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FM
Former Member
Offended by Jay Leno's religious joke
Written by VISHNU BISRAM
Thursday, 02 February 2012 22:00

A JOKE on the Jay Leno Show has offended Indian nationals and Guyanese in Richmond Hill and in the US and India. The Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of Sikhism, in Amritsar, India, was shown in a “Tonight Show” joke about Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney last week. The Golden temple is regarded as the spiritual centre of the Sikh religion and a valued shrine to other Indian religions as well.

The Jay Leno joke ruffled feathers among people in Richmond Hill where a lot of Guyanese are settled. Guyanese and Punjabis share the community and have collaborated on issues affecting the community.

Several Guyanese attend Punjabis temples in Richmond Hill and Sikhs participate in Guyanese Phagwah and Diwali parades as well as attend Guyanese temples.

The NBC late-night host’s monologue offended the Sikhs and Guyanese, who say the gag disrespected one of the holiest shrines in India when it was depicted as belonging to Mitt Romney. Many Guyanese visited the Golden temple in trips to India.

Leno’s monologue showed the homes of the Republican presidential hopefuls, including houses owned by Newt Gingrich and Representative Ron Paul of Texas. But when Mr. Romney’s summer home on Lake Winnipesaukee was announced, the screen instead showed the Golden
Temple in Amritsar.

BBC News reported that Vayalar Ravi, India’s Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, called the joke “quite unfortunate and objectionable” in remarks to reporters, adding that his embassy “planned to discuss the matter with the United States State Department”.

“Freedom does not mean hurting the sentiments of others,” Mr. Ravi said. “This is not acceptable to us and we take a very strong objection for such a display.”
Minister Ravi met with Guyanese for an exchange in New York and the matter was raised with him again.

The BBC also pointed to an online petition at change.org that received thousands of signatures and declared that “Jay Leno’s racist comments need to be stopped right here.”
Peoples’ faiths and religious icons should be off limits to crude jokes.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Vishnu, you can't be speaking for all Guyanese in the Richmond Hill community. Guyanese as I know them are open to criticism and are very fond of reality comedy. Jay Leno is a comedian and his job is to make fun of everyone. He does not discriminate.

One more piece of advise. Don't steer the Indians to go out and kill because someone made fun of the God like our Muslim neighbors. Indians and Guyanese are not in tuned to such nonsense.

BTW, I watch Jay Leno each night before I sex my wife. Wink
FM
These Guyanese should be expelled from the US for harbouring harmful opinions against the state. They are obviously radicalized, given their show of offense. A radicalized Guyanese is a clear and present danger, as recent court cases have shown.
Mr.T
Mr T, They will NEVER do that. They are collecting hundreds of millions of dollare TAXES from US and NONe of US on Welfare. yippie yippie
quote:
Originally posted by Mr.T:
These Guyanese should be expelled from the US for harbouring harmful opinions against the state. They are obviously radicalized, given their show of offense. A radicalized Guyanese is a clear and present danger, as recent court cases have shown.
Nehru
quote:
Originally posted by Nehru:
Mr T, They will NEVER do that. They are collecting hundreds of millions of dollare TAXES from US and NONe of US on Welfare. yippie yippie
quote:
Originally posted by Mr.T:
These Guyanese should be expelled from the US for harbouring harmful opinions against the state. They are obviously radicalized, given their show of offense. A radicalized Guyanese is a clear and present danger, as recent court cases have shown.
why do you lie so much? what you think had people like baghwandin getting rich if not helping Guyanese get on the dole? A significant number do take advantage of the safety nets the US offer the poor
FM
Bhai, Mr Bhagwandin all the way in Georgia.
quote:
Originally posted by D2:
quote:
Originally posted by Nehru:
Mr T, They will NEVER do that. They are collecting hundreds of millions of dollare TAXES from US and NONe of US on Welfare. yippie yippie
quote:
Originally posted by Mr.T:
These Guyanese should be expelled from the US for harbouring harmful opinions against the state. They are obviously radicalized, given their show of offense. A radicalized Guyanese is a clear and present danger, as recent court cases have shown.
why do you lie so much? what you think had people like baghwandin getting rich if not helping Guyanese get on the dole? A significant number do take advantage of the safety nets the US offer the poor
Nehru
Screw these people who are offended ! Comedians and talk show hosts make jokes about religions , gods and everything under the sun yet , it has not devalued them . Jay should tell the offended to just f^#k off !
FM

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