The Conservative Cave
Current Events => The DUmpster => Topic started by: Tucker on March 18, 2009, 06:01:20 PM
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http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5283721
TWiley (1000+ posts) Wed Mar-18-09 06:41 PM
Original message
Was the Lone Ranger a Racist?
"Tonto" in spanish translates to "Stupid Person" in English. All those years of watching the Lone Ranger and Tonto in action, and I never would have guessed that he was insulting his partner. As things were much different back then, I wonder if naming the Native American character "Tonto" was a racist gesture. Overt racism was common, especially in the bible belt at the time.
What do you think?
Just when you think you've heard it all.
tularetom (1000+ posts) Wed Mar-18-09 06:52 PM
Response to Original message
21. Um, the Lone Ranger was a fictitious character
The people who created him probably were racists but he didn't actually exist. Ergo, not a racist.
LR: "Tonto, we're surrounded by hostile Indians. We're gonna die"
T: "What you mean we, white man."
:rotf:
Stinky The Clown (1000+ posts) Wed Mar-18-09 06:49 PM
Response to Original message
14. Was Amos and Andy racist?
The things that they get enraged over. Sheesh!
It's still early. Might get good.
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http://www.endeavorcomics.com/largent/ranger/faq.html
Isn't it true that Tonto means "fool" in Spanish?
This *is* true, but it was not that meaning that was intended by the producers of the show.
There are two versions of the story.
Fran Striker told the Saturday Evening Post that he invented Tonto's name and that it was picked by merely alterring the consanants in the name Bobo. (This was a caveman character Striker had created in another radio program.)
Jim Jewell says that Striker was remembering wrong. Tonto, he said, is another Potowatomie word.
There were a few Indians who would come to the camp to tell stories to the children.
One of the Indians apparently had a penchant for drinking after the children had gone to sleep. Sometimes he would get rowdy and the other Indians would call him "tonto." This meant "wild one."
Jewell remembered the word, liked it, and gave the name to the Lone Ranger's Indian companion.
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DemocratUnderground.com: Tontoland, USA.
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DemocratUnderground.com: Tontoland, USA.
H5
That's good. I might use that.
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As linked on DUThis is funny, David. Very very funny. But wrong. I must have heard from 50 people claiming that kemosabe comes from a Spanish phrase meaning either "he who knows more" or "he who knows nothing," signifying that Tonto was either sucking up or mouthing off to the Lone Ranger. No proof was offered for these assertions; the writers had simply "heard" or "liked to believe" them. Well, I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU LIKE TO BELIEVE, GODDAMMIT! I DEAL IN THE FACTS! Sorry, but one must be firm. (http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/971/in-the-old-lone-ranger-series-what-did-kemosabe-mean)
Pah! Facts are anathema to DUmmies.
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In case anyone wondered how loyal Tonto really was.....
(http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s300/sjclark1967/FarSideLoneRanger.jpg?t=1237423927)
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TWiley
Was the Lone Ranger a Racist?
"Tonto" in spanish translates to "Stupid Person" in English. All those years of watching the Lone Ranger and Tonto in action, and I never would have guessed that he was insulting his partner.
Just wait until they find out "Hi-Ho Silver, Away!" in horse-language means "Get your sorry butt moving you future stick of glue."
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DUmmies: WHO GIVES A SHIT?
My God the, crap they "worry" about. :mental:
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DUmmies: WHO GIVES A SHIT?
I dunno; the real world doesn't.
But one has to remember the primitives live on an isolated faraway island, squalidly unaware of what's going on in the larger, wider, real world.
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Just wait until they find out "Hi-Ho Silver, Away!" in horse-language means "Get your sorry butt moving you future stick of glue."
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Oh now THAT'S funny! H5!
Cindie
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No, the Long Ranger was not a racist. He was a fictional character. You have to be a real person to be a racist. This is just a silly as the Mighty Mouse vs. Superman debate from the movie "Stand By Me".
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I dunno; the real world doesn't.
But one has to remember the primitives live on an isolated faraway island, squalidly unaware of what's going on in the larger, wider, real world.
Honestly, I think they just need to be outraged, about something, anything, or they don't feel fulfilled.
It's just more proof of their craziness. :mental:
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This is all very important news, given that it could be 1951 any day now.
::)