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Did ANYONE see Jay Leno last night? (thursday) I was so mad! Jay, thinking it would be funny, put one of his stage managers on the spot to get a hair cut. This guy had curly hair that fell between his shoulder and chest. . .it was in good condition and not scraggly. He obviously took care of it and said he had it that way for about 10 years. Jay kept bugging the guy to get a hair cut "for his mom, for Mother's Day" The guy obviously did NOT wat one b/c he kept saying "Oh my God, oh man!" Again, thinking it would be funny, Jay brought out some kind of tool you use to trim bushes with, grabbed the guys hair and whacked it off. Soon afterward, Jay had his personal hairdresser come on and "fix" the guy's hair. How "big" of him. However, as the show was brought to a close, the guy had one of those horrible buzz cuts with power bangs and globs of gel gooped in it.
Who knows how long it took that guy to grow his hair that length. . .the audience was all for it as well. Kinda ticked me off. I realize that all this could have possibly been "staged," and if so, the guy was a great actor. . .because to me, he in no way wanted a hair cut. Another one bites the dust and this time is ridiculed in public.
These were my comments sent to NBC this morning:
I was outraged to read the following on the longhaired men's bulletin
board this morning (at: http://the-light.com/mens/messages/6381.html )
Tell me it's not true:
Did ANYONE see Jay Leno last night? (thursday) I was so mad!
Jay, thinking it would be funny, put one of his stage managers
on the spot to get a hair cut. This guy had curly hair that
fell between his shoulder and chest. . .it was in good condition
and not scraggly. He obviously took care of it and said he had
it that way for about 10 years. Jay kept bugging the guy to get
a hair cut "for his mom, for Mother's Day" The guy obviously
did NOT wat one b/c he kept saying "Oh my God, oh man!" Again,
thinking it would be funny, Jay brought out some kind of tool
you use to trim bushes with, grabbed the guys hair and whacked
it off. Soon afterward, Jay had his personal hairdresser come
on and "fix" the guy's hair. How "big" of him. However, as the
show was brought to a close, the guy had one of those horrible
buzz cuts with power bangs and globs of gel gooped in it.
Who knows how long it took that guy to grow his hair that
length. . .the audience was all for it as well. Kinda ticked
me off. I realize that all this could have possibly been "staged,"
and if so, the guy was a great actor. . .because to me, he in no
way wanted a hair cut. Another one bites the dust and this time
is ridiculed in public.
As a longhaired man, this is as outrageous to me as tying a gay
employee to a fence post or dragging a black employee behind a truck.
Longhaired men face a tremendous amount of discrimination, and many
of us have hair that takes years to grow. Removal of a longhaired
man's hair is so longlasting that to that man it seems permanent.
It is not like a clothing change. It is a mutilation.
Many of us have, in our lifetimes, particularly when young, been
threatened with physical violence over our hair, and "Get a haircut!"
is as offensive to us as "Nigger!" or "Faggot!" is to those people,
because it is an attempt to deprive us of our identity, who we are.
If this event was not staged (with the man's approval), it constituted
both mayhem and robbery. These are both felonies in most states. If
it was staged, it was still far worse an offense than a verbal taunt,
because it portrayed carrying a taunt beyond that into physical
violence. Who knows how many longhaired men and boys will suffer
taunts and physical aggression because of this thoughtless skit?
In my mind, Jay Leno has always been a class act. I was greatly
disappointed to read of the event which occurred last night.
Bill Choisser
bill@choisser.com
Bill, and anyone else interested in writing complaints to NBC; you might also consider writing to TV Guide. However small the chances, you might actually get your letter in the letters section. Millions of people read that, it's one of those things to always check in the new TV Guides that come in the mail. If we're really lucky, maybe they'll do a "Jeer"!
If you think writing to NBC will accomplish anything, you are deluded.
And if you think your comments are irritating us, you too are deluded.
Yes, I saw the Jay Lamo show last night, and when I saw that come up, I had to change the channel. I couldn't stand to see this happen to an unwilling man. When I woke up this morning, I was still pissed! I used to be a faithful Jay Lenoi watcher, because I used to think he was a decent enough guy, but no more. He is no below the level of David Letterman, who, while renowned for his occasional rudeness, would never harass a longhaired employee like that. Johnny Carson would certainly have never stooped to that level.
I think we should all write NBC with our complaints, and make ourselves heard as much as possible. I don't expect an apology out of Leno, obviously, but maybe we can prevent this type of "makeover" (I hate those anyway) from ever happening again. I think it was very unfair to put this man on the spot like that, in front of hundreds of pressuring audience members. Of coyurse the guy's gonna do it, because if he doesn't, ohe he's a "big turd" who'd "being selfish". I think it's selfish to make someone else over in your own image just to please your own desires.
But I can go on about this for days. In short, Jay Leno's head should be shaved publicly on his show as another funny little "skit"! Ha!
By all means, stop watching Leno. Watch ONLY shows with longhairs! In other words, don't watch TV anymore. Because there are very few longhairs on TV, just like there are very few longhairs in life.
Folks,
I never saw it but I feel outraged too.
I have a question though. Judging from some accounts of longhairs facing harrassment and so on, which have appeared on this list lately, I have begun to wonder whether there is a growing level of intolerance against longhairs in North America?
In the 1960's when long hair (on men) began, there definitely was a strong bias against it but it appears that North American society (as well as in other countries) grew to accept it to an extent.
However now, the pendulum appears to be slowly swinging back the other way, or is it just a part of a cyclical trend?
Charles
In general, I think greater visibility and greater acceptance of any minority generates a backlash from those who feel threatened in some way (if only because their majority appears to be losing ground). If that's true, then more episodes of intolerance could actually indicate that more men are becoming longhairs, or that society on the whole is becoming more accepting - both good things, though they may bring on more harrassment from the holdouts. (Certainly, in a time when very few men were longhairs, there would be correspondingly few incidents of harrassment to report.)
I think so, especially being in the 90s (the "Oh, you offend me generation"). I find America to be one of the most prejudice, closed-minded, intolerant and uptight countries around. Yeah, yeah there are others I could name, but I just give this place a hard time considering all the freedom crap that this country was supposedly built on and all the non-discrimination laws that are always thrown in your face but no one practices it. Its like when a corporation talks about "team work". That's why its up to us to be stronger and hold on to those things that are a part of ourselves (long hair, beards, clothing, personal preferences or ???) and not do things simply because of being a part of the pack when we have no connection with what we're doing. I'm not saying to rebel simply out of the art of rebelling, but to do what it is that really is we want to do. I hope I'm making sense, its 8am and I'm halfway through my cup of coffee. The fog is lifting.
Chaeya
Except the fog clouding your brain!!
Well, I must admit I agree with you somewhat..but listen, have you ever lived anywhere else? The reason I'm asking is because I'm an American living abroad and though I'm not saying where, it is in western Europe, in a country where everyone thinks it's so great to visit. Plus I've visited many other European countries. America has it's share of problems, and I'm sure the Indians and Blacks would be the first to say that freedom has two meanings in America, considering their past history and some things that still go on. I'll tell you what though, freedom can be found most in America, trust me on that one-and I would move back to America in a minuite if I could (my Husband's work prevents it for now.)
You should see how women are discriminated against in Europe-ALL OVER, not just the Eastern bloc. We think WE have problems.
Believe me, it's not "crap" when Americans say we have freedom, because I would say we are the most free country in the world.
Thanks for reading,
Holly
Gee Holly, I know I may have struck a nerve, but please go back and reread my post before going off on me. I said that this goes on in other places BUT I GIVE AMERICA A HARD TIME BECAUSE WE ARE A COUNTRY THAT WAS FOUNDED ON A FREEDOM PRINCIPLE. I am half-black and half-white. I lived in Europe more than five years and have traveled from Western Europe, to Egypt on down to Australia. I understand that it is very hard in Eastern European countries and was in Berlin before the wall came down. But I will tell you from personal experience that I felt more accepted over there being who I am than over here. Sorry, but that has been my experience. I understand that prejudice and discrimination goes on everywhere, but I do find America very uptight in lots of ways that I did not experience over when I was living in Europe. I have been living here in California since 1993. So, I do not feel my brain is clouded and if you want to disagree with me, fine, you don't have to insult me personally. Gee Whiz. It is constructive criticism. I don't hate America and I love it here and I'm sorry if my post came off so harsh, but I will say what I don't like about it. I make the kind of posts that I do because most of the fellas here know me and I feel safe to speak my mind.
Home is where you make it. My home is here now and I enjoy it because I make my own way and I am responsible for my own life. And I have freedom because I don't buy into a lot of b.s. that goes on in the world and appreciate every bit of it.
I wish you the best and that you are able to come back here soon because I know what it feels like when you're ready to come back,
Chaeya
it seems that the freedoms in america are available only to those who can afford them. the rest of us are expected to conform to corporate policy.
I hear you, bro. I also have a saying that is "Justice is based on zip code."
Chaeya
i bet that's true to some extent wherever you go.
I just want to apologize to the people I offended with my blasting America speech above. I know what I wanted to say, but after rereading, it did sound unfair and harsh and I'm sorry. I'm a little exhausted emotionally these days and am very angry and frustrated after some disgruntled idiot (old enough to know better) intentionally drove his car through my friend's preschool last week killing two children (a 5 and a 3 yr. old) and injuring her 2 yr. old son as well as three other kids were injured. Nick just got out the hospital yesterday. He's doing okay but is pretty banged up and it really hurt me to see him today. The good thing is he's walking and talking again, but is a little withdrawn. This comes not even two weeks after the Colorado thing. I don't even want to get into what I feel about that. Sorry, to get off topic too.
Chaeya
Chaeya,
I'm sorry too. Even before I read about that terrible incident with the person (?) driving his car through the pre-school, when I read your first posting responding to me, I felt I came down a little hard.
Group hug, O.K.? I was angry at first, but I shouldn't have said those things. When I feel strongly about things, I'm a little quick with saying my thoughts, admittedly.
I guess like you I'm feeling a little frustrated myself, only because of where I'm living-oh I might as well just say where it is-it's France, and a lot of them don't like Americans here (even though our boys in WW1 and WW11 -and the British as well, whom they also don't like-helped save their country, and many gave their lives for it).
So quite honestly I've never had an encounter with racial/ethnic prejudice 'till I moved here last fall. Just living here without all the comforts of America is enough to make me even more patriotic than ever before (I've always been patriotic, though). America has some horrific problems right now, but I still would rather be in America, I love it, and even more so now, although some of our past (and present) are embarrassing to say the least, but like you said so are a lot of other countries.
I agree with the other post as well-for people who can afford it, there is more freedom-but still the average Joe/Jill has a better life here, at least I feel it's true for women, anyhow.
Well, thanks for responding, and enjoy California! Watch out for the earthquakes, though:)
Holly
It must be confusing to see "Calsie" and then my name "Holly"-just wanted to make sure that everyone knew it was me both times and not another person-Calsie is me but it takes too long to explain why that was posted as my name. You can be sure that if I ever post again I'll always make sure my own name will be posted, so as not to cause any confusion.
Thanks,
Holly
GROUP HUG!!!!! Did you know that I was in 2 hr. long group hug once in front of restaurant in the rain? Anyway, I reread my response to you and I thought, God, I'm being way too defensive and I didn't think that you were really being that mean, so I felt it best to apologize. I have gone through so many emotions since last week and I guess I haven't allowed myself to acknowledge them, so I've been trying to sort through how I'm feeling right now and I still can't tell you. Anyway, I know exactly what you're going through over there. The only thing that saved my butt in France is I have a very exotic look and I speak a bit of French, but I've seen them chew Americans a new one right before my eyes. I would love to talk to you sometime, so please feel free to e-mail me if you want to talk. You're cool people.
Chaeya