LOCAL church gains favor with God, prays for heathen Jews." Yom Kippur Services, St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 6:15 p.m.
The preceding lines constituted the Oct. 8 entry in the calendar of last week's issue of The Declaration (Oct. 5). Clearly, this was intended to be a joke. Arguably, it isn't very funny. Humor issues aside, these lines are offensive and the University community should not tolerate them.
Reading these lines bothered me in two ways. As a Jew, I took some personal offense that people of my faith were being referred to as "heathen." As a student at the University, I wondered what this said about our attitudes towards races, cultures and religions that are in the minority. We need not become slaves to political correctness, but we have an obligation to show respect for, or at the very least refrain from disparaging, people of different groups.
My roommate, coming from a different perspective, took offense to the calendar entry too. As a University student, he thought that the line wasn't very funny and seemed to suggest a lack of tolerance for other groups. Moreover, as a Catholic, he was bothered that the line suggested that the Catholic church and Catholics viewed Jews as "heathens." He was concerned that some people might be misled and that they would assume that the line was a joke directed at such a Catholic stance.
Taste is a personal issue, whether regarding one's likes and dislikes, or what you consider to be offensive or tolerable. The line between good and bad taste often is hard to distinguish objectively. This is true especially when examining humor. We shouldn't have to refrain from attempting to make any jokes out of fear that they will offend someone. We shouldn't all have to become stiff, humorless, and Al Gore-like just to be certain that we are being PC. We need to recognize however, the importance of discretion, and how vital it can be.
In an e-mail response, Declaration Executive Editor Stephen Breton states, "I don't know who the specific writer was for that particular entry, but he or she obviously saw the irony of holding Jewish services in a Catholic church in light of their sharp historical and religious differences, and made a joke about it."
Plainly there is some irony in Jewish services being held in a Catholic church. Some people can find humor in this occurrence. It is not, by definition, in poor taste to make a joke about this situation, or others involving religious groups. However, this does not mean that we have carte blanche with our wits. In this particular case, the "joke" seems more out to provoke a response. Perhaps the author tried to walk the fine line of cutting edge humor but he or she failed and fell off the cliff of bad taste. Little was added to its humorous by inserting the word "heathen," and much was lost.
In all probability, the particular author of this joke probably did not set out to disparage or offend. That does not mean that he or she did not offend and is not responsible for his or her words. Breton comments that, "In this case, I don't believe there was any injury intended or done." We have no reason to doubt the intent, but you should decide for yourself if you believe any injury was done. I, for one, have taken offense.
Of course we do not need to start a "good taste" police to patrol around Grounds eavesdropping for any and all comments and jokes that are offensive or in poor taste. However, when it comes to publishing in a newspaper or newsmagazine, there is a higher standard to be answered to. The editors and/or board review all that is published in advance. According to Breton, the entire staff of The Declaration reads over the calendar page every Tuesday evening. This newsmagazine has a responsibility for all that it prints.
The First Amendment certainly protects freedom of speech and of the press. Yet, this does not mean that there are no restrictions on what can be said or printed. One is not allowed to scream "fire" in a crowded theater or print false or libelous information. The Declaration's right to print such "jokes" may be constitutionally protected, but this doesn't forbid us from critical analysis of them. We are not required to tolerate offensive remarks and we are not forbidden from voicing criticism. It is only through active, involved members that we can maintain a diverse and tolerant community.
When statements such as this one come along, don't put up with them. Voice complaint. Write to editors. Take action.
(Benjamin Grosz is a Cavalier Daily viewpoint writer.)
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