Cancel culture has now canceled six Dr. Seuss books because someone somewhere was offended. Mr. Potato head was canceled because of gender identity and a group of people was offended. Elmer Fudd, Pepe Lepeu, Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben, and so many American institutions are being canceled. The irony while all this is being done in the name of our keiki, today’s music and entertainment industries are filled with obscenities and references to rape, murder, drugs, and fornication- and yet nothing has been canceled.
Some are talking of canceling our forefathers of this great country, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and other historic leaders. Prayer has been canceled in our public schools, yet is allowed in our prisons. Even our national anthem has been canceled at many sporting events. Many are in favor of canceling ‘God’ out of the “Pledge of Allegiance.”
Why hasn’t the “woke police” canceled Hollywood and the entertainment industry which is filled with pornography, foul language and violence, or canceled the killing of babies, (abortions) yet cartoon characters and children’s books are being canceled. What’s next, your bible?
Cancel culture, the ‘woke police’, and now Kaua‘i’s own Chief of police for telling an ethnic joke. I never personally met Chief Todd Raybuck, however every time I pass his squad car or see him riding his bike on the multi-use trail with his family he waves or gives a friendly head nod. He seems very approachable.
People on Kaua‘i tell ethnic jokes, it’s part of the culture, comedian Frank Delima makes a living out of ethnic jokes. The Podagee (sic) joke is part of Hawaii culture, even told by many Portuguese people themselves in a self-deprecating manner. How many times do white people hear the haole derogative/ explicative as a joke here in Hawaii? There was a time we could laugh at the stereotypes of others as well as laugh at ourselves. This whole PC thing makes people take things way too seriously.
The Chief told an ethnic joke, to be precise a Japanese joke, he publicly apologized in a sincere manner. Is this reason for a man who appears to be overwhelmingly popular and liked by the community at large and outstanding at his job to resign or be fired?
Chief Raybuck from my observations is good for the island, to cancel him, would be 100 steps backward and only show we are following in the footsteps of the mainland cancel culture that is helping to destroy our great country. Nobody on these islands likes to believe we are following the mainland, we believe we stand alone, let’s take a positive stand for the Chief!
Cancel culture is scary because one day you are the one canceling and the next day you are the cancelee. (sic)
Say the wrong thing to a group of people, on Facebook or any social media platform, not only current or from the past and it can haunt you forever. Even if you said something in jest, as a joke 10 years ago when the times were different, some enemy of yours can bring it up in the present and ruin your life, especially in those interim years if you’ve become successful, famous, or even infamous.
Social media and comment sections of periodicals have become the downfall of society. The commenters are mostly trolls of the likes of chimpanzees throwing feces at one another. The commenters as the chimpanzees are experiencing stresses and agitations, which can cause them to react in fanatical ways with unkind and damaging words.
Chief Raybuck deserves a second chance. Please do not let cancel culture, the ‘woke police’ and stressed-out commenters get the best of our community, we are better than this.
There is a meme circulating social media that says it all. There is a photo of the cleaning solution, “Spic and Span,” it says, I feel a name change coming.
If God can forgive us, we can forgive the Chief. ‘Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” John8:7
•••
James “Kimo” Rosen lives in Kapaa with his dog and blogs as a hobby at www.dakinetalk.blogspot.com
James “kimo” Rosen was “spot on” on our current, out of control cancel culture.
A parallel story, closer to home: https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/390550-how-come-progressives-arent-attacking-statues-of-king-kamehameha
Well said, my brother…Kimo….
Totally true. Every last word. We are choosing to go down the path of destruction for our selves and those who will follow. The fight between light and darkness is in full motion. The only weapon we have is choice. Today I choose to walk in the light. Today I will try with all the good In my hart, to be a better man . I pray for the courage and the strength to do the right thing and I ask for knowledge of Christ’s will for me. Today I choose to fight the temptation in me, I will not be a sheep sent to slaughter. I will try to think for my self and decide for my self, to use the common Sense my parents and my grandparents taught me to use. I can’t change the world unless I start with myself. This battle we are in is nothing new . History is full of the same foolishness decision of governments and cowardly politicians. History is also full of men and women who stood up and choose to take a stand for decency, love of country and their precious liberty. Today I choose to be one of them.
You have stated half truths and inaccuracies on some of your statements. Mainly the Dr Seuss lie, it was the family doing the right thing and not from any outside pressure. As for the police chief, I don’t know him nor have I seen him around town but by all accounts it sounds like more than one off color joke. This article sounds like FOX news talking points and strictly personal opinion.
Excellent letter, so true !
Mahalo for bringing this all to our attention.
I don’t often agree with Kimo’s writings or his and other Hoses ability to be published when similar LTE written by others are too often dismissed or those that make rude off-point comments that destroy a valid opinion or ability to dialogue truth and integrity.
On this piece, i am totally in agreement with how Kimo has penned this letter. I agree that the COP TR has been listening to those of us, that since his being hired and arrival from Las Vegas, is becoming aware of the decades that the “great country”, mainland cultures has completely gone overboard with their folly.
Even the judiciary never, upon our CocoPalms hearings and requests, presented the Treaty of annexation document. That courts’ attorney said, “i couldnt find it” and the judge went on to commit yet another lie, right from the bench, where he took an oath to protect and serve!
What part of Game Over do all of these different peoples not understand? The Kingdom of Hawaii has made great strides to huli the system and we the “woke” people will continue to tell truth and have integrity moving upward and foreward until those folks fess up and they themselves resign. SHOPOpoliticojudiciomilitaro (medical sic) Occupation. Mostly the Hawaii Mob culture over the last 128-years, needs to be “woke” and all of them need to be Incarcerated for the generations of these messes made and adhered to, while innocent people are set-up awaiting August 2021 Federal prison court date. Instead the messy ones are so in our faces with their game play, that now in mask-wearing, we can look retroactively top to bottom at feeders, who would ‘pointy-finger’ dictate “following P.A. rules or “cut bait”, looking directly into their telling evil eyes, the thousands of “windows to the souless”.
You’ve worked pretty hard to get everything on your mind under the umbrella of ‘cancel culture’, though it’s an opinion more word salad hit piece than timely in nature. You’re sweating the little things just to blow your horn…
The garden island news just hit an all time low by
publishing this guy’s opinion on a subject he knows absolutely nothing about…..
Totally agree Rev. All these guys speaking that do not know anything about the PD or community service
Great article – please keep Kauai out of the toxic politics of the mainland. Elite liberals making decisions for the rest of the country. It’s gotten out of control, protect yourselves and your children.
Elite liberals?? Better than some fake Christian telling how to live my life!!!
Great Commentary James!
I`m sure the Chief is a good man who does not deserve this minor issue blown out of proportion! Your right, its water under the bridge, let it go! Although I believe this designation “woke culture” does not come close to explaining the perverted way these people think, I believe the label needs changed to “the Absolute Absurd Culture”! And those that dignify and agree with this perversion need a good swift kick!
Good luck Chief Raybuck! The majority is on your side Brah!
Mahalo James! Aloha from Altoona Pa.
Told by many Portuguese people themselves in a self-deprecating manner a Japanese joke can haunt you forever. The commenters are mostly trolls of the likes of chimpanzees throwing feces at one another. The commenters as the chimpanzees are experiencing stresses and agitations, which can cause them to react in fanatical ways with unkind and damaging words. ‘Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” John8:7
I 100% agree with you. Your assessment is spot on.
Let’s just call it what it is, the “mentally ill” culture. To qualify, you have to be a self made victim in any insane way that you can think of. For example, Easter is coming very soon, and someone can say that there stuffed bunny that they received as an Easter gift when they were a infant had inappropriately touched them while they were sleeping with the bunny in their bed. Therefore, cancel Easter because it causes negative thoughts, and all stuffed animals must be examined for past behavior. But don’t worry! China Joe has our backs and our wallets by the trillions!
Mr. Rosen
You would have saved yourself a lot of time and us if you had just used the last paragraph, which I agree with, the rest, not so much
SMH. You and other people have convinced yourselves that “it was only a joke”. Well the rest of us know the truth. Btw he’s not “overwhelmingly popular” either. Good try though.
Kamehameha wasn’t exactly popular either. He attacked, conquered and enslaved more Hawaiians than anyone, ever.
Yet we adorn his statue with leis instead of tear it down.
Hypocrites.
Mahalo nui loa, Kimo. You state the truth.
Thank you Kimo!! Every word you wrote is true. Those who could even think of challenging your letter are in all reality, the problem!
When you start your letter off with a pair of lies, no one’s going to care about the rest of your rambling.
The Seuss Estate decided to withdraw six books from publication because they didn’t think it represented their brand. I’m sorry that fascists think that they can control how we as people and corporations present ourselves, but I’m going stand by freedom, not by your attempt to force corporations to do what you want them to. Similarly, Hasbro hasn’t cancelled the Potato Head line or even dropped the Mr. and Mrs. terms, they’ve just reduced the focus on them. Again, I’m sorry that fascists think they can control what someone does with their IP, but Habro has that right, not you. There’s no indication in any case that any one “cancelled” those brands.
So, maybe next time don’t repeat lies that you heard on alt-right media, and folks might listen to the rest of what you say.
Is this the same James Kimo Rosen who wrote this piece trying to cancel Colin Kaeperinick?
https://www.thegardenisland.com/2017/09/01/opinion/absolutely-ready-for-some-football/
Is it possible that James Rosen is guilty of the exact thing he is accusing others of doing?
Very true, the same morons who wanted to cancel him for kneeling criticize the so called cancel culture!!! If Kap had just said it was a joke it would have been OK right???
AMEN!
Rosen states; “Social media and comment sections of periodicals have become the downfall of society. The commenters are mostly trolls of the likes of chimpanzees throwing feces at one another. The commenters as the chimpanzees are experiencing stresses and agitations, which can cause them to react in fanatical ways with unkind and damaging words.” He then does the exact thing he is accusing others of.
Now that the word “culture” has become a bumper sticker slogan for simplistic conservative thinkers (e.g. “James” = “Kimo” on souvenir coffee mugs), let’s try to maintain an important distinction between the words “culture” and “custom.” First, “Culture”, from the Latin “colere,” which means to tend to the earth and grow, or cultivate and nurture. “Culture encompasses religion, food, what we wear, how we wear it, our language, marriage, music, what we believe is right or wrong, how we sit at the table, how we greet visitors, how we behave with loved ones, and a million other things,” said Cristina De Rossi, an anthropologist at Barnet and Southgate College in London. It is learned by our socialization. Culture, as growth in shared patterns of behaviors and interactions, cognitive constructs and understanding, should always be presented in the positive.
A Custom is a traditional way of behaving or doing something that is specific to a particular society, place, or time. Customs can be good or bad. Calling customs “culture” is a custom. Everything having to do with the word “Haole,” is a custom. Disgraceful Cockfighting is definitely a custom. Stopping to let someone enter the highway is “part of the culture” if done with aloha and judgment and a custom if done in Kapaa to annoy the driver following too close behind!
This is an important language distinction that we need with topics on diversity trending. It was already cling to life. I’m afraid this, soon to be, customary slogan will kill it!
Spot on. It is sickening how a few high profile “people” with nothing better to do pushes THEIR opinion on everyone and vomits all over social media to sell their liberal BS. You can tell the lame stream sheeple here, by observing those who disliked your summary – especially the “rev”. Clueless they are. This wasn’t a national geographic piece requiring references and foot notes. This is the letters section. Guess what you get in the letters section you super-geniuses? Yeah, that’s right – OPINIONS. This discredits the reported “Rev” for speaking like the hater he is. You should be speaking in a positive supporting way – ya.
Hat-off to Kimo. All those with sand in your pants – move along.
You are exactly right!! Good job Kimo, the majority believes everything you wrote.
The minority are a bunch of left liberal whiny Karens who were coddled and given whatever they wanted by using their whiny manipulating ways.
I honestly believe the fear presented when Covid embarked was the icing on the cake. All began like this….Messenger accts were pass these on. They are trying to Keep God out of the Schools, the Pledge of Allegiance, stopping teens from gathering on campuses to pray like they were used to, suits about civil rights for one that felt left out or demanded their way only!
And when Covid supposedly “HIT” more control of human’s rights were violated. You couldn’t even enter a church, catch an airplane, the highlight of heartbreak was watching my Grandchildren yelling from where they lived up the road, “Hi Grandma! We love and miss you!” I couldn’t even hug them nor touch them.
I am not a revolutionarian nor protester however what better way to stop unity of family friends beloveds in the hospital, dying members controlling how much people to be at a loved ones funeral, not being able to visit ohana in nursing facilities, controlling weddings even patrolling beaches and stopping hiking at one point. Hear what I’m saying? Airborne? We should have all been dead last year when this panic happened. How’s about the theory those that died was already ill with some kind of ailment and it was too late to stop respiratory failure due to a weak immune system. Goverment said, “Give them money they’ll be happy, give them again, some didn’t have…. businesses died. Its like Sodom and Gomorrah. Do what makes you feel good, test the drugs, smoke the pot, embarrass the Police Chief and judge him to the max because some were offended. Do you realize he is a Father Husband before he is the Chief of Police. Just because he came from Vegas? His family suffers because of behind the scenes animosity but didn’t come out till they had enough evidence and all the while KPD is combating crimes, creating task forces for missing children, a drug war, thefts in our neighborhood, rapes etc.
Some of you locals act like you were never born here not focused people from Kaua’i who should be sharing Aloha then rebelling demeaning a human being over a joke. Sounds like a fishing set up to me. What friend would record such hostility towards another friend. SHAME ON YOU! You happy? Is your family proud of you for doing this extreme hate crime? And you know what? It will backfire for what ever you did to the least of human kind that you did unto our Creator. Indeed I am guilty too for cutting your behavior down but I too needed to get this off my chest. ENOUGH! You want Kaua’i cleaned up clean up your act first!!
The decency of upbringing is causing you to rebel. You ask what do I mean? CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE SO IF YOU LIVE SHAMELESSLY THAT’S WHAT YOU WERE TAUGHT. NO SHAME! IF YOU FIGHT THE ELDERLY WITHOUT RESPECT THAT’S WHAT YOU LEARNED TO ANSWER BACK FREELY WITHOUT ANY REPERCUSSIONS Than LEARNING TO BEHAVE. This is not Kaua’i people. It is not the ole school ways that our parents and grandparents worked so hard to teach us values, principles, respect and dignity for all persons regardless of race creed or color!
And the vaccine? To keep us safe? Its now being said that it wont prevent you from getting Covid! And listen to this. Its been approved by the FDA?????? I’m glad our parents aren’t here to witness all of this. They would have died from heart break.
Thanks for allowing me to vent.
James “Desperate For Attention” Rosen. Trump lost.
He didn’t lose, the Lying Biden side stole it. That’s what happens when you have evil big money involved.
Please provide reputable citations for your claim.
Bonified Wahine Kupuna born and raised.
Retired, still Dr. and Ordained Minister in good standing…..
Have a problem excepting bald faced lies and blatantly racist opinion pieces published in my home town Island news written by a self proclaimed transplant who named his black dog Obama….
What is your problem with reality?
Sigh, the depressing truth that came from the recent presidential election of the usa is magnified here by anti intelligent spot articles that show us how polarized our community and country has become….. we really are who we are, not better than that!
The good news is that now tgi printed his blog info all the chimpanzees can congregate on his blog page and rise to his level of delusion.
Perhaps I can find semi coherent dialog again as I do enjoy staying informed…..
Comments sections are disheartening. No matter what your opinion is trashing others and complaining about society does nothing for anyone. Instead take action in the real world to better society in some way, so we don’t all have to be covered in chimp shit.
I wondered how long the police chief from the mainland would last. I knew he would be taken out by something….but a joke? HaHaHa! Like no one in the police department has ever repeated a joke that could be taken wrong! People on their high moral horses are usually the worst offenders.