and why is it a big fucking deal?

i HATE the fucking media

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/11/05/ice.costume/index.html

Quote :

" WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Department of Homeland Security will investigate a Halloween costume party hosted by a top immigration official and attended by a man dressed in a striped prison outfit, dreadlocks and darkened skin make-up, a costume some say is offensive, the department's secretary said. art.myers.gi.jpg Julie Myers, head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, called the man's costume "offensive." Julie Myers, head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and host of the fundraising party, was on a three-judge panel that originally praised the prisoner costume for "originality." Myers later apologized for "a few of the costumes," calling them "inappropriate and offensive." She said she and other senior managers "deeply regret that this happened." A department photographer photographed Myers with the man, but the images were deleted after the costume were deemed offensive, ICE spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said. Between 50 and 75 people attended the party, which was a fundraiser for the Combined Federal Campaign, a federal government collection of charities. Nantel said one employee, whom she declined to identify, was wearing a black-and-white striped prison outfit, dreadlocks and a skin "bronzer" intended "to make him look African-American." But, she said, it was not immediately apparent that he was wearing the make-up. "Most people in the room didn't realize he was wearing make-up at all," she said. "It was unintentioned. The employee did not mean to offend although there were some employees that were rightfully offended by it," Nantel said. Myers and the other judges "noted his costume for originality." "There were a couple of people who were offended," Nantel said. "When it was confirmed through a conversation with the employee that he was wearing make-up," Nantel said, the employee was counseled and Myers sent out a note to employees apologizing. In a November 2 email to ICE employees, Myers wrote, "It is now clear that, however unintended, a few of the costumes were inappropriate and offensive. While we were all thrilled to be a part of the CFC fundraising effort, I and the senior management at ICE deeply regret that this happened." She reminded all employees to be compliant with the department's diversity training requirement. Myers has served as head of ICE since January of 2006 but is still awaiting Senate confirmation. An ICE congressional liaison said ICE officials briefed congressional staffers about the costume party this week as a courtesy. But at least one congressional staffer said they approached ICE after receiving an anonymous fax about the incident. Myers called House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Mississippi, about the incident and is expected to meet with him before the end of the week, a Thompson spokeswoman told CNN. Myers also contacted the National Association of African-Americans in the Department of Homeland Security. In a letter to NAADHS members, the group's vice president, Sjon Shavers, said the group "appreciates (Myers) reaching out to us so quickly in order to keep us apprised of the matter and we commend her on moving so swiftly toward appropriate corrective action." As head of ICE, Myers heads the law enforcement agency charged with enforcing immigration law inside the United States. It is the second largest investigative agency in the federal government, with more than 15,000 employees, including 6,000 investigators. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff "supports the actions that Assistant Secretary Myers has taken," DHS spokeswoman Laura Keehner said. "We do not tolerate inappropriate behavior at DHS." "The Secretary has asked for an inquiry into the facts surrounding the incident. Once the facts have been determined, we will take all necessary and appropriate actions," Keehner said."

11/6/2007 11:42:36 AM

a top immigration official wearing racist costumes? what ISN'T newsworthy about this?

11/6/2007 11:44:23 AM

While certainly tasteless and 'write-up'-able at work, certainly not a newsworthy topic.

11/6/2007 11:44:35 AM

how is it any more racist than if he went as a white prisoner?

not to mention, it was a fucking costume party, are we going to get to the point where dressing up like a zombie offends homeless people?

jesus christ....

11/6/2007 11:48:24 AM

CNN is almost as big of a joke as Fox News

not evident from this article, but the trend in recent years goes to show, when you try to be the kid on the other side of the idealogical seesaw at the expense of being rational, you end up being just as retarded as the other guy

11/6/2007 12:12:56 PM

it's in the news cause ppl make a big deal (i.e. threads) about it

soon as he apologized it should have been a done deal regardless of intentions or w/e else.

11/6/2007 1:12:09 PM

and now the staffer has been suspended from his job....

Quote :

"The employee who wore what some said was a racially insensitive Halloween costume to a party hosted by a top immigration official is being directed by the Homeland Security Department Secretary to take administrative leave."

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/11/06/ice.costume/index.html

11/6/2007 4:59:47 PM

is anything on this entire site news? http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/

11/6/2007 5:01:32 PM

This PC bullshit has gotten out of hand. Its halloween for christ sake.

11/6/2007 5:11:23 PM

Quote :

"This PC bullshit has gotten out of hand. Its halloween for christ sake."

i'm actually inclined to agree.... people need to unbunch their panties and chill the fuck out.

11/6/2007 5:16:04 PM

Last time i check the constitution did not give the "Right To Not Be Offended"

11/6/2007 5:19:32 PM

Quote :

"are we going to get to the point where dressing up like a zombie offends homeless people? "

Why offended? The Homeless collect cans. What do zombies collect.....

11/6/2007 6:15:29 PM

^zombies dont draw checks. +1 for the zombies.

11/6/2007 6:26:39 PM

anyone have pics of the costume?

11/6/2007 7:11:35 PM

the best part is yet to come. The employee that was suspended is going to sue and win a shit-load of money. Guess who is gonna end up footing the bill?

11/6/2007 8:23:56 PM

Quote :

"The Homeless collect cans. What do zombies collect....."

Brains. Maybe we need to set up a central distribution point, more than a few members of this board could use them.

11/6/2007 8:48:36 PM