It's no joking matter

Last month the New Jersey Supreme Court apparently had no sense of humor: They declared an end to ethnic jokes in the workplace. The phrase "dirty Jews" will now be on the chopping block as no longer being acceptable.

Some may think that the Political Correctness Police have gone to far. But not this Jewish guy. It's about time, and it's sad to think that it takes the Supreme Court to do it, rather than being able to count on common sense.

The case that brought this to a head was Cutler v. Dorn, where a Jewish police officer claimed that he was in a hostile work environment due to the use of the racial epithet, "dirty Jew". This term was used by a co-worker in Culter's presence. Also, a German flag decal and an Israeli flad decal were placed on his locker.

Some may say that this is just harmless fun, busting chops, breaking balls. "Hey, we're just kidding!" might be the refrain.

Justice Virginia Long kept it short and sweet: The speaker "doesn't have to be hostile when making these statements. Water dripping on someone's head can create a hostile environment even if the person making those hostile statements isn't, quote, hostile himself."

Well put, Justice Long. No one should have to put up with a hostile work environment created by ethnic jokes.

And I am not kidding about that, either.