If Forrest Williams was genuinely offended, a phone call to him, apologizing personally, would have been quite sufficient. The word “slavish” simply isn’t racist. Hell, we’re all descended from slaves, some of us just more recently than others.
Hundred of thousands of Irish and Scots were forcibly (meaning against their will) deported to work (without wages) on sugar plantations in the Caribbean, during the 17th and 18th centuries. That most public school history textbooks refer to all White slaves as “indentured servants” is largely irrelevant, as no one opted to be shipped out to work without wages in a Barbados sugar plantation. If you’re forced, at gunpoint, to work without wages, you’re a slave. The fact some actual indentured servants really did come to the 13 colonies of America, and had to work off their travel costs, is a separate narrative. And yet those people were also very harshly mistreated, generally had to work much longer than any fair accounting of the cost of their transshipment could justify, and were usually ripped off at the end of their “term of service,” when the tools and other supplies they were supposed to receive upon their manumission turned out to be much less than promised. By any reasonable historical standard, these people were slaves, as they could be sold, whipped and otherwise physically punished for “crimes” such as insolence, and could be arrested for leaving their place of work. And most White Americans are partially descended from such folk.
For that matter, slavery has existed in every country, at various times. Anthropologists & historians consider this a truism. Slavery has even been called “the natural state of Man.” You guys are the people who need to pick up a few more books, I daresay. I’ve read hundred of books on history, and I haven’t said anything that’s controversial, outside of ignorant laymens’ circles, with all due respect.
It would be appropriate for Eric Johnson to apologize, as well. When someone expressed concern with the use of that word last week, Eric responded by labeling anyone who was offended as pathetic. Seemed pretty tone deaf at the time. Hopefully in retrospect Eric agrees.
For the moderator of a blog that attempts to encourage civil dialogue, it seems odd that he would resort to labeling and insults, especially while defending reference to an African American as a slave.
When I first learned of this controversy, I could not believe that anyone was genuinely offended. I really believed it was a cynical political ploy. That’s what I characterized as pathetic. In hindsight, I regret my response.
I respect Mr. Williams, as I do anyone who devotes himself or herself to pubic service, regardless of whether I agree with them. I apologize to him and to anyone else who was offended.
Thank you Eric. It takes a person with integrity to re-examine their behavior and to admit when they are wrong. I thank God for giving me a big enough throat to swallow my pride and own up to my mistakes. Bravo for your integrity and apology.
I think Forrest Williams should not let Pulcrano off the hook so easily.
> “It was a mistake, and it was insensitive,. . . .
> “We apologize to Mr. Williams and to anyone we may have offended.”
Pulcrano committied the two capital offenses of Political Correctness:
1. He was “insensitive”;
2. He “may have offended”.
Boy! Talk about a public menace.
Williams should demand that Pulcrano wriggle around on his belly like a legless salamander, and slurp maggots with his tongue off of piles of horse manure.
We must come together as a community and make sure this type of obnoxious, anti-social behavior is appropriately dealt with and stopped before it spins out of control.
Who knows? Next thing you know, Pulcrano might be questioning Williams’ preference for melons. OOOOOPS!
This was the best thing that has happened to Forrest’s campaign since the primary. He can’t get any publicity except to be mentioned in the endorsements of his opponent. But, now he got an apology and the endorsement for his opponent will be reprinted for a second time.
Who is running his campaign—Mike Wasserman?
Yes, I’m sure they meant it as a racist pun. We all know how bigoted The Metro is, right? I’m surprised they haven’t burned any crosses out on First Street.
I am glad Mr Pulcrano apologized to Forrest Williams yesterday. That reporter understands the importance of being neutral in an election, even if his employer may not.
I have read the Metro for years, and I remember when it represented fairness and honesty in journalism. It represented the middle class, not just the top 2%.
Anyone with a high school degree knows the importance of proper writing and wording when covering politics, religion, and the news.
I get the impression the Metro may be supporting Wasserman, and as George Lakoff says, “the media controls the message”.
What happened to the progressive, middle class media? I guess all we are left with is the Monterey Coast Weekley now.
> It represented the middle class, not just the top 2%.
What??!!
A give-away newspaper with feature stories on music genres and “bands” with no known fans, and ads for tattoo parlors, head shops and massage therapists represents the top 2%???
Why, the top 2% of give-away newspapers with feature stories on music genres and “bands” with no known fans, and ads for tattoo parlors, head shops and massage therapists.
Thank you Metro and BRAVO for setting a good example for other medias!
If Forrest Williams was genuinely offended, a phone call to him, apologizing personally, would have been quite sufficient. The word “slavish” simply isn’t racist. Hell, we’re all descended from slaves, some of us just more recently than others.
What the hell do you mean we’re all descended from slaves?
kevin we are not all descended from slaves, read some history, dude…
the Irish and Scots were never slaves
Hundred of thousands of Irish and Scots were forcibly (meaning against their will) deported to work (without wages) on sugar plantations in the Caribbean, during the 17th and 18th centuries. That most public school history textbooks refer to all White slaves as “indentured servants” is largely irrelevant, as no one opted to be shipped out to work without wages in a Barbados sugar plantation. If you’re forced, at gunpoint, to work without wages, you’re a slave. The fact some actual indentured servants really did come to the 13 colonies of America, and had to work off their travel costs, is a separate narrative. And yet those people were also very harshly mistreated, generally had to work much longer than any fair accounting of the cost of their transshipment could justify, and were usually ripped off at the end of their “term of service,” when the tools and other supplies they were supposed to receive upon their manumission turned out to be much less than promised. By any reasonable historical standard, these people were slaves, as they could be sold, whipped and otherwise physically punished for “crimes” such as insolence, and could be arrested for leaving their place of work. And most White Americans are partially descended from such folk.
For that matter, slavery has existed in every country, at various times. Anthropologists & historians consider this a truism. Slavery has even been called “the natural state of Man.” You guys are the people who need to pick up a few more books, I daresay. I’ve read hundred of books on history, and I haven’t said anything that’s controversial, outside of ignorant laymens’ circles, with all due respect.
I knew it.
Metro equals straight up, stone cold bunch of racists.
How many people of color who are making a salary work at Metro?
Nothing less than a complete and full ethnic, religious, and gender accounting of salaried workers at Metro will do.
I hope you’re joking. Its hard to tell, these days.
It would be appropriate for Eric Johnson to apologize, as well. When someone expressed concern with the use of that word last week, Eric responded by labeling anyone who was offended as pathetic. Seemed pretty tone deaf at the time. Hopefully in retrospect Eric agrees.
For the moderator of a blog that attempts to encourage civil dialogue, it seems odd that he would resort to labeling and insults, especially while defending reference to an African American as a slave.
When I first learned of this controversy, I could not believe that anyone was genuinely offended. I really believed it was a cynical political ploy. That’s what I characterized as pathetic. In hindsight, I regret my response.
I respect Mr. Williams, as I do anyone who devotes himself or herself to pubic service, regardless of whether I agree with them. I apologize to him and to anyone else who was offended.
maybe johnson wants wasserman to win, more free bottles of french wine for eric, si??
Thank you Eric. It takes a person with integrity to re-examine their behavior and to admit when they are wrong. I thank God for giving me a big enough throat to swallow my pride and own up to my mistakes. Bravo for your integrity and apology.
I think Forrest Williams should not let Pulcrano off the hook so easily.
> “It was a mistake, and it was insensitive,. . . .
> “We apologize to Mr. Williams and to anyone we may have offended.”
Pulcrano committied the two capital offenses of Political Correctness:
1. He was “insensitive”;
2. He “may have offended”.
Boy! Talk about a public menace.
Williams should demand that Pulcrano wriggle around on his belly like a legless salamander, and slurp maggots with his tongue off of piles of horse manure.
We must come together as a community and make sure this type of obnoxious, anti-social behavior is appropriately dealt with and stopped before it spins out of control.
Who knows? Next thing you know, Pulcrano might be questioning Williams’ preference for melons. OOOOOPS!
here’s my apology.
I am really sorry, you may very well be bigot too.
Words do have meaning dude, think about it,
before you espeak.
> Words do have meaning dude, think about it,
before you espeak.
Ok. Thought about it.
Good news! I’m not a bigot.
What did you conclude when you thought about your bigotry?
I concluded that we don’t know that you’re not a bigot.
This was the best thing that has happened to Forrest’s campaign since the primary. He can’t get any publicity except to be mentioned in the endorsements of his opponent. But, now he got an apology and the endorsement for his opponent will be reprinted for a second time.
Who is running his campaign—Mike Wasserman?
Dan Pulcrano, the new Jimmy The Greek?
Mr. Williams’ handlers will surely get as much mileage as they can over this gaffe. It’s about the only ink he’ll get, and rightly so.
Yes, I’m sure they meant it as a racist pun. We all know how bigoted The Metro is, right? I’m surprised they haven’t burned any crosses out on First Street.
I am glad Mr Pulcrano apologized to Forrest Williams yesterday. That reporter understands the importance of being neutral in an election, even if his employer may not.
I have read the Metro for years, and I remember when it represented fairness and honesty in journalism. It represented the middle class, not just the top 2%.
Anyone with a high school degree knows the importance of proper writing and wording when covering politics, religion, and the news.
I get the impression the Metro may be supporting Wasserman, and as George Lakoff says, “the media controls the message”.
What happened to the progressive, middle class media? I guess all we are left with is the Monterey Coast Weekley now.
> It represented the middle class, not just the top 2%.
What??!!
A give-away newspaper with feature stories on music genres and “bands” with no known fans, and ads for tattoo parlors, head shops and massage therapists represents the top 2%???
Top 2% of what???
> Top 2% of what???
Silly question.
Why, the top 2% of give-away newspapers with feature stories on music genres and “bands” with no known fans, and ads for tattoo parlors, head shops and massage therapists.
Well played, Forrest. Now that a precedence has been set at the Metro, more of us can utilize this tool again before November.