One of the things that amazes me is when a white person uses the word we are outraged, but many of us call each other that all the time. It is definitely a double standard. I think black entertainers should be taken to task when they use it on stage or in their records just like we want to do when someone white uses it.

I read a piece this morning that I thought summed it up pretty good.

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/o...122edearl.html

If we are going to criticize some for using it, we should criticize all no matter what their color.

Peace.

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E.Pluribus Unum

People of power have NO good will and people of good will have NO power.

If you think Education is Expensive try Ignorance.

On the other hand if you take no offense in all cases, the word loses its power. Frankly if the market punishes people for using words intended to infuriate without any amount of tact, I don't shed a tear for the person.

Keep in mind, the word itself is not the bad part. There is actually a difference between how Richards used it, how Bruce used it, and how a black guy talking to another black guy uses it. Only in the first case is it truly intended to offend. That's because it is imposing the meaning attached to the word and not as parody (making fun of the meaning itself).
If the word were stricken from the language, that meaning could still be placed in other words. Eliminating the word does not eliminate the part which is terrible. That takes something more.

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"Man lives in the sunlit world of that which he believes to be reality. But unseen by most is an underworld, a place that is just as real... but not as brightly lit... A DARK SIDE!"
-opening from Tales From the Darkside

I think a lot of black people do that deliberately, and I know why they do it; it desensitizes them to the word.

Gays did the same thing with "Quееr" and are trying to do the same thing with "fаggot". I dont see that as a bad thing. Having less vulnerability to words is a good thing.

Which was kind of my point. You yourself give the word its power.

Why would you want to give your enemies a stick to beat you with? That is what you are doing when you allow yourself to be offended by certain words. That makes no sense to me.

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My Political Blog (Updated Oct 3rd) - Which Flame Warrior are you?

No matter what context you use it in or who uses it. We can't have it both ways. Whenever we hear a white person use it we don't try to analyze in what context they are using it in, immediately we are pissed off. Therefore, we need to start holding ourselves accountable for the same thing. White people hear black people calling each other that why wouldn't they think, "well they call each other that all the time, so it shouldn't bother them if I use it as well." Makes sense too me. Black people need to get just as angry when they hear someone black using the word as we do when we hear someone white using it. Right is right, wrong is wrong.

Peace.

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E.Pluribus Unum

People of power have NO good will and people of good will have NO power.

If you think Education is Expensive try Ignorance.

is well taken, SS...But the word does invoke memories for older black folks..those who lived in the 40s and 50s..those who had relatives lynched, beaten etc.. My Mother-in-law's 84 year old blind sister has some very horrific stories..that to this day make her tremble..some very vivid and graphic to this day...Its very hard to tell someone who lived thru the waterhoses and dogs and separate bathrooms and restaurants to simply ignore it as a word....

Today's generation is different. I have heard white teenagers use it in the mall with their black peers and neither batted an eyelid. Its taken the "sting" out of the word for some of this younger generation and obviously pushed by the rap industry.

I would love the likes of Snoop Dog, Jay Z, P Diddy and Dr Dre hold a PC and vow to stop using the word in their future lyrics. Something like that would start a trend that cound have a tremendous impact in our society. Because like Super Bad Bro says, its not right to be used by anyone, regardless of race...

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"Only a fool tests the depth of the water with both feet."

This is how I think it went down. "Kramer" is doing his thing (probably not very well,) and a couple of black guys heckle him. He probably deserved it because the only successful thing he's ever done was "Seinfeld." Anyway, he's a bit unstable and immature so he gets pissed off and lashes out. The first thing he notices is their race, he verbally attacks them knowing full well that this would be a sensitive issue for the hecklers. After all people tend to attack their enemies where they think they're the most vulnerable and as "Kramer" knows, race and equality is still an issue. If it were women doing the heckling he might have called them "feminazi's" like Rush Libaugh does or maybe whores; if the hecklers were overweight, he might refer to them as elephants or pigs. It's human nature to differentiate from enemies or from those who make a person feel uncomfortable. The easiest way to do that is though physical differences.

It's wrong and it looks like he'll pay the price, but this will only be a temporary setback. He's now back in the spot light and someone will most likely offer him some type of monetary reward through a Hollywood opportunity.

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I've been informed....don't blame Bush, he's "not in control"
That must make him out of control

Well, Well, Well......it looks like Kramer is the REAL soup Nazi!!

Not to mention UHF

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"In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule." - Nietzsche

He grew angry at a couple black guys who were probably acting like ignorant jerks. Honestly it is hard sometimes not to lash out at people who are acting like total fools. I am not saying what he said is right, but you gotta understand a lot of black people treat white people like total (*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)s. Sooner or later it grows hard to take one too many jerks. When I used to ride the bus with a lot of black teens they would constantly talk bad about random people on the bus, making fun of people's clothes or their hair-cuts. Was it every black person? No, but it was about 10 of them huddled together acting like jerks calling white girls (*)(*)(*)(*)(*)es and talking loudly about how they hate white people.
It is very difficult NOT to grow racist under these conditions.

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"In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule." - Nietzsche

Obviously you have never been to a comedy club. Every comedian has been heckled once or twice whether they be black or white, but a good comedian knows how to turn the heckling back on them. To try and justify this man's actions with some bull(*)(*)(*)(*) about how black people treat white people is weak at best. Do you think white kids have never heckled anyone on a school bus? This is the most asinine excuse for bad behavior I have ever seen in may life, but it doesn't surprise me.

Peace.

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E.Pluribus Unum

People of power have NO good will and people of good will have NO power.

If you think Education is Expensive try Ignorance.