N-Word Mea Culpas Are Wearing Thin

People say the "n" word everyday, so what is the difference if a celebrity uses this word. The problem is that when a celeb uses this word the entire nation hears about it. Duane "Dog" Chapman was having a "private" phone conversation with his son. It is not anyone's business what they were talking about. People need to mind their own business. Blacks use the "n" word towards each other all the time and that is okay, but when a white person or non-black person says that word it is racist. Blacks need to stop play the victim and start showing respect for each other. This forbidden word should not be used by anyone. All races need to show respect for each other. If someone does something wrong we need to forgive and move on. No one is perfect.

I have grown so very weary of celebrity disclaimers that their use of the "N" word is not a reliable expression of their social perceptions and character (of lack thereof). If Michael Richards is not a racist, then from where did his infamous tirade come? What lay in Imus' heart (if, indeed, he has one) to allow him to so casually and callously insult women whom he had never met? As for the "Dog" is feeble excuse that he did not want
his son's paramour to hear him and his crew make habitual use of this epithet is pathetic. If he does not harbor a degree of racial hatred sufficient to generate his repeated use of the "N" word in a conversation with his son then how is it to be explained. As a supported of free speech I can have waste little time decrying the use of the term, no matter how much it may offend me; but, the shabby and disingenuous denial that its use
belies a darkness (pun intended) of the spirit and a cancerous social perspective is truly obscene.

I have grown so verhy weary of the by now standard denial that use of the "N" word does not reflect an individual's social perceptions and philosophies. If that's true, then by wht route did the epithet leave their lips. It had to originate somewhere within the psyche to make it to the voice. In a way I am perversely gratified that such slip-ups reveal an individual's character ( or lack thereof). If you don't think it you won't say it.

i am so sick of hearing that blck people bring it on themselves. every race says what they want to about themselves. I know people at work who are irish that make drinking jokes and i know people who are jewish who say they're cheap and i know people who are fat who have fat jokes and people who are special needs call themselves retards and i am very sure that "little people" call themselves midgettes all day. If we can't socially call these people what they call themselves then I damn sure have the right to call myself a "N" all day long if i choose to. I can't go in the mall and because I over hear a stranger say she is overweight I call her a cow. Shut up. I can say it, you can't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The fact that we Americans are obsessed with a man named "dog" should speak volumes about the way we think and the manner in which we place importance on "nonentities" such as this. Three years ago we demanded answers and accountabiliy from another man who proclaimed the dangers of weapons of mass destruction. Now, some three years later and over three thousands soldiers deep in their graves, we've stooped so low only to be faced with weapons of "mass destruction."

White people across the word,especially in America are held to a ridiculously high standard compared to black and brown people. I work with black people who are ten times more racist than us white people. The thing is, they can say whatever they want. Using the N-word and bad white words. They can insult us as much as they want,publicly, without any reprocusions. Um, hello snoop dog and Dave Chappell. Have you seen their shows. They are full of white racism. But somehow its ok.Somebody please tell me why.

I''m 62 yrs old. Been in America all my life. The "N" word has become a part of Black America as common as soap. How can we as a people expect white to respect us if we continue to show gross disre4spect for our people in music and song and all the conversation amoung each other . This will never change as long as we keep the word Alive.

T

This has nothing to do with what black people think say or do. It's all about an ignorant red neck SOB out there who thinks he is above the law and tries to pretend he is a Law Enforcement representative by doing his "Bounty Hunting" when in fact all he is a a "criminal with a badge" if you will. If you give a person enough rope eventuall y he will hang himself which is what this idiot has done. His true colors have come running through and no matter how you sugar coat it it doesn't change what he is or what he said. It's time people stop trying to blaming the black man/woman for feeeling the way they do when ignorant folk raise up and show their racist side and get caught. It's simply uncalled for and what's even more ignorant is people who try to make the black folk the scapegoat for someone else's lack of respect for the black individual. Dog is just that a dog and he should be caged like the rabid dog that he is.

The only people who feel that it's not that big of a deal are the people who were never called the word and has no idea what it means to hear someone of the opposite race call you that. We all know what it means and for some people to feel like its blown out of proportion are the ones who probably feel like that about all black people. True enough we should be over that word by now, but I guarantee you anyone of you that wokr a regular job and you call someone of the black race that word, see if you still have a job when you return to work. If it wasn't that serious of a word, people would not be losing their jobs or losing shows. That lest you know how Americans still look at it.

First, Mr. Demuth, I am glad to see that you acknowledge that America's policy of a "Manifest Destiny" was simply an excuse to exterminate the native population for their land and goods. That being said, I wonder if there is indeed nothing "divine," how then can there be a right and a wrong? Whether upheld or not the ancient Egyptians had a law that said Egyptians shall not kill Egyptians; the Christian bible says 'thou shalt not steal, and the Koran gives proscriptions against spreading the faith by the sword! That is to say that religion, for all of its faults, still gives a moral cover to the secular laws of the land. Render unto Caesar the bible says; pay your taxes says the IRS! Without that religious cover laws, on their very face, would be simply the will of the strong and thus, unjust! Barons once had the right to sleep with the wife of their serfs on the first night of marriage. Barons also had a personal army to enforce that right! Religion, while not perfect, yet gives legitimacy to secular law and therefrom, peace to the land. Basically I follow this simple tenet, I would rather live my life as if there is a God only to discover there is none, than to live my life as if there is no God, only to discover there is one! May your days be peaceful and Blessed!

once again a non issue made an issue the use of this word proves only ignorance and contempt for the crimanals he tracks. This word is used out of hatred for an paticular man or even men who are crimanals and deserving of the that word. Its alot easier then say the lazy assed freeloading son of a gun from the wrong side the tracks. We really need to start getting it right the word is either used or it isn't we can't hold the word to two standards just because it is be different races. I think thats just as racist as anything else. I will give anybody a quarter if they need to buy a clue.

Your right I myself don't believe in the divine, but lets be real many do.

excuse my spelling "loafs of bread"

We all hate something. I hate people who hate. I guess that means self hatred is my destiny, but I hate to hate anyone for hating, even myself.