To Arkansas State Senator Kim Hendren's Grandchilden

Dear Mark, Jim, Gayle and Hope:

I appreciate you love your grandfather, who referred last week to Senator Charles Schumer as "that Jew," and I would hope that love continues even as, on occasion, you know he can be a horse's ass.

I grew up with a Dad not that unlike your granddad and never stopped loving him. But that didn't keep me from wanting to throw up when the thick-headed mean clown in him appeared. As a full-grown and full-fledged Jew myself, I confess to wanting to whip the horse's ass part of your grandfather the clown ten ways to Sunday. But I'll let you do that, lovingly. Assuming you are young enough to agree.

Sincerely,

Norman Lear

Comments

[Ohioan730]

My g-pa was a jerk who hated everyone except Native Americans. He would never face the fact that he was a light skinned black, but insisted he was "Indian" and went on rants about white and black people alike. I took a DNA test and found out we were about 5% "Indian" and the rest was white and black. ROTFL. Poetic. Just poetic.

[Seamus]

Yes, Kim, shoot your mouth off and show what everyone what hick you are. BTW, did you know the State of AR is at the bottom of most lists - including education? Perhaps you might use this situation to start working on improving AR's standing(s) by first educating you. And then you can run for US Senate.

[ndem]

thank you norman!!!!!

[zakwouldhave]

I'm just glad I'm no denomination of any organized religion or any rigid belief system politically or spirituall­y....the only slang anyone can call me is human. True freedom. More people should try it.

[JohnnyReason]

I love the tone of Mr Lear's post, (and all of his work for that matter), however, we all know people like this and unfortunately the "horses ass" part is actually often their best part.

[RoadCrossingChicken]

Arkansas is not the only place these people can be found. There are ignorant people in every level of society, in every state in every nation in the world.

To any one thinks, "What's the big deal? It was just a little slip of the tongue." ... this is a dangerous attitude and it cannot be tollerated. Ever.

Fight bigotry in every form... no matter how subtle, no matter how blatant.

[larmarch5]

"Little slips of the tongue" reveal a person't true character.

[Checquoline]

There are more of them in the South. Believe me....I was forced to live there four years. I walked among them and learned their language. I could not wait to leave.

[Buckzollo]

Thank you Norman Lear. "That jew" is a slur, period. Senator Archie Bunker Arkansas needs to evolve oh, and tell us what you really think when the microphone's on.

[TonyOnly]

So much of what I read and hear coming from conservative circles makes me say to myself; " Wait a minute. That's racist." But when you try to point that out they scream; "Anti-American! Socialist!" It seems, Mr. Lear, the Archie Bunker syndrome has undergone a rebirth in America.

[tokenconservative]

Jeez what an ass.

[hoosier96]

The funny thing is, I bet the state senator, being a Republican, is more supportive of Israel than you are.

[blindjester]

I'll bet, being a republican, it's for self-serving reasons.

[SecondBase]

Bingo.

(Hint: Defense contracts.­)

[ibwilliamsi]

Not every Jewish American feels that our involvement in Isreal is in the best interests of the Jews. Just saying.

[AlltheBuzzfromCali]

Oh stop it. You are a traitor to your people if you don't support Israel.

[LolaB]

Just agreeing with you ;)

[pbziegler]

I'm one of those Jewish Americans. The way we support Israel is good for the guys who make and sell weapons. Not so good for the people in the MIddle East on all sides.

[exile]

how much ??

[larmarch5]

So you think he is an end timer?

[an observer3]

Every now and then I get a reality check of where and what I am. This is another instance.

[flacon]

An unfortunate comment by an insensitive politician. Before we all breakout the pitchforks, let us pause. Who, among us, has not laughed at the redneck jokes, incest references or the ever popular 13 year old brides?

I don't defend what he said. I just want us to acknowledge our own irrational prejudices.

[UncleDave]

I will agree with you up to a point.The rednecks bring the ridicule down on themselves by embracing ignorance,bigotry and general hostility to 'them' not like them. My son-in-law is proud redneck(much to my sorrow)-and He lives in Connecticut.

[normathumb]

You're referring to Jerry Lee Lewis, I assume.

[Bardmess]

I've never heard any redneck jokes, but I have a, call it "irrational prejudice", against someone who would commit suicide for his widely discredited ideology and take me and my family down with him or her. (think environment, economy, WMD in Iraq, assault weapons, deregulation, etc. etc.) These so-called rednecks have an agenda and they vote for it.

[oldjerseygirl]

rednecks did not cause a Holocaust.­....ignora­nt though they be.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

Actually it's a telling comment made by a bigot. The fact that he is an elected official doesn't change that fact, it just compounds it.

[UncleDave]

This reminds of an incident that occured when the Americans were in London planning D-Day with our British allies.Ike heard that one of his officers had gotten into a verbal dispute with an English officer.He called the officer into his office. He said 'I'm sending you home. Not because you called him a horses ass. We all know He is a horses ass.I'm sending you home because you called him 'a BRITISH horses ass.'

[sheilaofmiami]

Mr Lear, You are simply right. For anyone to use "that Jew" "these Days" is just sad. But then, maybe without resorting to "four letter words" he used a three letter one.

Which means that he has few words to really express himself.

Thank you for pointing out that discrimination is not acceptable.

[goldcoastsailor]

As a full grown, full fledged Gentile, who cares?

[COPerez]

"When they came for the Jews, I did nothing... for I wasn't Jewish"

[RoadCrossingChicken]

Perfect answer.

[violettefemme]

Well, ain't that just easy for you to say.

[SecondBase]

Get back to us when people start referring to you as "that Gentile."

[LolaB]

compassionate people care.... selfish ones don't