Racism on Fox: Anti-Polonism Lives On.

This unfortunate news has just been brought to my attention:

On Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007, Fox aired an episode of the "Back to You" sitcom. During one scene, a character tries to convince the show's only Polish character to go bowling by saying:

"It's in your Polish blood, just like kielbasa and collaborating with the Nazis."

The English historian Norman Davies is clear in his message that of all nations subdued endure Nazi authority, no nation had fewer rats and collaborators than Poland. Poland fought the Nazis across Europe and Africa for over six years, and suffered over 6 million deaths in the war. In fact, the Nazi "final solution" included the Poles as well: they were to be done away with once the less numerous peoples (Jews, Gypsies) had been eliminated. There were numerous non-Germanic nations who DID collaborate with the Nazis, however: one wonders why they weren't the ones targeted. One wonders how Fox could make such a blunder.

It's stuff like this that really boils my blood. If you think I'm being overly sensitive, let me rephrase the statement in two other ways:

"It's in your Mexican blood, just like tamales and taking money to transport your own people across borders in refrigerated trucks."

-or, perhaps:-
"It's in your African blood, just like chitlins and selling your own people to white slave-traders."

I wonder if the NAACP would have let that last one slide. Either statement would have made the front page. Anti-Polonism, however, is an institution in the United States. The error won't even be noticed until people act.

Whether you are Polish or not, I ask you to contact Fox at the number below. Ask for the comment line regarding the "Back to you" show, and then you will be able to leave a recorded message. In fact, it would speak volumes if some of my esteemed German friends could take this action.

1-310-369-1000

With a moment of your time, you can help continue the work to eradicate -- not just misplace -- racism in America. Please help keep this error from going into syndication.