O/T. The Government's handling of Covid

[Trickytreesreds]

The rewriting of history is a difficult thing Tricky. If an Asian actor took a prominent part in a new version of Robin Hood, should we say "that's wrong as there were no Asians in the country then" or should we say "that's right because an actor is an actor regardless of appearance" ??

Do we accept anachronistic appearance or what?

Personally - NO.
Can you imagine a white man portraying Nelson Mandela/ M.L.King?
No of course not, the outrage would be massive.
It wasn't true and neither should it be altered. #
Perhaps, we can remake the Vikings as all being black next? Kirk Douglas move aside, Danny Sapani has the main role.

There was lot that needed correcting. But I just don't like this re writing of past events which couldn't possibly be true.

[ramAnag]

Anecdotes never PROVE anything, GP's goes much closer to pointing towards something than either yours or rA's. GP has offered a number of insightful anecdotes on this thread and its strange that you only take issue with those relating to race.

Andy...aren’t you arguing for the sake of it? Swale says ‘none of the anecdotal observations prove anything’ which was also my point and you still manage to sound aggressive when saying, ‘Anecdotes never PROVE anything’. So we’re all in agreement then.

[ramAnag]

Personally - NO.
Can you imagine a white man portraying Nelson Mandela/ M.L.King?
No of course not, the outrage would be massive.
It wasn't true and neither should it be altered. #
Perhaps, we can remake the Vikings as all being black next? Kirk Douglas move aside, Danny Sapani has the main role.

There was lot that needed correcting. But I just don't like this re writing of past events which couldn't possibly be true.

Were there lots of Vikings from New York and Beverley Hills then?

[swaledale]

Here's the reality

The (pro-BAME) Creative Diversity Network (CDN) published its Third Cut report after surveying over 30,000 diversity forms relating to over 600,000 TV production contributions.

The CDN found that “BAME [Black and Minority Ethnic] on-screen representation” is a remarkable 23% — far above the BAME share of the British general population, estimated at 14%''.

they (CDN) see that as a good thing. I personally don't, despite having a BAME former family member and still close friend who is part of that on-screen cohort. You may also see it as a good thing, and if so, explain it. But if you want to keep bringing it up, don't persist in denial of it. Confront it and discuss it

Ah touched a nerve I see, done a little bit of research to try and support your initial comment, which was made months before that report, but yes that seems to be the reality, so what?

The reason I keep bringing it up, is because its such a strange comment to make and is quite revealing about you, it rather removes the impression of reasonable respectful bloke you try to convey.

One I'd ask why it bothers you? What is it about race and identity that creates this concern? The race of the person on the TV or any other media is not something I would register to the extent that the question would even form in my head. My only judgement would be are they good at what they are doing.

Secondly, why if there is a degree of over representation now, is that a bad thing? Is that not just readdressing the imbalance that was the case in the previous 4 or so decades, when there was very little representation of anybody other than white people?

Surely the proportion of BAME people working in the media does not have to be the same as that in the working population? It only matters if its significantly less, which would suggest an issue, though not prove there was one, of access to that work.

I'm just amazed you find it such an issue you actually posted about it!

[Trickytreesreds]

Were there lots of Vikings from New York and Beverley Hills then?

they could trace their DNA back to Norse men, that's for sure

[ramAnag]

they could trace their DNA back to Norse men, that's for sure

Lol...so a guy from New York of Jewish/Russian origins can trace his ancestry back to Scandinavia. Really?
You seem a tad obsessed by colour.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Lol...so a guy from New York of Jewish/Russian origins can trace his ancestry back to Scandinavia. Really?.

Why not, I have traced my ancestry back to the Vikings, and have the Morbus Dupuytren condition to prove it

[ramAnag]

Why not, I have traced my ancestry back to the Vikings, and have the Morbus Dupuytren condition to prove it

Well done you...but then I’m assuming you weren’t born in NY of Russian Jewish parentage.

Either way...does having a black Viking really necessitate a greater suspension of disbelief than having Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis and Ernest Borgnine playing the main parts?

I’ve seen Macbeth played by an Englishman and likewise Julius Caesar...also seen Hamlet played by Maxine Peake and Don Warrington play King Lear while his daughters were white. Didn’t present any difficulties at all.
Sometimes race and colour may be crucial...sometimes not, but ultimately we’re maybe better off seeing beyond what skin colour/ethnicity someone happens to have is my point.

[ramAnag]

I've given up with Swale, so rA can you explain why? Especially when its seen as important by such respected organisations as Sage.

Incidentally, and I read all related posts very carefully, Geoff is right that your shop anecdote (and Swales' earlier ones) do nothing to invalid/refute Geoff's, and whilst Swale's are probably rant-based inventions, yours just seems to indicate you don't get the point

Do please explain the ‘point’ then Captain Patronising.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Well done you...but then I’m assuming you weren’t born in NY of Russian Jewish parentage.

Let's just consider the facts. Kirk Douglas was white American. By and large white Americans all track their ancestry to Europe, one way or the other. Over 10 million Americans have Vikings Disease, and the condition is called that because it has been genetically traced back to the Vikings, who spread it across Europe via intermarriage and their DNA.

Now I've no idea if KD (or Issur Danielovitch if you prefer) was one such, but I wouldn't be so dismissive of something you clearly demonstrate zero knowledge of.

Anyway I agree by and large with most of the rest of your post but, I think I'll be a long time waiting to see Kenneth Branagh playing Martin Luther King!