MOST people who like watching TV and who also like comedy, are buzzing around about the recent Kramer/Richards thing. The tapes depict a man who was interrupted And began going off at newly arrived Blacks. Mr. Richards got upset and used the Very POLITICALLY incorrect N word to send verbal harpoons at this addition to His audience.

DO I appreciate what he said? NO. Do I find any humor whatever to his statements? Some. Should his history as a comedian be ignored and should he be sent to Comics hell for such outbursts? NO.

Those of us who are old enough will recall Lenny Bruce, who perhaps was the first one to introduce the 'f' word, the n name and other adjectives and nouns to both Invigorate his presentations and shock the audience.

Recently, we have had a "recovering alcoholic" offer comments about Jews. We have had all manner of people comment on all others - me included. I have become a hater of the Nation of Islam - considering it a sham. That is grist for another discussion.

I have asked my peers - not - was Mr. Richards "right or wrong" for saying what he said - Unless one wishes to create a stampede or threaten the life of the president, we have the First amendment to protect our comments, be they casual or outbursts.

Few would forget Robin Williams or Whoppie Goldberg other "bounce off the wall" comedians who try a bit of everything.

My dad taught me that one needs to watch what one says, but to remember, we do have the constitutional amendment to legally protect us. HE added "be careful WHERE you use your comments - watch out who your audience is.

I think this part of the whole brouhaha has been forgotten. Mr. Richards was not Retorting to a neighbor who parked in his spot, or responding to a few people walking by his home at six in the evening - he was ON STAGE. Not only that, he was on stage At the Laugh Factory! Don Rickels was asked about his feelings about Mr. Richard's ranting and Don chose a more compassionate way to respond and he laughed and changed the subject. Both female, make, Anglo and Black and Asiatic and short and Tall and gruffly and neat dressed comedians have a job to do; present their material in such a way that the most number of people are positively affected. Their job is to provoke. "Hey, I say your mom yesterday, she looked good" will not get a laugh. But, I saw your mom yesterday and she was trying to figure out whether to bong a Black or an Hispanic would provoke an OUCH or a laugh, depending on the audience.

Also, some comedians will walk off the stage if they are interrupted excessively and Others will GO OFF on the disrupter - as Rodney Dangerfield would do without hesitation.

Our immediate dissenters re this subject are saying "Richards was way off base! He should not have used the word nigger, he should have not focused on this new group, he Should not have been mad and he should not have done this or that. That is what some Dissenters have said but those dissenters do not represent all people who listed to the presentation. Others who heard it were disinterested, and others were left to laugh.

This year, black comedians and actors have even been asked by Anglo hosts about the Politics of both Black and White entertainers using the "N" word.

When I was a boy, we had two definitions going along with the N word; it meant either law breaking Blacks or it meant anyone who was disorderly, conning and A negative to the area and they were called street niggers - having nothing to do with their race. I have been called it when I was causing problems one weekend when I was in my teen years.

Thus, I ask this; if one wants to tease/taunt or mess with any group of people, what better Place to do it then on stage at a COMEDY shop! Where else can one get a chuckle?

Maybe it is the audience who might find it funny! We have jokes about the antics of Blacks, Anglos, Hispanics, Asiatics, and the rest of humanity. Especially our wives and Girl friends. I hear guys and girls on stage ranting about their f'ed up wives all the time and no one in the audience - even when pointed at - gets upset!

Reference to the KKK, or to being skewered, to being "beneath us," or whatever, are all fair game in a LAUGH FACTORY environment! Therefore, what is the big deal?

Finally, when I discuss obscenity while teaching in schools, I remind people Of the Smother's Brother's song "Chocolate" and why it exists. Tom and Dick had their Material edited so ruthlessly that the brothers left TV early. In their song Chocolate, they sing "I fell into a vat of chocolate, [And it is repeated], "I fell into a vat of chocolate"………"What did you do when you fell into the vat of chocolate?"……"I yelled fire!" "Why did you yell fire?" "When I yelled Chocolate, no one came to help me."