Well, there's also the f-word, which I personally think should be freed from its shackles while we're liberating language. It's very effective at dissipating pain. Unfortunately, many people find it offensive, so I avoid it in their presence when, say, stubbing my toe.
I'll never agree with banning books. Finding a racial slur in a book is a teachable moment in the classroom.
But I believe there are words whose intent was to wound. Racial slurs are used to diminish people of that race and also often out of ignorance. There's such a word for most every race. The c-word, the k-word ...
Some black people use the n-word themselves, as a way of taking back its power. And more power to them!
But does that mean I'll use the word, knowing it offends? No. Just as I don't use the f-word when I know it offends. (Though admittedly "darn it" isn't as effective in stubbed toe situations.) Logically, when would I ever need to use the n-word in a sentence unless I meant to offend? There's simply no good reason to. Vocabulary is broad. There are other words. I can use them without feeling I've somehow been robbed of a choice.
Wendy Mesley was cancelled for speaking about the book "White Niggers of America." She never used the word as a slur. There was no anti-black racism....only anti-white racism, as per usual.
I'm as opposes to censorship as I am to book banning. Canceling is censorship.
I think we're coming at this from different places.
As I said, books shouldn't be banned because the contain racial slurs. By the same token, a person shouldn't be canceled because they discussed a book with a racial slur. Solves nothing, helps no one ... which should be the point.
But you wrote that we should be permitted to use the n-word. If you mean in the context of literature or academic discussion, as opposed to in everyday social discourse, please specify that. Details matter.
And yes, white racism is a thing too. It's become acceptable. So have a lot of utterly ridiculous, evil, incongruous, unfair, ugly things. Unfortunately, this is what it takes to wake people up ... and it's a rough ride to the bottom.
Absolutely agreed. There's a huge difference between using the term in everyday conversation and in a literary discussion. Intent being just one of the differences.
coming soon to a school near you "Trudeau,s annual school book burning day" to be followed by "The evening Jewish glass breaking event" and please do not forget "Indian Church burning day" dont forget to wear your orange shirt kiddies.
Peter you forgot one of the most import new days of contemporary celebration, "Canadian Genocide Day" were all of Canada engages in a go fund me for imaginary unmarked graves.
It's the most powerful word in the English language, the only word you can be fired from your job for uttering (Wendy Mesley) even when quoting someone else. Comedian Lenny Bruce said this: "It's the suppression of the word that gives it the power, the violence, the viciousness." I think he was right.
My son was listening to this tune by Gangst Rap at full volume the other day. Yes, it's called, "Nigga Nigga Nigga". Apparently that's acceptable.
So the real question is this: Who is allowed to use the word "Nigga" or "Nigger"? Or more specifically, how black does one need to be to use this word? 100% black? 200%? What if you're only 50% black? Or what if you're like, 20% but fully *identify* as black?
This is hypocritical. Why is the word used in so many current rap songs? Along with many words that are derogatory to people. Are these raps singers and producers also to be held at this standard?
“The Lambton Kent District School Board in Ontario has instructed teachers to never teach material written by white authors that contains the N-word. They have been banned John Steinbeck’s Nobel Prize winning novel Of Mice And Men. They have banned all books written by white authors who use the loaded word. The fear of course, is a white teacher reading out loud the word “nigger” in a classroom that may contain a student or students who have some African ancestry (like my kids). God only knows what might the result be. The earth is sure to open up and swallow the entire school.”
Well, there's also the f-word, which I personally think should be freed from its shackles while we're liberating language. It's very effective at dissipating pain. Unfortunately, many people find it offensive, so I avoid it in their presence when, say, stubbing my toe.
I'll never agree with banning books. Finding a racial slur in a book is a teachable moment in the classroom.
But I believe there are words whose intent was to wound. Racial slurs are used to diminish people of that race and also often out of ignorance. There's such a word for most every race. The c-word, the k-word ...
Some black people use the n-word themselves, as a way of taking back its power. And more power to them!
But does that mean I'll use the word, knowing it offends? No. Just as I don't use the f-word when I know it offends. (Though admittedly "darn it" isn't as effective in stubbed toe situations.) Logically, when would I ever need to use the n-word in a sentence unless I meant to offend? There's simply no good reason to. Vocabulary is broad. There are other words. I can use them without feeling I've somehow been robbed of a choice.
Wendy Mesley was cancelled for speaking about the book "White Niggers of America." She never used the word as a slur. There was no anti-black racism....only anti-white racism, as per usual.
I'm as opposes to censorship as I am to book banning. Canceling is censorship.
I think we're coming at this from different places.
As I said, books shouldn't be banned because the contain racial slurs. By the same token, a person shouldn't be canceled because they discussed a book with a racial slur. Solves nothing, helps no one ... which should be the point.
But you wrote that we should be permitted to use the n-word. If you mean in the context of literature or academic discussion, as opposed to in everyday social discourse, please specify that. Details matter.
And yes, white racism is a thing too. It's become acceptable. So have a lot of utterly ridiculous, evil, incongruous, unfair, ugly things. Unfortunately, this is what it takes to wake people up ... and it's a rough ride to the bottom.
Also depends on context...if I am quoting the word from a book etc., like Huckleberry Finn... Rather than using it as a slur.
Absolutely agreed. There's a huge difference between using the term in everyday conversation and in a literary discussion. Intent being just one of the differences.
coming soon to a school near you "Trudeau,s annual school book burning day" to be followed by "The evening Jewish glass breaking event" and please do not forget "Indian Church burning day" dont forget to wear your orange shirt kiddies.
Peter you forgot one of the most import new days of contemporary celebration, "Canadian Genocide Day" were all of Canada engages in a go fund me for imaginary unmarked graves.
It's the most powerful word in the English language, the only word you can be fired from your job for uttering (Wendy Mesley) even when quoting someone else. Comedian Lenny Bruce said this: "It's the suppression of the word that gives it the power, the violence, the viciousness." I think he was right.
Yes, but misspelling 'Nobel' ought to be severely sanctioned. :-P
LOL True North spelled it wrong too. It's no excuse, but I copied from them...
My son was listening to this tune by Gangst Rap at full volume the other day. Yes, it's called, "Nigga Nigga Nigga". Apparently that's acceptable.
So the real question is this: Who is allowed to use the word "Nigga" or "Nigger"? Or more specifically, how black does one need to be to use this word? 100% black? 200%? What if you're only 50% black? Or what if you're like, 20% but fully *identify* as black?
https://youtu.be/ANB5zTl-nrY?si=ZH1jFJ5H2dU_PTXy
Perhaps we should just default to the other "N" word, "Nubian" instead which may be more politically correct.
This is hypocritical. Why is the word used in so many current rap songs? Along with many words that are derogatory to people. Are these raps singers and producers also to be held at this standard?
Best passage for me:
“The Lambton Kent District School Board in Ontario has instructed teachers to never teach material written by white authors that contains the N-word. They have been banned John Steinbeck’s Nobel Prize winning novel Of Mice And Men. They have banned all books written by white authors who use the loaded word. The fear of course, is a white teacher reading out loud the word “nigger” in a classroom that may contain a student or students who have some African ancestry (like my kids). God only knows what might the result be. The earth is sure to open up and swallow the entire school.”