Dov Hikind is a Very Odd Duck
(This is a post I made on Facebook earlier today)
Holy hell what is wrong with people?
I am one of those who believe that the best of people can do something racist and not be a racist. They feel and express true remorse for what they did/said.
New York Assemblyman Dov Hikind I’m not so sure about. He decided to dress as a black basketball player at a Purim party held at his home. He wore black face. Let’s sit with that one a moment. Blackface. As in Al Jolson and old timey minstrel shows.
He finally issued an apology today, "I am sincerely sorry that I have hurt anyone. I apologize for the pain that I have caused anyone by this incident, and by any remarks that I have made in connection with it". Personally I found it a bit anemic in the face of all some of the statements he made before
Let's take a look of some his other statements since the story broke. These are all direct quotes:
From his official blog in a post (that is still up) entitled, "It's Purim. People Dress Up, "I am intrigued that anyone who understands Purim-or for that matter understands me-would have a problem with this. This is political correctness to the absurd. There is not a prejudiced bone in my body.
He told local radio news 880 WCBS, "“If I was black, on Purim I would have made my face look like I was white"
On the Internet talk show the assemblyman said, "Maybe I would be a gay person on -- by the way, would that be OK, Zev? If I played a gay person next year?"
And Finally a direct quote he made that was reported in today's New York Times, "Next year I was thinking I’d be an Indian,” he said. “But you know, I’ve changed my mind about that. I don’t think that’s a good idea. Somebody will be offended.”
You can never truly know what is in someone heart and mind but I'm sensing that despite his apology, he still doesn't get why people were offended by his donning blackface.
Ho-ly Hell, what is wrong with people?
Holy hell what is wrong with people?
I am one of those who believe that the best of people can do something racist and not be a racist. They feel and express true remorse for what they did/said.
New York Assemblyman Dov Hikind I’m not so sure about. He decided to dress as a black basketball player at a Purim party held at his home. He wore black face. Let’s sit with that one a moment. Blackface. As in Al Jolson and old timey minstrel shows.
He finally issued an apology today, "I am sincerely sorry that I have hurt anyone. I apologize for the pain that I have caused anyone by this incident, and by any remarks that I have made in connection with it". Personally I found it a bit anemic in the face of all some of the statements he made before
Let's take a look of some his other statements since the story broke. These are all direct quotes:
From his official blog in a post (that is still up) entitled, "It's Purim. People Dress Up, "I am intrigued that anyone who understands Purim-or for that matter understands me-would have a problem with this. This is political correctness to the absurd. There is not a prejudiced bone in my body.
He told local radio news 880 WCBS, "“If I was black, on Purim I would have made my face look like I was white"
On the Internet talk show the assemblyman said, "Maybe I would be a gay person on -- by the way, would that be OK, Zev? If I played a gay person next year?"
And Finally a direct quote he made that was reported in today's New York Times, "Next year I was thinking I’d be an Indian,” he said. “But you know, I’ve changed my mind about that. I don’t think that’s a good idea. Somebody will be offended.”
You can never truly know what is in someone heart and mind but I'm sensing that despite his apology, he still doesn't get why people were offended by his donning blackface.
Ho-ly Hell, what is wrong with people?