Uhm.
I never ever defend Berlusconi (the man is just... well, let's not get me started), but this time I confess I can't see what's wrong about his stupid joke about Obama being "young, handsome, and tanned". I mean: it was totally inappropriate in the context, in the moment, and coming from the leader of a State. The man should stop saying jokes, because they're usually as funny as a hammer blow to your testicles.
BUT the joke per se - what's wrong about it? I mean, if the President of Kenya said that we Italians are handsome and nice but we should get a bit more tanned because we're too pale, I wouldn't really ask for his head on a silver plate. I would laugh, actually.
What I mean is, it's not like a mention to the colour of your skin means racism. It IS possible to joke about the colour of your skin (or the shape of your nose, or your height, nationality, sex, religion, sexual orientation, literary taste, etc. etc.) without necessarily meaning you're an inferior race or whatever. Or isn't it?
(Says a girl from a Country that suffers from the heaviest stereotypical jokes/prejudices in the world and always took it - we DO take it - with a laugh.)
PS. Of course he's an ass, because he's been told he was offensive and he didn't take it back as he was supposed to, and that's just awful. But I think the intention wasn't really offensive.
BUT the joke per se - what's wrong about it? I mean, if the President of Kenya said that we Italians are handsome and nice but we should get a bit more tanned because we're too pale, I wouldn't really ask for his head on a silver plate. I would laugh, actually.
What I mean is, it's not like a mention to the colour of your skin means racism. It IS possible to joke about the colour of your skin (or the shape of your nose, or your height, nationality, sex, religion, sexual orientation, literary taste, etc. etc.) without necessarily meaning you're an inferior race or whatever. Or isn't it?
(Says a girl from a Country that suffers from the heaviest stereotypical jokes/prejudices in the world and always took it - we DO take it - with a laugh.)
PS. Of course he's an ass, because he's been told he was offensive and he didn't take it back as he was supposed to, and that's just awful. But I think the intention wasn't really offensive.