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Post by Static on Jul 27, 2005 9:29:31 GMT -5
Static makes his return to the debate forum. I don't think this'll be much of an argument, but I figure I'll get some opinions anyway.
This is in regard to the recent controversy surrounding the WWE wrestler, Muhammed Hassan. Hassan's character in the WWE was that he was an Arab American who wanted to improve America by lessening racism, with the help of his manager, Daivari. Hassan was portrayed as a bad guy, and one of the other aspects of his character was that he was an arrogant jerk. Anyway, instead of booing him, the crowd chants "USA" at him. One common sign that audience members hold reads "Daivari 7:11".
On the day of the London bombings, WWE was taping an episode of its Smackdown show in which Hassan and Daivari were aided by men in masks (From what I've heard, none of them were actually Arab). It aired 2 days later with a disclaimer on it, and it eventually led UPN, which hosts the Smackdown show, to ban Hassan from their network. SpikeTV, which hosts the WWE's other show, RAW, also didn't want Hassan on their network. As a result, the WWE had to change the storyline so that Hassan was "killed" at a pay-per-view, likely to return later as a different character with a different gimmick.
So, any thoughts on this?
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Post by Elfie on Jul 27, 2005 13:34:44 GMT -5
Wrestling sucks?
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(LK)
Artificer
Posts: 733
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Post by (LK) on Jul 27, 2005 13:52:13 GMT -5
very dumb, that's all i can say. Yep, that's all.
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Post by Static on Jul 27, 2005 19:58:01 GMT -5
I'm not a huge wrestling fan, I mainly just watch when my friends put it on and listen to them complain about it. Really, I think it's dumb. They should just let Hassan be.
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Post by Elfie on Jul 27, 2005 22:34:54 GMT -5
I'll say this: he has excellent grounds to file a claim for wrongful dismissal.
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Post by SuperBassX84 on Jul 27, 2005 23:14:25 GMT -5
Assuming they actually dismissed him, that is. It's possible (and very likely, if he's any good), that they'll just bring him back as another character.
It is, however, extremely stupid. It's frekkin' entertainment. Yes, it's probably in bad taste, but who is any of us to judge? UPN and SpikeTV do have the option of taking action, but banning someone from your network because of the style of entertainment? That's lame. It's not even like he's done it repeatedly, like Stern, he's just a character based on controversy.
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Post by devo2 on Jul 28, 2005 0:44:28 GMT -5
In the midst of the Cold War, when the USSR had enough nuclear devices aimed at us to wipe North America off the map completely, our WWE (then WWF) tag team champions were...
wait for it......
Nikolai Volkov and the Iron Sheik; who would come in waving the Soviet and Iranian flags, sing the national anthems, and basically curse all things american. They now can be found as the newest inductees into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Oh, and Nikolai Volkov also tagged with Boriz Zhukov as well.
This is out of control. We as a society have become WAAAAYYYY too fixated on this crap. Terrorism is going to happen. We should try to stop it. We should not, however, become so paraniod and sensitive over it that we completely tear down society as we know it.
The WWE/WWF/NWA/WCW have, in the past, exploited most every ethnic stereotype available. This is nothing new for them. It's how it's always been. It's what gets the crowd interested-having "heels" be characters that the fans really truly hate. Here is a very abbreviated list of some of the characters that wrestling has used as overexaggerated sterotypes in the past: Volkov and Zhukov Iron Sheik The Belfast Bruiser-Rowdy drunk Irishman "Rowdy" Roddy Piper-Same thing as the Belfast Bruiser, only Scottish (wore a kilt too) Chief Jay Strongbow Superfly Jimmy Snookah the FBI (Full Blooded Italians) "Hunter" Hearst Helmsley who used to curtsie before matches The British Bulldogs "Hillbilly" Jim Berlin Goldust The Bushwhackers Yokozuna Team Canada Lord Steven Regal
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(LK)
Artificer
Posts: 733
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Post by (LK) on Jul 28, 2005 1:02:09 GMT -5
and Stone Cold Steve Austin, he was the redneck or something. He rocked, don't forget Rikishi
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Post by piñata on Jul 28, 2005 10:44:48 GMT -5
This just reinforces my opinion that the combination of censorship and political correctness has turned America into a nation of Forking pansies.
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(LK)
Artificer
Posts: 733
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Post by (LK) on Jul 28, 2005 11:03:00 GMT -5
This just reinforces my opinion that the combination of censorship and political correctness has turned America into a nation of Forking pansies. there isn't a lot of people to blame except for ourselves, for letting the goons in office in the first place . I think, i'm not sure
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Post by Static on Aug 23, 2005 1:01:21 GMT -5
Well, I think this proves it.
Backstory: Chavo Guerrero tries to win the Cruiserweight Title, but repeatedly loses to Paul London. Frustrated, he realizes that there's an X factor holding him down, and eventually decides that the X factor is his Hispanic heritage. So, he changes his appearance and has his name changed to Kirwin White, and becomes the epitome of white middle class America, with his catch phrase "If it isn't white, it isn't right."
Today: Kurt Angle faces Shelton Benjamin in a match and, while they were fairly even throughout, Angle came out on top. A few minutes later, Kirwin shows up in a golf cart, and gives this speech about how Shelton is an amazing athlete, but will never go anywhere because he's black, and will never be among the ranks of his fellow whites.
Well, after seeing that, as soon as I picked my jaw up off the ground I was like "Wow, they're going to get their asses sued." I don't think I did this speech justice, though, you'd have to have seen it.
EBSB: Here's the speech
Hi, I'm Kerwin White. That's Kerwin, W-H-I-T-E, White. You know, I represent middle class America, which means I represent all of you. In fact, I'm the official spokesman of middle class America. I'm just here to say what all of you are thinking, but are too scared to say yourselves. But, seriously, let's take tonight. Shelton Benjamin wrestled Kurt Angle, our Olympic hero, and all of you gave Shelton Benjamin what he deserved, a polite applause. Yay, Shelton. Because, let's face it, racism and predjudice run rampant in America, especially in the Tidewater area. But come on, I'm just saying what all of you are thinking, and you know I'm right. But, don't get me wrong, Shelton Benjamin's an incredible athlete. He's one of the best athletes I've ever seen. But Shelton Benjamin is not one of us, and he never ever will be. And why? Because Shelton Benjamin is not white. And America, don't forget, if it's not white, it's not right.
So, think they're going to be sued for this?
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