A protester outside ABC studios
in New York makes clear what she
thinks of a recent
segment on Jimmy Kimmel Live, in
whicha child
suggested 'killing everyone
in China.'
'Racist' Jimmy Kimmel Skit Damages America and Hurts Chinese
(People's Daily, China)
Chinese around the United States and across the world are
expressing consternation over a recent Jimmy
Kimmel Live segment, during which in answering a question from the host
about what should be done about America's massive debt to China, one of the youngsters
suggested ' kill everyone in China.' This People's Daily editorial takes ABC
Entertainment to task, and says the United States harms not only Chinese
people, but its own efforts to strength America as a multiracial society.
BEIJING:
Nearly a month after airing a racist talk show skit which has enraged Chinese
people in America and around the world, the American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
has issued a formal apology on its Web site [Actually, there is no sign
whatsoever on ABC Web site. It appears that an actual letter being quoted, sent
by Lisa Berger, ABC Entertainment’s executive vice president, who oversees the Jimmy Kimmel Live show, to the 80-20 Political Action Committee,
a pan-Asian-American political organization founded by Delaware Lieutenant Governor
ShienBiau Woo]:
"We
offer our sincere apology. We would never purposefully broadcast anything to
upset the Chinese community, Asian community, anyone of Chinese descent or any
community at large. Our objective is to entertain. We took swift action to
minimize the distribution of the skit by removing it from all public platforms
available to us and editing it out of any future airings of the show. We hope
our actions and our apology effectively address your concerns. Thank you for
bringing this to our attention."
On
ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live, one child
suggested that a solution to the U.S. sovereign debt crisis would be to
"kill everyone in China," and another suggested putting up a huge
wall around China [watch below].
As
the broadcaster promises, a senseless and foolish episode like this would and
should never happen again. Offensive words like these not only hurt the
feelings of all Chinese people, but damage the interests of America itself. As
a multi-racial nation comprised of a melting pot of immigrants from around the
world, such remarks do no good for the country's own social cohesiveness.
If
racist comments are allowed to put on a public display the way the ABC program did,
there is a risk of a resurgence of racism. Any minority like Chinese Americans
could be targeted by various forms of discrimination.
If
mainstream U.S. media outlets are serious about the future of their country,
they will avoid a repeat of ABC's error.
Through
hard work over many generations, Chinese Americans now have higher education
and income level than average Americans, but their tiny share of the overall
population makes them easy targets for racism.
On
the other hand, some observers suggest that racism against Chinese has to do
with the lack of self-confidence among certain Americans who see China's rapid
social and economic progress as a threat.
To
dispel such misunderstandings, media outlets in both nations should promote
good will and trust between the two peoples, especially among the younger
generation.
Demonizing
the other side or fanning racism is the least desirable thing to do. It not
only poisons one of the world's most important bilateral relationships on which
much of the world's prosperity depends, but it hinders the process of building
a new form of great power relationship between the world's two largest
economies
ABC's Apology Fails
to Appease Chinese Americans
After
the apology, the 80-20 Political Action Committee expressed its dissatisfaction
with ABC's apology over the inappropriate handling of remarks by children on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Hong Kong's Sing Tao Daily reports.
80-20 Founder and Delaware Lieutenant Governor ShienBiau Woo advised Chinese Americans to learn from the Jews about
preserving their rights. Woo called on U.S.-based Chinese to donate to a fund,
in order to help the group uphold their rights.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
Tim
McNeal, Vice President of Talent Development & Diversity at the Disney ABC
Television Group, intended to have Jimmy Kimmel Live's
producer apologize to Woo in person, but Woo reportedly insisted on a written
apology, according to Sing Tao.
Woo
noted that the issue could be resolved if Chinese Americans agreed that the
apology letter is sincere. If not, Woo thinks ABC should make further apologies
through other TV networks and the Internet.
Carl
Chan, member of Asian Americans for Political Advancement, said that ABC's
apology through its own TV network alone was an obvious sign of insincerity. Chan
urged ABC to apologize to Chinese by other means. He added the program host
Jimmy Kimmel should also apologize in person.
