Nigger,Nigger, Nigger

[Lon]

There, I said it, the dreaded N word-----Am I a racist? I don't think so. What the hell is it, that as soon as the word comes out of your mouth, you are labled. Isn't it really a matter of how the word is used rather than the word itself. No one has yet said let' not say the W word (wop), or the S word (spic), how about the K word (kike), H for (hunky) is a good one, or maybe the K word (kraut) and there are a bunch more that we are are all familiar with. I grew up in a multi racial multi ethnic society, and yes, there were racists in this society. I was labeled a Goy by my Jewish friends and playmates and I took no offense as it was a means of identification. This was despite the fact that I was stuck on this cute Jewish girl Ina, that was not allowed to date me because I was a Goy. I don't consider these Jewish neighbors as racists. It really ****--me off over the Press jumping all over Dr. Laura for what they called her rant on the over use of the DREADED N WORD. Then, to make matters worse she felt compelled to apologise for her use of the N word. Damn, I don't think any apology was necessary, not in the way she used the word, but understand why she felt compelled to do so given the nature of the TV and Radio ratings of syndicated programming. Are we for ever entreatied to not use these descriptive words no matter what? :-3

[Glaswegian]

Lon;1327382 wrote: There, I said it, the dreaded N word-----Am I a racist? I don't think so. What the hell is it, that as soon as the word comes out of your mouth, you are labled. Isn't it really a matter of how the word is used rather than the word itself. No one has yet said let' not say the W word (wop), or the S word (spic), how about the K word (kike), H for (hunky) is a good one, or maybe the K word (kraut) and there are a bunch more that we are are all familiar with. I grew up in a multi racial multi ethnic society, and yes, there were racists in this society. I was labeled a Goy by my Jewish friends and playmates and I took no offense as it was a means of identification. This was despite the fact that I was stuck on this cute Jewish girl Ina, that was not allowed to date me because I was a Goy. I don't consider these Jewish neighbors as racists. It really ****--me off over the Press jumping all over Dr. Laura for what they called her rant on the over use of the DREADED N WORD. Then, to make matters worse she felt compelled to apologise for her use of the N word. Damn, I don't think any apology was necessary, not in the way she used the word, but understand why she felt compelled to do so given the nature of the TV and Radio ratings of syndicated programming. Are we for ever entreatied to not use these descriptive words no matter what? :-3
The great American philosopher, Lenny Bruce, once wisely observed that it is the suppression of a word which endows it with power. Therefore, in order to remove the power of racist words to hurt they should be used unrestrictedly and without hesitation. In other words, people should be actively encouraged to say ‘nigger, nigger, nigger’ whenever they like. And ‘kike, kike, kike’. And ‘spic, spic, spic’. And ‘Mick, Mick, Mick’. And ‘Jock, Jock, Jock’. And ‘wop, wop, wop’. Etc., etc., etc. Very soon the words become commonplace, trite and meaningless.

You can watch a kike expounding Lenny’s sensible thesis here: YouTube - Lenny - Lenny Bruce hard words

[Glaswegian]

Glaswegian;1327393 wrote: The great American philosopher, Lenny Bruce, once wisely observed that it is the suppression of a word which endows it with power. Therefore, in order to remove the power of racist words to hurt they should be used unrestrictedly and without hesitation. In other words, people should be actively encouraged to say ‘nigger, nigger, nigger’ whenever they like. And ‘kike, kike, kike’. And ‘spic, spic, spic’. And ‘Mick, Mick, Mick’. And ‘Jock, Jock, Jock’. And ‘wop, wop, wop’. Etc., etc., etc. Very soon the words become commonplace, trite and meaningless.
If anyone should doubt this then all they have to do is consider the word 'God'.

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by Glaswegian

The great American philosopher, Lenny Bruce, once wisely observed that it is the suppression of a word which endows it with power. Therefore, in order to remove the power of racist words to hurt they should be used unrestrictedly and without hesitation. In other words, people should be actively encouraged to say ‘nigger, nigger, nigger’ whenever they like. And ‘kike, kike, kike’. And ‘spic, spic, spic’. And ‘Mick, Mick, Mick’. And ‘Jock, Jock, Jock’. And ‘wop, wop, wop’. Etc., etc., etc. Very soon the words become commonplace, trite and meaningless.

Glaswegian;1327394 wrote: If anyone should doubt this then all they have to do is consider the word 'God'.


Has the word God been diminished through excessive use? No. The word nigger represents an ugly period of history, past and present, and its use is hateful and meant to degrade. We all know this. If what one wishes is to be spiteful then this is the word they should use. If however one wishes to be a compassionate and thoughtful person then the word would never pass their lips.

[Bevdee]

Lon, I'm gonna be politically incorrect and agree with you. There is no big deal made when african americans call white people Crackers. Which is a carry over from Civil War era, meaning - not of the planter caste, poor white trash. No big deal when they call each other nigger, either. It's in their movies, their comedy, their music.

I say don't ask more from a group of people than you can do yourself.

[Rapunzel]

Nomad;1327410 wrote: The word nigger represents an ugly period of history, past and present, and its use is hateful and meant to degrade. We all know this. If what one wishes is to be spiteful then this is the word they should use. If however one wishes to be a compassionate and thoughtful person then the word would never pass their lips.


I agree with Nomad. It is not the word per se which humiliates but the meaning behind it. The word 'Boy' is not degrading in itself, but if a young white man calls a mature black man 'Boy' then it is meant in a derogatory manner and with intent to demean.

Your label didn't humiliate you and so you weren't offended by it.

Lon;1327382 wrote: I was labeled a Goy by my Jewish friends and playmates and I took no offense


If you had felt offended or mortified or debased, I'm sure you wouldn't be so light-hearted about it now. I'm also sure you wouldn't be having this discussion.

Btw, I don't know what a Goy is, but you're forever telling us you're a WOOF.



Edited to add: I googled Goy...

Goy is a Hebrew biblical term for "nation". By Roman times it had also acquired the meaning of "non-Jew".

Non-Jew. Hardly derogatory is it?

[Bevdee]

Non-Jew. Depends on intent, how it's used, with what inflection. Could be derogatory. Boy is down south - depending on how it's used.

[Snowfire]

I think Nomad got it right. Nothing to do with political correctness. It is an ugly word, full of hateful intent. Its not in the least bit ambiguous. Those that use it, do so knowing full well of its intent and true meaning

[Rapunzel]

Lon, this is for you.

When I am an old man.

When I am an old man, I will wear plaid trousers,

let my shirt tail hang out on one side on Tuesdays,

and wear ties that clash with everything.

I'll carry a cane whether I need it or not,

to waggle at people who ask stupid questions

and poke pretty young girls.

I'll have my ear pierced, the one that says you're gay

(whichever that is)

and grin if someone mentions it.

I won't smile on Thursdays, even if I'm chuckling inside,

I'll never be angry on Sundays,

except in months when the sun doesn't shine.

Maybe I'll shave, and maybe I won't,

depends on which eye I open first in the morning.

I'll spit in public places, but not on people's shoes,

unless they deserve it,

and belch from both ends when the spirit moves me.

I'll eat tacos for breakfast, ice cream with salad,

drink tea with honey, coffee with maple syrup,

and rum with nothing at all.

I'll stare everyone straight in the eye,

give my opinion on everything under the sun,

if I'm asked, and especially if I'm not.

I'll forget how to spell "rules" but not "integrity",

"obligations", but not "responsibility",

"expectations", but not "honor".

I'll speak to God direct, help him out when he needs it,

but gently, cause mainly he does good work,

when people leave him alone, that is.

I'll cry at movies and funerals,

laugh at my own mistakes, if I make any,

hug my sons and my daughters every chance I get,

raise my hat to any woman wearing purple.

I think I'll have more fun

saying what I think,

being who I am,

staring at the stars,

when I am an old man, wearing plaid trouser

~ ROBERT N. McWILLIAM ~

[Lon]

I find it ironic that as many wish the infamous N word to be banned for hence forth and ever more they have no problem accepting the increasing use of MOTHERF---ER IN FILMS and conversation. In the late forties the use of MOTHERF---ER was entirely an expression within the African American Community. Now, the use of that expression has reached international usage. That's one thing nice about being 76 years of age, you have a bit of historical reference and don't have to read about past times, you have actually lived it.

[Lon]

Rapunzel;1327424 wrote: Lon, this is for you.

When I am an old man.

When I am an old man, I will wear plaid trousers,

let my shirt tail hang out on one side on Tuesdays,

and wear ties that clash with everything.

I'll carry a cane whether I need it or not,

to waggle at people who ask stupid questions

and poke pretty young girls.

I'll have my ear pierced, the one that says you're gay

(whichever that is)

and grin if someone mentions it.

I won't smile on Thursdays, even if I'm chuckling inside,

I'll never be angry on Sundays,

except in months when the sun doesn't shine.

Maybe I'll shave, and maybe I won't,

depends on which eye I open first in the morning.

I'll spit in public places, but not on people's shoes,

unless they deserve it,

and belch from both ends when the spirit moves me.

I'll eat tacos for breakfast, ice cream with salad,

drink tea with honey, coffee with maple syrup,

and rum with nothing at all.

I'll stare everyone straight in the eye,

give my opinion on everything under the sun,

if I'm asked, and especially if I'm not.

I'll forget how to spell "rules" but not "integrity",

"obligations", but not "responsibility",

"expectations", but not "honor".

I'll speak to God direct, help him out when he needs it,

but gently, cause mainly he does good work,

when people leave him alone, that is.

I'll cry at movies and funerals,

laugh at my own mistakes, if I make any,

hug my sons and my daughters every chance I get,

raise my hat to any woman wearing purple.

I think I'll have more fun

saying what I think,

being who I am,

staring at the stars,

when I am an old man, wearing plaid trouser

~ ROBERT N. McWILLIAM ~


I like that--------------

[Lon]

I personally object to the banning of ANY word, no matter how vile or despicable. A word is nothing more than that -- A WORD----How that word is used is another matter. How one chooses and uses words tells us something about the user. Merely saying NIGGER tells us nothing about the person, in fact, even die hard racists are disguising their racists viewpoint by saying "The N Word" instead of NIGGER. The Social acceptance of some words and the banning of others I find to be hypocritical to the 10th degree.

[along-for-the-ride]

A word is indeed just a word. On paper. But when that same word, no matter what the word , is said with contempt, hatred, or cruelty, it is wrong. It is profanity. Human beings have the powers of speech, inflection, emotion, that can make any word a profanity.

Ironically, sometimes even silence can be cruel.

[Lon]

It doesn't matter how the N word is used, apparently we are just not to use it.

[Macadamia]

Don't you know, you're old and white. You already qualify as a racist. You can say anything you want at this point.

[Lon]

Macadamia;1327531 wrote: Don't you know, you're old and white. You already qualify as a racist. You can say anything you want at this point.


Well, I am old but not too white as I am sporting a pretty good tan. Yep, I do speak my mind.

[Odie]

along-for-the-ride;1327525 wrote: A word is indeed just a word. On paper. But when that same word, no matter what the word , is said with contempt, hatred, or cruelty, it is wrong. It is profanity. Human beings have the powers of speech, inflection, emotion, that can make any word a profanity.

Ironically, sometimes even silence can be cruel.


How very true your words are AFTR.

[fuzzywuzzy]

Hang on I was almost banned from here because I dare to use the word (in context) now a whole thread is dedicated to it ...****!!!!!

[Oscar Namechange]

I do not believe that It Is the word It'self... It Is the hatred when used and that is the racism.