"Pernicious" is defined as: "ruinous; injurious; hurtful; malicious; damaging; causing insidious harm."
I received the following article written by a man I respect, trying I expect to be "humorous." To me it is pernicious and not the least bit funny.
Subject Security threats in Europe:
The British are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved". Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross"... The British have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz began in 1940 and tea supplies all but ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance". The last time the British issued "A Bloody Nuisance" warning level was during the great fire of 1666.
Also, the French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide". The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender."
The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.
It's not only the British and French who are on a heightened level of alert. Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."
The Germans also increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbour" and "Lose."
Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual, and the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.
The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.
And now a short presentation about why this annoyed me a lot.
I told the person who sent this to me that I did not find it funny at all as it represented another example of "intellectual racism."
"Cute and funny" when telling racially based jokes is neither cute nor funny. I, as most Jews I know, have experienced the harsh anti Semitism of "you killed Christ and I will try and kill you" as well as the purportedly cute "Norman, when you bought that did you try and "Jew the seller down?"
Will someone please tell me why what was written is not pernicious, insidious, and, most of all, racist? Racism usually involves the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others. Racism is hatred or intolerance of another race or other races. That could be any people united by common history, language, cultural traits, and such.
It cannot be diminished by the claim of "oh, it was meant to be funny." If it reflects racism, being "humorous" does not excuse it one little bit.
I have been guilty in the past of telling racist jokes and thinking that they're funny. I do not do it any longer and think it is a horrid thing for me to have done.
My friend Valerie, among many others is a Brit and I wonder if she would think it was funny.
When my French granddaughters come to America, I wonder if the writer would show them what he wrote. I think not.
I have many German friends, and I would not send this to any of them in that they would be hard pressed to see its humor.
If you like racist stuff then I expect that you would think it was funny. I do not!
I have never found it funny to see the issue of Jews having horns or killing Christ positioned in an amusing manner. Perhaps I am over sensitive, but I think not.
I do not accept the "I was only joking" as an excuse for writing and promulgating stuff like this.