*are you really proud that pretty much the rest of the world sees us as a bunch of racist dimwits,*

Oh rubbish Clownfish. A few loudmouthed overseas commentators
perhaps, do not constitute much of the rest of the world.

Fact is that if you spend time in the US, or Japan, or China,
or in the Middle East, or India, you start to realise just
how relatively tolerant most Australians really are to
other races.

Humour is humour and laughing at ourselves is part of good
humour.

If you are so intolerant that you can't do that, switch
off your tv.

Some people go out of their way to be offended. Connick is one of those people, and as an American, he should be enormously offended by what his own country did to native Americans and African Americans. While most people have the good manners to act like guests in foreign countries, this twit showed just what an ignorant idiot he is. The lead of the silly skit was a lot darker skinned than Jackson was after he had finished with the drugs and skin operations.

Like all American performers who turn up in Australia, Connick is washed up in America - that's the only reason they come here. And people like Peter West give him credence!

Oh for heavans sake! Get a life!

Redfaces is show about bad talent, and getting dressed up to imitate Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley etc is just part of it all.

Me thinks that all those people who have their knickers in knot, should really get some counselling.

It's all well and good to say "stuff the Amercian's, this is Australian humour", but if Australia want's to play international diplomacy with the grownups, we are going to need to understand more than our own self-deprecating culture. Yes the skit was not intended to be racist, but the the props and costume caused it to be in the context of one of the panel judges. Yes other countries are racist, but that does not give Australia an excuse to be. Yes it was humour, so humor cannot be racist? Yes the actors were not white... so?

As some people keep repeating, it perhaps only became an issue because Connick raised it. If this really is the case, maybe the solution would be to not invite foreign guests because they simply don't understand Australian humour. Then we can carry on being a happy little international back water, confident in our self righteousness because nobody else is going to give a toss really.

Rex

'Some people go out of their way to be offended.'
So very true.

As I said on the proper, more intelligent half of OLO, the racism here comes down to make-up and costume standards, and production values/expectations.

Sykes,

Yikes!

'oh..and country "that doesn't happen in australia" girl...read this and then have a really good look at yourself..'

BTW: Your father's life adds no weight to your argument. How often do you attempt to trade on it I wonder?

So your thesis is an attempt at impersonating Michael Jackson can lead to this?

Country Girl,

Don't listen to him. By the content of both your responses, it is clear who is more filled with hate, racial or otherwise. I'm just glad you're not plugging your flowers book for a change.

odo,

'Methinks the author is overly sensitive to what other cultures might think. Have some pride in our own culture and stop cringing.'
Yep.

CJ,

Hello CJ.

Yabby,

'Fact is that if you spend time in the US, or Japan, or China,
or in the Middle East, or India, you start to realise just
how relatively tolerant most Australians really are to
other races.'

I would have to agree.

I agree Harry is a burnt out git and a blatant opportunist ; he knows how easy it is to get a Nobel Peace Gong . Pity he's got to walk past 2 klm's the porn parlors to pick it up ; surely that would be too much for such a delicate chappie .