Ava Vidal: Unlike my children, she has no excuse
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Independent Minds
It was only said in jest, wasn't it? An innocent comment, taken out of context, that no one but the unflinchingly politically correct BBC cares about? But the very idea of a golliwog is shockingly offensive to many. I should know; I produce one on stage almost every night as part of my stand-up routine.
The usual brigade of right-wing – and predominantly white – commentators complain that the Carol Thatcher affair is a storm in a teacup, but they should witness the gasps of shock I get when I introduce little Winston to audiences. When I first brought him on stage to a mostly black crowd the silence was deafening. About 200 black people were looking up at me in total silence as if to say: "Bitch, this had better be bloody funny!" My routine is about the ridiculousness of this creature, which doesn't look like any black person I know. By mocking the golliwog, we can take some of the sting out of what it represents. I remember the pain the hateful taunt "wog" caused me as the only black child other than my brother at a Sussex prep school, relentlessly teased for my dark skin and Afro hair. The golliwog is the embodiment of all that.
Carol Thatcher is from a generation that would know this only too well. It might sound ridiculous, but younger people don't always understand the golliwog's terrible implications. When I first brought mine home, my children, aged 14 and 10, laughed and asked me what it was. I told them it was a golliwog. I then asked if anyone had ever called them "golliwog" or "wog" and they said no. My, they've missed out on so much...
It's a sign of progress that youngsters have no idea of the meaning behind the word, which is why it shouldn't be tolerated when someone like Carol Thatcher says it.
There has been talk – thank you Lord Tebbit – that Thatcher's sacking was the BBC's revenge on her mother. Ah yes, the perfect plot: employ someone's daughter for a while, paying her thousands, then just wait for her to make a sackable mistake. Yeah, this one's for the miners, Thach!
As a stand-up comedian I believe in freedom of speech, but with that comes responsibility. Carol Thatcher seems unwilling to take responsibility for what she said – which is in stark contrast to the Jonathan Ross debacle. He knew what he did was stupid, childish and wrong, and apologised repeatedly. Ms Thatcher just doesn't seem to understand that what she said was grossly offensive and, yes, racist. That is why she had to go.
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Comments
If golliwog is such a BAD word how come the BBC are able to keep saying the word over and over and over and over again. I would bet that if we were talking about real racist words they would not be so keen to say them. For example I never heard a single presenter mention the word 'wog', which is a without doubt a dreadful term.
I am also of the opinion that your stand up routine is hugely different from what many regard as an innocent toy and old advert for a jam. Calling it Winston for crying out loud changes everything.
I admit there has to be a line somewhere but I feel that line is far to blurred. Why can I not teach my son the nursery rhyme 'baa baa black sheep' for example just because someone gets a little upset.
This sort of thing just feeds the far-right, or can you not see that. They love it.
Thank Goodness that I have not belittled myself by seeking refuge in the hollow shell of such a limited interpretation of life and happiness !!
I'm not saying what Carol Thatcher said is right but it's worth getting things in perspective.
Ross and Brand exist only to be offensive and yeah let's include Jo with Russell in the Brand name yet they broadcast profanely with impunity. Thatcher was stupid in an off air situation which the BBC chose to make public. The BBC are solely responsible for this muck raking and mud slinging.
To hear that Adrian Chiles claimed to be 'shocked' is risible. This is the man who worshipped 'Big Ron' Atkinson, the man who attends live football matches at least once a week and the man who is matey with Frank Skinner and Wossy. Shocked by Carol Thatcher??
The lady had a great deal of bushy hair. I won't identify this person but she was referred to on the programme as 'Golly Greer'.
Ross and Brand personally offend 2 people and the UK goes into complaint fever, Carol Thatcher personally offends only a few millions and it's a storm in a tea-cup? Carol Thatcher and other apologists are still living in a by-gone-era.
This is highly offensive to me personally.
As a white man I find it offensive and I have never been called any such name or bullied because of my skin colour.
People who consider this an innocent and non racist term should look at the history (based on a black and white minstrel for goodness sake) and then decide.
Carol Thatcher should be completely ashamed and apolgise as soon as.
And Racism in private is so much more tolerable.....
Ross makes a comment about somebody having sex with somebody, albeit a bit insensitive...but comedy is comedy. What amazes me is twofold, firstly the apparent suprise of so many members of the public that anyone would find 'Paki', 'Sooty; and 'Golliwog' offensive! Secondly, that people like Thatcher and the royals can be so detached from society that they feel comfortable using those words. It confirms a deep seated racism in british society. Sack the lot of them.