just cover it up better), and in NW Philly–catch my drift? They’re everywhere. Now, the NE also has some of the most diverse population you’ll find in comparison to most of the rest of the City. Where else in the City will you find good, authentic, German sausage? Where will you find the best Brazilian restaurants? Where else will you find really good, hidden secrets such as Casa Del Dolce, arguably one of the best Italian bakeries in the City, even if everyone else runs to S Philly because of long held traditions and beliefs? The rest of us know better. Where will you find a grocery such as Dattilo’s, with similar goods to the old DiBruno’s and a butcher, and cheaper prices? Where will you find, anywhere else in the City, a place like Bell’s Market, where you can get all manner of European, *especially* Eastern European goods? Answer…NOWHERE ELSE IN THE CITY! So give it a rest once in a while. So Chink’s isn’t a name that you would give to a business nowadays. It is a pretty old business concern, AND there was a game we played with a ball when we were kids, a variation of wall-ball, called chinks, because of the sound the ball made. I had also heard that the original owner was named that because he played that game a lot.
I
I have no excuse for the moron in the stupid shirt. But I do think we are taking PC just a little too far.

By: rory

rory — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:21:05 +0000

While Ch*nks is downright offensive (and the story of the owner’s nickname being “chink” doesn’t make it much better necessarily), I’d argue that the shirt is even worse. It’s one thing to call one’s shop an offensive term and make good (I’m told) cheesesteaks there. It’s on another level to produce a shirt that tells black people they can’t come in.

Both obviously should change, and you’re right to call food writers on condoning one and denouncing the other– I just wouldn’t equate the two.

By: Goober

Goober — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:20:57 +0000

Spectacular job missing the point completely, John. Ignorance is bliss.

If you don’t like what’s written on this blog, THAN DO NOT COME AND READ IT. THE BLOG DOES NOT NOT NEED YOU

By: Joe T

Joe T — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:14:27 +0000

I find the name “Kirsten Henri” offensive.

By: John

John — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:05:08 +0000

If you hate the northeast, THAN DO NOT COME AND VISIT US. WE DO NOT NEED YOU