Judge Put on Leave Over Alleged 'Tarzan' Quip

[LauraK]

An immigration judge was placed on administrative leave Monday after complaints that he made jokes about Tarzan to a woman who had been raped and tortured in her native Uganda.

The woman, whose first name is Jane, went before Judge Thomas Ragno in June, seeking political asylum in the United States because her husband was killed and she was beaten, raped and tortured in her homeland.

"Jane, come here. Me Tarzan!" Ragno said, according to the woman's physician, Dr. Sondra Crosby, who attended the June 20 deportation hearing to testify about the woman's injuries.

"It was disrespectful and insulting, and in my mind it was racist to have a white judge making Tarzan comments to a black woman," Crosby said.

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[kainah]

1. Ohmigod!!!!!

That is so totally outrageous! How could someone ever think that would be acceptable conduct? Much less, a JUDGE!

[arcane1]

2. when will Bush be nominating him?

sounds like his kinda guy!

[w4rma]

3. Not sure this is racist: In the movies, Jane is white. This Jane is black.

Tarzan is white in the movies, also.

Now, is this remark chauvinist? I think so.

[psychopomp]

5. Uh, yes, black, Ugandan...

and the judge comes up with a jungle joke. If you do not see the racism behind that remark..? :think: >sheesh<

[Pert_UK]

9. It's not NECESSARILY racist....

Thoughtless, insensitive, inappropriate, sexist, chauvinist?

Quite probably, but not necessarily racist.

It sounds like a man treating a woman with no respect whatsoever, and trivialising her suffering.

Just because a white man has said something offensive to a black person, that doesn't make the remark racist.

Of course, the judge's insensitivity could stem from racism, but we don't know that.

P.

[psychopomp]

10. Not just "something" offensive

It was a jungle joke. White judge+jungle reference+Ugandan black person=very high probability that this was of the racist sentiment.

[Pert_UK]

11. Nope.....

It was a joke about the woman's name which the judge may have used even if she'd have been white, and it would still have been in equally poor taste.

Of course it MAY have been racist, but to be honest I just believe it was a stupid asshole making an ill-timed attempt at lighthearted humour. Bear in mind that in the film it is Tarzan who is the uneducated primitive, so it's not like he called her a monkey or anything. He just tried to make a joke at a time when jokes are completely inappropriate.

I'm sure I've said "Me Tarzan you Jane" previously in my life, and it's always been a lame joke based on someone's first name.

Peace.

P.

[shirlden]

4. I'll bet this judge

considers himself to be a compassionate conservative.

Great potential for the Supremes. Hey Bush.....we got a live one for ya. Come see.

:argh:

[Julien Sorel]

6. I'm black, and don't find this racist.

As someone else pointed out, Tarzan's Jane was white. In fact, I don't see a racial angle here at all; the jungle thing is debateable at best, since many Africans never see the jungle. I do find the comment funny, but it's also insensitive, given the circumstances. Maybe it's a male-female thing, I don't know. If someone can explain to me why this is racist I'd appreciate it.

[psychopomp]

8. Exactly

Most Africans do not live in the "jungle" which is why this shows racist stereotyping and cultural insensitivity. Given this woman's circumstances one would think the judge would be more compassionate. That he was not can be inferred to be because he could not see her as anything more than a "jungle woman."

It is not definative proof but unless the judge comes right out and says that he is a racist, you are not going to get it.

[Julien Sorel]

Double post

[Julien Sorel]

7. Triple post

[GoddessOfGuinness]

12. ~expletive deleted~

He should be thrown out.