Essay 1379

Kibbles N’ News Bits in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• The case involving the Los Angeles Black firefighter who was served dog food by his coworkers continues to boil (see Essay 1303). The firefighter originally received a $2.7 million settlement offer from the city. However, the mayor vetoed the action after public complaints. Now the City Council is divided over the incident. “Whatever anyone says about me, I’ve always tried to do what’s right,” said the firefighter. “This is wrong. If four Black firemen did it to a White fireman, I would stand up [with] the White fireman and say it was wrong.” The City Council is scheduled to make a decision today. Then everyone’s getting together at the firehouse for a spaghetti dinner.

• Snoop Dogg is in the doghouse, getting arrested for felony drug- and weapons-related charges. The arrest was connected to an investigation after Mr. Dogg was apprehended last month at a Burbank airport for allegedly packing a handgun and marijuana. This time, the cops searched the rapper, his ride and his home, ultimately charging him with packing a firearm, cocaine and marijuana. Plus, the man had a false compartment in his vehicle. Not sure why Snoop bothers — he ought to simply install a gun rack and greenhouse in his ride.

• Michael Richards continues to cause cultural controversy. When it was revealed Richards incorporated anti-Semitic rants in a recent comedy routine, publicist Howard Rubenstein said Richards “is Jewish. He’s not anti-Semitic at all. He was role-playing.” However, Jewish organizations said Richards has not converted to Judaism; plus, his parents are not Jewish. “Technically, not having been born by blood as Jewish and not formally going into a conversion, it was purely his interpretation of having adopted Judaism as his religion,” explained Rubenstein. “He told me, ‘I’m Jewish,’ when I asked him. … He said there were two mentors who raised him and who had a big influence on his life, and they were Jewish. He said, ‘I agree with the concepts and the religious beliefs of Judaism and I’ve adopted Judaism as my religion.’ … He really thinks of himself as Jewish.” Hey, he also thinks he’s not a racist.