djjd, you should totally start a thread about that, the discussion needs to be started... Here we are in 2008, and yet still, the child who looks like Garth Brooks and the child who looks like DMX have different computer desks. (I feel especially bad for the Garth Brooks-looking kids.)
..........
Last winter Petra refused to fly to warmer climes so she and the vessel were taken into Muenster zoo and housed in the heated enclosure. Over the past few months the rare Australian black swan struck up a relationship with a real-life German white swan she met at the zoo.
[...........]
But that romance was short lived and went on the rocks last weekend when Bruce ditched Petra for another.
Lash - I don't quite get your position.
First I thought you said, "It shouldn't be said."
I prefer that it isn't used to refer to people. Because it has been given such incredible power in our society--and that power is usually used in a negative, devisive way--yes, in a perfect world, no one would say it. Nor would they say other mean things.
The I thought I read that you said, you've actually said it to your compatriots as in "what's up my nigga'z" (or something along that line)
In the mid-90s, before I got so frustrated with the double standard and concluded that the friggin word should be dropped from use. I just draw the line at N Word. That is so ridiculous.
Then you say that you hate to hear people referred to in this way
But the only thing you hate worse is for someone to shut down speech...
Is that accurate?
Yes. What didn't you understand?
Because Gargamel is right - it has nothing in common or to do with the word "nigger" as per what might be YOUR associations with that word.
Says you. You are incorrect.
It is not an indication of self-loathing or internalized oppression.
Says you. You are incorrect. In some cases, it does. Some would argue that anyone embracing and self-identifying with what is purported to be the most egregious slur against the people of this particular race is in itself self-loathing. I don't make that claim, but I acknowledge the basic merit of the argument. What makes you the spokesperson for an entire race?
It is the opposite of that (at least in terms of the 400 black young adults that I work with everyday and have had this discussion in depth with.
Yeah. I'm sure you've had this discussion with 400 kids.
Thus, if someone called my daughter or son, "My niggah" I wouldn't think twice about it....there'd be no hating to it - because there's nothing to hate in the sentiment being expressed.
We parent differently.
What I hate is when people impress their values on others...
Because you want to be the only one doing that?
I hate that white people still think they can tell black people how they OUGHT to feel about a word - what they OUGHT to say and what they OUGHTN"T say and how that word HAS to be impacting THEM. How the hell can or do you or I or any other white person KNOW?
Did you see someone doing this?
Why don't we just accept the facts finally that their brains might even be as big as us white folks and they can figure out what works for them?
What works for some hostages is to form an unhealthy alliance with their captors--even protect them to their own detriment. It helps them deal with the reality they have to survive in. I don't think what works for you is always based in reality--or what is best for you. It's sort of amusing to see people like you, who think by virtue of skin color or some connection with a particular race--that your opinions should be immediately accepted. The issue is not hands off due to my skin color.
Jesus - if someone said Rebecca- don't call yourself white - you have to say caucasion or you can only call your friends CHUM or Pal - I'd say - yeah whatever - mind your own business. Especially if they had no idea who my friends were.
Mind your own business.
