Bitches, bastards, fags, rednecks, c*nts, and n*ggers
Nice post title, huh?
Okay, now that I have your attention. I was watching Hannity and Colmes — or rather, tonight, Michael Steele and Colmes, thank God (moar Steele, less Hannity plz, but I digress) –and the main discussion was about Whoopi Goldberg’s use of The N Word on The View today, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s distress about it. I don’t watch the show and don’t plan to, but what the hell? Why is Whoopi’s use of the word so upsetting? I’m sorry, but I don’t get why she (and others) don’t understand this. You don’t have to be black to understand what Whoopi Goldberg was talking about, and truthfully, any intellectually honest person should know this. Even stupid racists should.
I don’t use The N Word™, and it pisses me off when others do - unless it’s used by a black person as a term of endearment or whatever, as in, “nigga please.” Frankly, I find the outrage expressed by white people about black people using the word a little silly and pedantic. I have to wonder, why is any honest white person bothered by a black person saying it?
Let me ask: what’s the difference between that and women (and some men) saying “bitch” as a term of endearment, or gay men calling themselves or others “fags,” or women calling themselves “fag hags,” or white people calling themselves rednecks? What about those women who have “taken ownership” of the word c*nt, or those who just use it in a humorous way? (People do, you know.) What about “bastards?” Would you call an illegitimate child a “bastard?” No, but you might say it otherwise. Granted, it’s all unnecessarily crude, and there are plenty of other words that can be used that aren’t offensive to anyone. The point is, no, you/we white people can’t go around saying n*gger like black people do. It’s not “our word” to take ownership of; we’ve already had ownership of the word, and obviously not in a way in which anyone can be proud. If there’s a legitimate complaint, it’s that the word is offensive to too many people - as are bitch, fag, bastard, redneck/trailer trash, and c*nt (see? I won’t even write that word out either).
I’m just saying, Whoopi Goldberg is right. Elisabeth Hasselbeck and others who think it’s hypocritical (or whatever) are completely missing the point. I’m not sure why that is — maybe it’s overeagerness to argue and simple pedantry, maybe some are just obtuse, and maybe some absurdly feel oppressed or something because those people get to say it, but they can’t. Well, cry me a river.
Notice how I don’t feel compelled to self-censor on “bitch” or “fag” (let alone “redneck”)? It’s because those aren’t that offensive in the right context; they’ve become less powerful words. That’s the whole point. Obviously, anyone can argue that it’s made common language more vulgar, and I’d have to agree, but personally, I’m hardly in a place to say discourse should be more formal and refined. Your mileage may vary, of course.
So…explain to me why I’m wrong. I know some of y’all think I am, and I’m more than happy to debate you morons* on the issue. ;-P
* another term of endearment, as coined by fellow morons at Ace’s
Beth says:
Boooo. I finally post something, and nobody has anything to say. :P
Larry says:
hey, I remember when happy people owned the word gay…….
Beth says:
HA! Good point!
Larry says:
I understand what you are saying Beth, but the bigger point, that EVERYONE is missing, is that by giving a group ownership of a word one is controlling the rest of society. Little by little we are controlling speech, societally. Eventually, we make it easier for government to control speech. Don’t think that will happen? I remember the early 90s when the phrase “politically correct” was used to shut down voices. Free speech is free speech.
OldGuy says:
Personally I just think the word is vulgar, when I hear it it diminishes any respect that I may have had for the person who uses it.
The Gentle Cricket says:
First, you don’t have to be the target of a racial slur to be offended by it. So, I can understand why white people don’t like its use in general.
Secondly, the other words you listed (bitch, fag, etc…) lack the history associated with the N word. And, because society at large seems to deem them more appropriate (or less inappropriate) they can be used more. The problem, I think, comes from a disconnect between public versus private. We are repeatedly told how vulgar and offensive use of the word is, yet people like Whoopi will defend their right to use it…a complete contradiction.
Instead of comparing it to “bitch”, try comparing it to other racial slurs (perhaps a slur against jews) and I think the contradiction is clearer.
raz0r says:
Here’s something funny.
Wife and I hit JCP over the weekend with the kids (sale). Middle daughter (she’s 10) calls my name and asks if I like the shirt she was holding up. Told her it was gay. She paused, and responded with this question: A shirt for happy people?
I was in tears.
Quincy says:
The history argument is specious at best and downright foolhardy in the worst case. “Bitch” has every bit the history of violence and hatred against women that “nigger” has against blacks. Second, there are instances of racial epithets besides “nigger” used in the same fashion. “Chicano” was also originally a racial slur against Hispanics. Now it’s heard regularly and no one gets upset.
The fact of the matter is people want to single out this one word’s usage as an entirely alien phenomenon unique to black people. We are extraterrestrial biological entities that made it up all by ourselves, and no one ever heard of such a thing as using derogatory, taboo, and downright evil words among peer groups then becoming offended when by those same words used by outsiders. That’s just flat out bull$#?%!
There’s no difference between Phyllis Diller talking about how ugly she is using the same evil language that people used to hurt her with as a child what blacks do. She now owns all those hurtful words and they can never hurt her again. There’s nothing new under the sun.
No one has restricted or taken away the rights of whites to say the word “nigger.” This is not a free speech issue. Whites censor themselves because they feel stupid saying it. If no white person became upset at Don Imus there wouldn’t be much that blacks could do to get him off the air.
This hard truth is if I cuss my friend out and call him every name in the book and then we ROTFLOAO that’s different then if I do the exact same thing to the police officer pulling me over for D.riving W.hile B.lack. The meaning, intent, and emotional impact are completely different. Anybody pretending it isn’t is lying to somebody, probably themselves.
People should say whatever they want to say. To hell with political correctness. If you want to say “nigger” and you’re white, say it. Just be prepared for a few choice words in return.
Beth says:
^^^ THIS. ^^^
I suppose on the “good” side, there’s the argument for transparency. If a white person wants to say “nigger,” at least you know pretty clearly who needs an ass-whoopin’. ;) It’s not about being PC, it’s about whether or not a person is a racist. If not being a racist makes me PC, then so be it. If not being a racist makes me a bitch/cunt/whatever, that’s okay too.
“Hebe” comes to mind, as well as “dago.” It’s used tongue-in-cheek and usually self-referentially now, but it sure wasn’t always that way. I’ll bet you could find blogs called “The (Adjective) Hebe/Dago” or the like, for that matter. Of course, it’s all about the intent of the words when they’re uttered, as you said.