Snap Shots of YOUR Republican Party, 21st Century Style

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

The distinction is using the word to talk about it's usage and what it means, vs. actually using it against someone.

I agree with that.

Context is everything.

And the racist code words that I see a lot of people using can be just as bad or worse IMO.

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by Tom Joad

I agree with that.

Context is everything.

And the racist code words that I see a lot of people using can be just as bad or worse IMO.

Like "Food Stamp President."

Regards,

D-Ray

[Charles]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

Hey, I'm not dismissing you, i'm just disagreeing with you. And you aren't being fair accusing me of being all superior and all. I've sent no putdowns your way.

Now if you think the mere fact of not seeing things your way constitutes an insult, there's not much i can do.

But I have to regard the insistence that racism isn't active as a cultural myth. The evidence is thick on the ground, with a big fat data point being testified to in this thread. We both know what 'nigger' means.

Perhaps we agree, only we don't realize it. And I also agree that racism exists.

I'll let it go at that.

Chas

[JJIII]

Originally Posted by bobabode

Bullshit, John. In teaching language to kids it is all important to differentiate between acceptable words and unacceptable ones. Using the N word when I was raised up in the '60s was a guaranteed mouthful of soap, justifiably so, imho.

Originally Posted by donquixote99

The distinction is using the word to talk about it's usage and what it means, vs. actually using it against someone.

What it means, btw, is that there is a very negative, hateful image of black people deeply ingrained in our culture.

I think the three of us are saying the same thing, just using different words.

[merrylander]

The stupid part of staying away from people who are different is that you are missing what turns out to be some very warm and interesting friends.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by merrylander

The stupid part of staying away from people who are different is that you are missing what turns out to be some very warm and interesting friends.

Hell, I say away from people who are LIKE me.

I have to deal with plenty of people daily. I consider it work.

Chas

[piece-itpete]

LMAO!!!

Racism exists of course. But as one black guy repeated to me, you can't legislate a mans heart.

Shall we pull 'Huckleberry Finn' from school curriculums? Or just rewrite it.

Pete

[donquixote99]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

LMAO!!!

Racism exists of course. But as one black guy repeated to me, you can't legislate a mans heart.

Shall we pull 'Huckleberry Finn' from school curriculums? Or just rewrite it.

Pete

Neither, of course.

Now, was there a proposal to legislate what's in a man's heart? I don't see the point of that bromide here. No that's wrong, I do see the point, I just think your repeating it is just an invalid way to say 'ignore the racism.'

[piece-itpete]

Ignore it? But then, there can be so much pressure to ivy everything up that discussions of differences pro and con of different cultures become impossible. For instance, my last name is butchered Czech. Once years ago when I mentioned it to an old ethnic lady she laughed and made a drinking motion.

If she was 'new and improved' I wouldn't have that fond memory, and lesson on Czech culture.

Seriously though Huck Finn is a good example of what could be done. Huck and Tom aren't racist, well at least they aren't hateful about it, Nigger Joe is just a descriptive.

It's a good starting point for a discussion about race and racism. However a few years back I remember a brouhaha over an edited version being taught.

Pete

[icenine]

I thought his name was Jim....well it has been a long time since I read the book.

I never use the word of course and do not like to reference it.

And food stamp president is not as bad as the word in question....if it was we would not let Newt get away with using it. I know that much.