Rosie O'Donnell recently made headlines by using the phrase 'ching chong' while speaking in mock Chinese tones last week. The clip of the incident was posted on YouTube.com and on numerous blogs. Almost immediately, Asian groups demanded an apology for what they deemed offensive. As it's become customary, O'Donnell responded to those groups by providing a backhanded apology several days later
'So apparently 'ching-chong,' unbeknownst to me, is a very offensive way to make fun, quote unquote, or mock, Asian accents. Some people have told me it's as bad as the n-word. I was like, 'Really? I didn't know that.' Didn't know that? O'Donnell apparently thinks it's appropriate to speak like a five year-old. I've only heard children use this 'language.' Children are excused because their minds cannot often grasp multiple languages but O'Donnell, who has a national platform and uses it to consistently express her 'views' on equality, should know better. It was only last month that O'Donnell overreacted and misconstrued a statement made by Kelly Ripa. The incident occurred on Live with Regis and Kelly in which the guest host, Clay Aiken, covered Ripa's mouth, prompting Ripa to joke that she didn't know where his hand had been. O'Donnell blasted Ripa for making what O'Donnell felt was a homophobic comment.
Hypocrite?
There was no merit for O'Donnell's accusation. How unforgiving Rosie can be of people who crack jokes about issues that are part of her agenda! O'Donnell apparently lives in a place where people who speak Cantonese and Mandarin only live in China. Chinese-Americans don't fit in her general circle of friend or associates.
Taking no responsibility, O'Donnell said she was 'sorry for those people who felt hurt or were teased on the playground' and warned, 'there's a good chance that I'll do something like that again.' Again? When? Who will it be directed towards this time?
It is going to be even harder to take Rosie O'Donnell seriously, especially when she points the finger at the right wing or Christian conservatives because you can't be intolerant of one act of oppression and excuse another
The camera panned over to the audience to find two Asian women who agreed with Rosie O'Donnell, 'C'mon! It was funny, wasn't it?' Just remember: It probably isn't funny when someone uses the word 'faggot' or 'dyke' to accentuate his or her punch line.
