November 2, 2004
IS IT A RACIST? IS IT A CONSERVATIVE? NO, IT’S THE.......
Good enough for Tonto (Rachel Boomer, National Post, November 2nd, 2004)
A Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission panel spent a full day watching Lone Ranger episodes before deciding being called kemosabe did not demean a Mi'kmaq woman.After its day of reruns and hearing several Mi'kmaq witnesses, the independent board of inquiry concluded the TV western treated native Americans in a "demeaning and disrespectful manner."
But, it said, the term "kemosabe" -- Tonto's word for his white friend the Lone Ranger -- did not really offend the Membertou, N.S., woman.
The board's conclusions were recently upheld by the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal.
"Tonto is the Lone Ranger's partner and friend. He is clean cut and well-groomed and, although he speaks a form of broken English, he is neither dumb nor stupid," Justice David Chipman of the appeal court writes in an Oct. 6 summary of the board's ruling.
"For the most part, other native Americans in the series are treated in a demeaning and disrespectful manner. While Tonto is sometimes so treated by others, he is never so treated by the Lone Ranger."
Rachel who?
Well of course Tonto speaks broken English. If I spoke Algonquin, you may be sure that it would be broken Algonquin. Native American sidekicks make out pretty well in American folk literature. Yancy Derringer had an Indian friend with a 12-Gauge under his blanket who was an extremely admirable character.
Posted by: Lou Gots at November 2, 2004 8:23 AMGood thing they're not showing reruns of the Jack Benny Show anymore, or the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission panel would be investigating his treatment of Rochester...
Posted by: John at November 2, 2004 9:02 AMActually, they called her Chemo-sabe, which is a whole different kettle of fish.
And very, very insulting.
Posted by: Barry Meislin at November 2, 2004 4:46 PM