Racist Kemosabe?

[Arkady]

Interesting story here about the various possible origins of the word "Kemosabe," which Tonto uses for the Lone Ranger:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat...d_history_of_tonto_s_word_in_lone_ranger.html

The writer, however, does something annoying I have to gripe about. One interpretation is that "Tonto" and "Kemosabe" are both insults of intelligence, such that each man is secretly calling the other an idiot. Fine. But the writer describes this perfectly symmetrical insulting relationship as the Lone Ranger being "racist" and Tonto being "subversive." WTF?!

 

[GordonGecko]

It's going to take some "Pirates of the Caribbean" scripting and action I think to resurrect the "Lone Ranger" franchise. Half the country or more never grew up with Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels.

I remember the dismal attempt with unknown Klinton Spilsbury back in the early 80s.

 

[Union_Jack_1972]

It's going to take some "Pirates of the Caribbean" scripting and action I think to resurrect the "Lone Ranger" franchise. Half the country or more never grew up with Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels.

I remember the dismal attempt with unknown Klinton Spilsbury back in the early 80s.

I still will not watch it...

I hate Jonny Depp...

as for the insulting with the two words and one being racist while the other being subversive, well I just take it with a grain of salt seeing it is from the Slate...

I'm surprise they're still around...

 

[JackDallas]

Interesting story here about the various possible origins of the word "Kemosabe," which Tonto uses for the Lone Ranger:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat...d_history_of_tonto_s_word_in_lone_ranger.html

The writer, however, does something annoying I have to gripe about. One interpretation is that "Tonto" and "Kemosabe" are both insults of intelligence, such that each man is secretly calling the other an idiot. Fine. But the writer describes this perfectly symmetrical insulting relationship as the Lone Ranger being "racist" and Tonto being "subversive." WTF?!

Tonto means stupid in Spanish.

 

[freyasman]

The Lone Ranger and Tonto are riding thru a valley when they look up and realize they are surrounded by hostile Indians, on all the ridgelines around them. The Lone Ranger turns to Tonto and says "Well Tonto, I guess we're really in it this time....", and Tonto looks at him and says "What's this WE shit, white man?"

 

[GordonGecko]

Tonto means stupid in Spanish.

Yes, Jack....that's IN the Slate article...if you had actually read it.

 

[as seen on tv]

the previews i've seen of this film don't necessarily place it in the same "over top" comedy category as "pirates of the caribbean". the lone ranger has the potential to confuse and annoy audiences, if it isn't played broadly and comedically.