Neeson: I walked streets hoping to kill a black person

Harry · Joined: 03 Jan 2009 Posts: 1585 Location: London

Actor Liam Neeson shocked people with comments he made whilst promoting a film about a man who seeks revenge.
I've come across two very different responses to his comments so far.
One) Gary Younge says:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/05/liam-neeson-interview-black-people-actor-racism?fbclid=IwAR05ZIdfy4JwxNNFTzHk7lLdR9nFazxU1qASWfrG6uJE0VKSqNmMTZOgzNM
Two) John Barnes says:
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/liam-neeson-deserves-a-medal-liverpool-icon-john-barnes-says-hordes-jumping-on-bandwagon-over-black-man-comments-37784623.html?fbclid=IwAR3uG_-d6T8yR46rzC7H95KB8iz1OQ-cPJ8LK3mD-FUMo1TT3rr-x6yW118
Whose response (Gary's or John's) is closer to your own feelings?
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Trojan · Joined: 25 Aug 2002 Posts: 2385 Location: Area 3

He says regrets the revenge aspects of his action. He has stated that with his upbringing in Northern Ireland makes him fully aware of futility of revenge killings. However, not unless I have missed something he doesn't address the racist aspect of his action. Asking a rape victim what colour the attacker was does seem like a rather odd thing to do.

He is another Hollywood twat who thinks his fame and wealth can excuse just about anything.
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HarryJ185 · Joined: 10 Dec 2008 Posts: 382 Location: Belfast

Having immediate thoughts about seeking vengeance - when someone close to you goes through something so traumatic - is one thing. But asking the colour of their skin?

The Guardian poses a very good question "Would Neeson have gone out looking for a “white bastard” to kill? Or would he just have killed himself?"

I wonder if he had been living in Northern Ireland at the time, would he have asked their religion and then headed out with his cosh?

Indefensible.

Imani · Joined: 26 Apr 2008 Posts: 1682 Location: Bradford

He's either brave or foolish to say what he's said, depending upon your bias. John Barnes' take on it pretty much falls into line with my own views.

The one thing I will also say is we live in an increasingly oversensitive social climate where people are easily demonised for saying infinitely less than this guy. has This is magnified if the person in question happens to be famous. (Though I didn't even know who he was, if I'm honest.) This climate doesn't help.

He wasn't the first person to have such views - or acted on them, and he won't be the last. There are blacks who have expressed the same views towards whites, Indians towards Pakistanis, Jews towards Muslims, and every other variation of the theme you can think of.

And none of that is right, before anyone concludes I'm 'taking sides'. But perhaps we need to look at the wider social dynamics - the programming by mass media, education, politics etc - that influences people to think in these ways. Just going after the latest high profile figure who made an inappropriate comment, as the mainstream media is wont to do, is not going to do anything except create more polarity than harmony.

Trojan · Joined: 25 Aug 2002 Posts: 2385 Location: Area 3

Imani · Joined: 26 Apr 2008 Posts: 1682 Location: Bradford

Yes, some people do express those views. My thing is this - where does it come from? Individuals are products of many societal factors and dynamics that shape them, as I pointed out. It's there that the focus needs to be placed AS WELL. Because they aren't as unique nor as uncommon as the reaction to this story is suggesting. Which is why I just don't get the widespread 'shock horror' response, and refuse to take the same line.

In my own experience, purely castigating and demonising people who hold such views not only doesn't get rid of the mentality, it just makes it more entrenched. If anyone truly believes that flagging up the latest high profile person to make a racist outburst is going to rid and deal with the root causes of racism, then be prepared to wait forever.

But that's all I'll say here. I've said quite enough.

Harry · Joined: 03 Jan 2009 Posts: 1585 Location: London

Maybe the last word should be from this chap? It's very impressive how he managed to make several important points about an emotive issue and stick a couple of gags in there that are actually funny...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBy0FLAAwKQ

(Trevor Noah is a South African television and radio host, political commentator, and comedian. He is known for hosting The Daily Show, an American satirical news program on Comedy Central.)
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I got one art O'level it did nothing for me