@cicerone imposter,
BillRM doesn't understand that racial/ethnic/gender/sexual orientation slurs, and derogatory and demeaning jokes that target groups in a similar way, are expressions of bigotry and prejudice. Paula Deen doesn't understand that either--in her deposition she said "all jokes" are like that, and that's the "humor" her husband shares with her, and her brother engages in at their restaurant.
So, BillRM is one bigot defending another. These things aren't expressions of bigotry and prejudice, which are harmful and hurtful to their targets, in his view, they're just innocuous things that "aren't PC". In BillRM's mind, not being "PC" is sort of like wearing a sportshirt to a place that requires a shirt and tie--a minor social gaff, but no big deal. And he's placing the use of racial/ethnic/gender/sexual orientation slurs and epithets, and similarly derogatory and demeaning jokes in that same category--they're a minor social gaff, but no big deal.
Racial/ethnic/gender/sexual orientation slurs, epithets, and jokes are so common, and acceptable in BillRM's mind, he thinks it requires a "god-like perfection" not to engage in such behavior, or not to accept it. So, he's really saying, the "PC police" should just shut up and let prejudice and bigotry and bias flourish while people enjoy expressing themselves and telling jokes of that sort.
So, in defense of his fellow bigot, Paula Deen, he has set up two strawman arguments--mainly because his main premises are so indefensible he has to use strawmen.
The first strawman is that poor Paula is being cruelly pummeled for one use of the "N-word" over 30 years ago, and even that was done under extraordinary circumstances. The problem is, that isn't the reason that Deen has watched her empire crumble beneath her, as business associates have fled from her suddenly toxic brand--that's the BillRM version of events.
There is considerably more in the recently released deposition, of the sworn testimony that Deen gave as a defendant in a racial discrimination/sexual harassment lawsuit lodged against restaurants owned by Deen and her brother. Deen revealed considerably more in her deposition than just a single use of the "N-word" decades ago--she also revealed she knew about the racially and sexually inappropriate behavior her brother engaged in, and subjected employees to, at their workplace, and she did nothing about it. She also has a fondness for "plantation-style" weddings.
Given the fact it's been pointed out to BillRM, numerous times, that Deen's problems are not due to a single use of the "N-Word" 30 years ago, and that she's admitted to fostering a workplace in which racially and sexually inappropriate behavior flourished
, in her own sworn deposition, why does he continue to just repeat his strawman argument? Is he that out to lunch that he thinks others posting here will believe this nonsense if he just keeps repeating it? Is he that clueless? That dumb?
BillRM's second strawman is to try to compare the type of bigotry and prejudice, and offensiveness, which is reflected in slurs and derogatory jokes, verbal behaviors, with the type of flaming racism and outright hostile overt behavior which is directly expressed toward target groups by folks like the KKK.
That's another of BillRM's lame attempts to convince us that verbal expressions are harmless, merely "non PC", and that it's crazy to consider people, like Deen, "racist"--"racists" are those folks in the hooded sheets. Except no one in this thread is really insisting Deen is a "racist", although racists would likely support her, but her choice of verbal expressions, and humor, and wedding-themes, does reveal bigotry, bias, and prejudice on her part that she fails to recognize--and that BillRM can't recognize that either. If Paula isn't wearing a hooded sheet, BillRM won't consider her bigoted or prejudiced, because she doesn't fit his strawman definition of "a racist".
Why BillRM is so upset about the Food Network's financial outlook, sans Deen, is anyone guess. If Deen's was the only program people had tuned in to watch, that network would have gone bust a long time ago. And her shows had falling ratings before this scandal erupted. If devoted Deen fans will now boycott the Food Network, and not watch any other programs they previously enjoyed, that will be their loss, and it won't bring Paula back. Business is business, and Paula Deen needed the Food Network more than they needed her.
So, the alleged financial mistakes that corporations have made in severing ties with Deen, seems to be yet another strawman argument from BillRM. He thinks these corporation bailouts were wrong, mainly based on his #1 and #2 strawman arguments, and he predicts they will all suffer the wraith of Paula's loyal brigade. Other than their shareholders, and BillRM, who cares?
Life will go on, without Paula's cookware on Walmart's shelves, or her twice a week program on the Food Network, or her face on a Smithfield ham-- civilization will continue to survive.
And bigots like BillRM will go on defending bigots like Paula Deen and her brother Bubba...and they'll all remain clueless about how they offend, and hurt, and harm.
