Speedy Gonzalez Banned?

[Mr. Peabody]

On Fox News I saw this thing that Cartoon Network banned Speedy in th US. What do you think of that? I think it's terrible.

[Vin]

Originally posted by Sc00bYryaN
On Fox News I saw this thing that Cartoon Network banned Speedy in th US. What do you think of that? I think it's terrible.

Tons of fans are annoyed. Just check out the The Termite Terrace Trading Post here at Toon Zone.

[Sharklady]

I really think that's an over-reaction.

If Speedy was a Despicable Ethnic Steriotype character, I suppose I could understand. But he's just a fast, clever mouse who does a lot of excited shouting. Does his Mexican accent make these traits bad?

[Incardine]

Urgh...

Why on Earth would SPEEDY GONZALES be banned? IT's purposeless. :/

[Viper]

Everyone, I just read the article on Hispanic Online and it's possible that CN may put it on Adult Swim. They say of the 90% fans who want him back are, get this, Latin Americans (according to FoxNews and HispanicOnline)!!! Let's all hope and pray that Speedy will be back and CN will leave our decent cartoons alone!Speedy is my #2 favorite WB character, #1 is Pepe Le Pew(I'll be so angry if he gets banned!).

VIVA SPEEDY GONZALES!!! ARRIBA!

[True Red]

Originally posted by Viper
Everyone, I just read the article on Hispanic Online and it's possible that CN may put it on Adult Swim. They say of the 90% fans who want him back are, get this, Latin Americans (according to FoxNews and HispanicOnline)!!!

Now talk about irony. Isn't Speedy supposed to be "offensive" to them?

VIVA SPEEDY GONZALES!!! ARRIBA!

**joins the chant**

[Sharklady]

> Isn't Speedy supposed to be "offensive" to them? <

Not for one moment have I ever believed that Latin Americans all have the same opinion about Speedy (or about anything else, for that matter- there's no such thing as an ethnic group where everybody thinks the same way.) I'm sure what's happened is, a few loudmouth complainers have made their opinions heard disproportionately to their actual numbers.

Hopefully, this ban may incite Latin Americans who like Speedy to raise their voices, too.

[PeppeRaskell1]

Originally posted by Sharklady
> Isn't Speedy supposed to be "offensive" to them? <

There's a song by Pat Boone (yes, that Pat Boone) about Speedy that kinda depicts him in an unfavorable light, which might have got 'em all worked up.

According to the song, he's "drinkin' with a floozy named Flo" while his hascienda's coming down around him ("The roof is leakin' like a sieve" "Your dog is gonna have a puppy" etc. are the lines that stick in the back of my head right now)...which doesn't sound like the Speedy Gonzales we all know and love and want to see back on the air again.

The song is usually played on Your Typical Oldies Station.

"Hey Rosita! Down at the cantina they giving away green stamps with Tequila..."--Pat Boone (yes, that Pat Boone), Speedy Gonzales

[halinar]

More PC crap taking over our life. Other people telling us what we can and can not watch because a very few might get offended.

Guess what? In the constitution there is no clause that states that we have the right to never be offended.

Common....I'm mostly Irish and if we don't deserve to get picked on then no one does. The world needs to lighten up and see that being different is a good thing....enjoy it.

[Sharklady]

> The world needs to lighten up and see that being different is a good thing.... <

Here's the problem: a lot of ethnic-steriotype characters are based on *Exactly The Opposite View.* They're derived from somebody's assumption that to be different is to be worthy of contempt, derision and abuse.

But I don't think Speedy is that kind of character. He has ordinary virtues and faults, and is never presented as an object of scorn. This apparent assumption, that he *must* be a degrading steriotype *just because* he has a Mexican accent, is an unthinking knee-jerk reaction and shouldn't be catered to.

[Viper]

Originally posted by Sharklady
> The world needs to lighten up and see that being different is a good thing.... <

Here's the problem: a lot of ethnic-steriotype characters are based on *Exactly The Opposite View.* They're derived from somebody's assumption that to be different is to be worthy of contempt, derision and abuse.

But I don't think Speedy is that kind of character. He has ordinary virtues and faults, and is never presented as an object of scorn. This apparent assumption, that he *must* be a degrading steriotype *just because* he has a Mexican accent, is an unthinking knee-jerk reaction and shouldn't be catered to.

I absolutely agree with you. Speedy is just a decent character who helps out fellow mice in trouble from either Sylvester or Daffy. CN just doesn't want to show anything good anymore, just Japanese garbage and an upcoming show that makes horrible fun of the disabled (The Oblongs) . Please CN leave our classic cartoons alone!!!

[Incardine]

I have to agree on many points, EXCEPT:

I absolutely agree with you. Speedy is just a decent character who helps out fellow mice in trouble from either Sylvester or Daffy. CN just doesn't want to show anything good anymore, just Japanese garbage and an upcoming show that makes horrible fun of the disabled (The Oblongs) . Please CN leave our classic cartoons alone!!!

Just Japanese Garbage?

DBZ is not Japanese Garbage, it is American Corporations turning a Japanese show into Garbage.

Tenchi is nto Japanese Garbage, it is Japanese coolness with a good tanslation itno English.

I could go on and on.

Besides which, CN STILL regularly runs the overall pretty good Batman series. And don't forget that they DO keep running the classic cartoons and probably still will for a LONG LONG time - the ACME Hour is very popular for many reasons you know.

[Pilmedium]

I happen to be a fan of most classic WB characters, including Speedy. The few people who are offended should choose not to watch. I am not Hispanic, so can't speak for them, but it has been proven that most are not bothered by Speedy. A moderator at Termite Terrace Trading Post set up a petition and recently sent it to Cartoon Network.


A slightly related comment
While the focus is on one character, many other cartoons are also locked up for political correctness. Most likely, at least 10 cartoons will be pulled from June Bugs. Ignore their advertising, because CN proved last year that they can lie about those issues. The Bugs Bunny problem is only one example.

[Viper]

Originally posted by Incardine
I have to agree on many points, EXCEPT:



Just Japanese Garbage?

DBZ is not Japanese Garbage, it is American Corporations turning a Japanese show into Garbage.

Tenchi is nto Japanese Garbage, it is Japanese coolness with a good tanslation itno English.

I could go on and on.

Besides which, CN STILL regularly runs the overall pretty good Batman series. And don't forget that they DO keep running the classic cartoons and probably still will for a LONG LONG time - the ACME Hour is very popular for many reasons you know.

First, I'm very sorry if I offended you or any other anime fan. I just meant that CN has replaced some of our best cartoons, like the moose and squirrel, with cartoons not meant to be seen by children. Such as, Cowboy Bebop--one originally-banned-in-USA ep has a character using a toilet, and in another, drug use is involved where a guy injects his eye with something. DBZ--seen a couple of eps, not bad but could be a little less violent. Also, I'm just getting started watching Outlaw Star, from producers of Cowboy Bebop, it's much better; also started watching Tenchi--pretty good, even if Ryoko's a 700 year old demon. I also would like to see Big O--also from producers of Cowboy and Outlaw. IMO, the only real Japanese garbage is: Pokemon, Mon Colle Knights, and Yu-Gi-Oh (if I offend, I'm sorry but this how I feel). They teach children how to treat others like dirt and to have explosive tempers (I'm referring to Misty). Personally, I prefer stuff like Megaman The Series, the original Transformers series, and I wonder if anyone remembers this--Skysurfer Strikeforce which was fantastic. So, not all Japanime is garbage, I just wish CN would show decent Japanime like the ones I mentioned including the original Speed Racer series--that was the best and true anime.

Also, CN has edited some of our other classic cartoons by not showing native American Indians--such as Sylvester and Tweety's Tom Tom Tomcat and Bugs Bunny's Hiawatha's Rabbit Hunt and they refuse to show any of Tom and Jerry's cartoons with Mammy Two-Shoes even though they still show Puss Gets the Boot on Acme Hour--such as Part-Time Pal, Push-Button Kitty, among others. IMO, CN has become too PC these past few years.

[Sharklady]

> I just wish CN would show decent Japanime like the ones I mentioned including the original Speed Racer series... <

The 'Mock 5' episode on Dexter's Lab comes pretty close.

[Sharklady]

Recent Development: There is a short article about this controversy in today's (April 7th) issue of THE NEW YORK TIMES. To be specific, it's on Page 3 of the 'Week In Review' section.

A CN spokesperson claimed the main reason they don't show Speedy cartoons much is because "they simply aren't a ratings winner." But she conceded "that part of the audience appeal problem is the toons' negative stereotypes- like Speedy's lazy cousin, Slowpoke Rodriguez..."

Humph. Just why does anyone think Slowpoke is any more representitive of Mexicans than Speedy is? It's obvious to me, he's just there to provide a contrast to his hyperactive cousin.

The article reports that the great majority of posters on HispanicOnline are pro-Speedy. Several sample postings are quoted, this one was my favorite:

'If you ask me, the cartoons depict "gringo" society (those crafty American cats...) as a not-to-bright, conniving species that exploits anyone who happens to be handy. The Mexican mice are always content in their own pueblos, doing their own thing, and here come the gringos into Mexican turf, interfering and looking out for their own interests. And Speedy always wins! So who is being depicted negatively here?'

Uh-oh. So maybe now a few people will be calling for Speedy cartoons to be banned due to their 'demeaning gringo steriotypes.'