language | MY Vast Right Wing Conspiracy

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.

Here’s the video.

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