Monday, May 12, 2008
Readers clash over McCain's use of "gook" Plus: Splitting up siblings heartbreakingly common; the thrill of playing God with a Sim family.
Feb 19, 2000 | Straight talk
BY JAKE TAPPER
(02/17/00)
Enough already with the p.c. indignation. So McCain called guys who bashed his head in, broke his arms, starved him and held him prisoner for several years "gooks." I'm surprised he didn't call them "f---ing gooks."
So why doesn't John McCain "move on?" Why doesn't he put it behind him and forgive his captors? Why doesn't he want to hug and make nice with them? Hey, that's a good idea. I'll remember to use that advice the next time a group asks for reparations for past unjust treatment, or wants some special dispensation because of historical wrongs. I'll remember that when we screech about hate crimes against gays or women or minorities ... "Hey guys, that was the past. Move on."
-- Diana Johnston
Jake Tapper is apparently upset by John McCain referring to the men who tortured and imprisoned him for five-and-a-half years as "gooks." Oh please. I think there should be a rule: You can call the people who imprison and torture you whatever the hell you want! What should the guards at Auschwitz be called? Crowd-control officers?
-- J.B. Miller
John McCain went to Vietnam to kill Vietnamese people, destroy their property and ruin their land. Together with others who went, he is responsible for killing between 1 and 3 million people.
It is difficult to understand why he should feel he has the right to criticize his captors considering what he was trying to do to their country and their families. He should apologize for his actions, rather than denounce the Vietnamese.
At the very least, since the people of Vietnam seem to have forgiven Americans for the killings and destruction they caused, McCain should be able to forgive the considerably lesser sins committed by his captors.
-- Ketil Bjugan
The term "gooks" is an epithet as disgustingly offensive as the "N" word. The fact that the sadists that tortured McCain were Asian does not make them "gooks," it makes them sadists and criminals.
McCain insists on using the word "gooks," even after reflecting and considering his usage over a period of years. This is more than ample evidence of McCain's racist attitudes.
Criminal acts by individuals are not caused by their ethnic origins, but by individual criminal motives. Even though McCain insists he is applying "gooks" to individuals, it is a group description, and an awful one at that, one that should not be used, particularly by someone who wants to be president.
-- Daniel White
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