This was a Red Bull advertisement that was airing in South Africa. I say "was", because it has since been pulled after complaints from both Christian and Muslim organizations in the country, claiming that it insulted their faith.
I don't listen to Glenn Beck's radio show. I only hear about it second hand. So, it's usually when he only says something incredibly stupid that I get wind of it. Last Tuesday was one of those times.
On his August 30 radio show, Beck was reflecting on his travels while on his "Restoring Courage" rally in Israel. While doing so, he said he felt "ridiculously stupid" using the term "African American" when referring to black people when in Africa, South America, Europe and in Jerusalem. He asked his co-host, Pat Gray, "Now how can people be one thing in one country, and nowhere else in the world?" (Because they're not American, dumbass.)
He went on to specifically cite South Africa as an example of how it should be, perhaps, saying, "In South Africa, it's black and colored. And, it's not a bad thing." It appears to me that Beck has forgotten about a little thing in South Africa called Apartheid. Until April 1994, "colored" South Africans didn't have the right to vote. Many were not even considered legal citizens of the country. The civil rights movement there was much different than that of the U.S. in the mid-60s. There were no picket signs and fire hoses. Millions of people were cast out to shanty towns, while South Africa's whites lived in luxury. Those that protested were often killed. I'm sure if the black population in South Africa could think of an alternate label to affix to themselves, after the history their people in the last century, they would probably create one.
He then attacked the nation's African American population, insinuating that they weren't "proud to be an American" by not referring to themselves as "black" or "colored". How dare he! If any ethnicity in this nation has the right to label themselves, it would be the one who was forced to immigrate to this country. The one that was sold and bred like cattle. The people that, as a group, were not allowed to eat in a restaurant, go to a theater or have any say in the political arena until 46 years ago. Oh, but they're not proud to be Americans. They're more American than you'll ever be, Glenn Beck. Audio of the broadcast is below.
38, queer, poly, happily married punk and stay at home dad to my five-year-old, Elle. In June of 2009, I was diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome, and PTSD a month later. I have been on disability since. In recent months, I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia,Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Sjogren's Syndrome, a Chiari malformation, small fiber neuropathy, Type 1 Diabetes, and have a massive benign cyst in my brain. And, to top it all off, I was diagnosed with lupus in March of 2014.
I haven't been writing as often as I would like to lately. Trying to catch up on some lost time. Please forgive me.
I'm an anarchist and an atheist. My political views are too far left to even be considered Democrat. I believe that marriage and health care are fundamental human rights. And don't get me started on people calling themselves "pro-life", and denying education and food stamps to children.
