A Troublesome Word
The only episode of Boston Public I ever saw, was Chapter 37, which dealt with the "N"-word. Couldn't find a single clip on YouTube, but that episode should have made me a regular watcher (it didn't, although Jeri Ryan is certainly eye-catching). It really was a good episode.
I'd offer my thoughts, but right now I'm just too exhausted; still wanted to blog the following segments from The View, though:
Hat tip/also blogging: Freedom Eden
By the way, this isn't the first time The View covered the topic of the N-word.
I'd offer my thoughts, but right now I'm just too exhausted; still wanted to blog the following segments from The View, though:
Hat tip/also blogging: Freedom Eden
By the way, this isn't the first time The View covered the topic of the N-word.
9 Comments:
Whoppi is an idiot. It's their way of poking a stick in the eye of every white person.
I can say it but you can't so screw you...
And under their breath they're probably calling us 'whitey'.
My student had better never utter that word in my classroom because they'll get it with both barrels.
And what really kills me is that Alan Coombs was trying to figure out a way to make it OK to say that word because they change meanings.
I damn near threw the remote at the TV last night.
I'm with Vegas Art Guy... I felt like shooting the television set watching this crap.
What Whoopi doesn't seem to understand - and neither does Alan Colmes - is that when blacks use the word even in private they often do so in front of their children, or even use it on their children. The children take it to school and use it on each other and white kids pick it up. Therefor the word will never disappear and will continue to be used by whites whether blacks like it or not.
For blacks to claim that they hijacked the word and now use it as a term of endearment amongst themselves in order to take the sting out of it is probably true. But I have also heard blacks use it in a manner that under no stretch of the imagination could be called a term of endearment, so they use it both ways and cannot expect all whites to drop it from their vocabulary while they still continue to use it themselves. It's not sensible and it is indeed hypocritical!
Incidently, Wordsmith, I detest the view. I only watch it when Fox News throws it at me.
Please tell me the next war on terror is going to be again the studio that produces The View.
For blacks to claim that they hijacked the word and now use it as a term of endearment amongst themselves in order to take the sting out of it is probably true.
If they want to truly take the sting out in that case, they should let anyone and everyone use the word- especially whites. If whites are trying to use it in the same spirit of endearment as blacks, the true test of whether or not one has removed the power over emotion from the word, is to use it often and remain unmoved by its usage.
The blacks I know have said that it's not an endearment. In the black community, n***ers are the black equivalent of white trash.
But maybe Whoopi travels in different black circles than my friends, and words have different meanings to her than everybody else.
Did you get my email?
RE: this....you're right. if there's nothing to this word, we should all be allowed to use it (as if we WOULD? not)
Cracked me up tonight on FOX to hear a black professor say how we're from 'different worlds'...What he neglects to say that Barbara Walters and I are from different worlds, too.......when Black Americans remember we are in the SAME world, yet we ALL have differences of various kinds, things will be better all the way around.
Has Whoppi endorsed Obama yet?
Are we addressing the issues of race in an honest manner by handicapping the issue by making hypocritical judgements on the ownership of a racial slur?
Yes, Gayle, the View sucks - I've several hours of my life that I will never get back as an audience member of the View. It is the most superficial show on the airwaves.
If blacks want to call each other niggers that is fine with me. Far be it from me to care what they call each other. You know what they say "If the shoe fits".
Think of all the injurious names there are for Jews, Italians, Irish, Asian etc... I don't use any of those names either because they are meant to injur and hurt.
I think the worst name you can call anyone is "liberal" but if the shoe fits.
The discussion on The View went far beyong the word nigger. Whoopi argued that the country is very much divided by the word nigger and how it is used by Blacks while Whites are forbidden to say nigger.
That is just ridiculous. To bridge this gulf between the groups, races, then we have to speak the same language. Either we all say nigger until it just dies out from sheer boredom or we all stop now.
The word is nigger. It only means what we want it to mean. If it offends, find another word, or better, change your self.
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