Yeah, but I find people being offended by it even dumber. "Offensive" names are an old rock tradition... Although I am having trouble figuring out what's so offensive about "viet cong". Could the hatred be politically motivated? I should start a band called "General Thiệu" or, better yet, "Henry Kissinger", just to see how even handed the haters are.
Offensive rock band names may be an old tradition, but so is, say, sexism in rock. Not all traditions need to live forever. I don't have any problem with certain types of stupid band names falling by the wayside if it means being decent to more people. Vietnamese people sure didn't find it that fucking funny.
Offensive to which vietnamese? Those that supported the South during the Vietnam war and left after the fall of Saigon? I'm sure we could easily find plenty of vietnamese of a more nationalistic bent who think the Viet Cong were heroes. By the way, as far as I know, the Viet Cong were strictly a guerrilla army, and they were dissolved at the end of the Vietnam war, they had little to do with what happened in Vietnam after the end of the war. But of course, we're not talking about a bunch of choir boys here! It was war, and a very brutal one at that.
Remember Joy Division? And Gang of Four? Oh, and how about Teenage Panzerkorps?
Keep in mind that what is and isn't offensive depends a lot on context. For instance, I think that if a bunch of black dudes got together and started, with an obvious satirical intent, a band called KKK, that would be fine, even funny.
There's a german band I quite enjoy called "Banque Allemende". I'm sure that's offensive to plenty of greeks. There's an all male band called "Women". Is that sexist or feminist?
I don't see why a bunch of Canadian kids who weren't even born when the Vietnam war ended can't call their band "Viet Cong".
Me five years ago would have probably agreed with you.
These days, when people tell me a stupid band name makes them feel shitty, I am disinclined to spend time explaining to them why I think they're wrong.
I was never of the opinion that Viet Cong shouldn't have been allowed to have that band name, btw. But only if they're willing to fully wear that shit if/when it rubs people the wrong way. Teenage Panzercorps sure did. These dudes seemed to just expect to shrug and have it go away.
Comments
Popular culture no longer applies to me
Zia - Helelyos
The Rentals - The Love I'm Searching For
I think this is footage from Hail the new puritan.
SHOOBIDOOOBIDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Viet Cong Are Changing Their Name
Which is stupid.
Keep in mind that what is and isn't offensive depends a lot on context. For instance, I think that if a bunch of black dudes got together and started, with an obvious satirical intent, a band called KKK, that would be fine, even funny.
There's a german band I quite enjoy called "Banque Allemende". I'm sure that's offensive to plenty of greeks. There's an all male band called "Women". Is that sexist or feminist?
I don't see why a bunch of Canadian kids who weren't even born when the Vietnam war ended can't call their band "Viet Cong".
These days, when people tell me a stupid band name makes them feel shitty, I am disinclined to spend time explaining to them why I think they're wrong.
I was never of the opinion that Viet Cong shouldn't have been allowed to have that band name, btw. But only if they're willing to fully wear that shit if/when it rubs people the wrong way. Teenage Panzercorps sure did. These dudes seemed to just expect to shrug and have it go away.