Awkward Dance – New York Times:
Last Christmas, I took my grandchildren to “The Nutcracker,” a ballet I love. My enjoyment was severely marred by the appearance of a black snowflake and then, even worse, a black Snow King. The aesthetic incongruity was inconceivable. The entire ballet was spoiled. It is analogous to a one-legged midget playing Tarzan. Does this make me a racist?
Why, yes. It does make you a racist. The idea that one’s racial heritage and appearance is crippling says a lot: the analogy should have made that clear as soon as he or she wrote it down.
I saw this in my morning paper as well, and couldn’t believe someone would ask. But they did have the sense to have their name withheld (or perhaps The Ethicist took it upon himself to shield this person from the tide of indignation they were sure to get).
On The Ethicist: does he ever get any really challenging questions?