Banning the 'N' Word
Wednesday, January 24, 2007 at 11:56PM Mayor Ken Corley of Brazoria, Texas, wants to make it illegal to use the ‘n’ word in public. In fact, he wants to ban all racial slurs, making them equivalent to disturbing the peace.
"I would like to, if possible, ban all racial slurs. We chose this word (‘nigger’) because it's the most controversial issue throughout the United States today."
"The (‘n’) word is not used or abused in the streets of our town; it's more, amongst the black community, as a term of endearment, OK? But it is a national issue, and I would like the city of Brazoria to take a leadership role throughout the nation in banning the use of this word."
Mayor Corley, a self-described “middle class white boy”, proposes a “term of endearment" loophole for the ban on the ‘n’ word. In other words, the hideous ‘n’ word should never be used except by the black community.
Stating the obvious, enforcement of such a regulation would be almost impossible and fairness to all Americans suspect. For example, what would be the penalty for calling a woman "bitch"? "Jap", a derogatory abbreviation used to describe the Japanese during World War II, is equally as inflammatory to US citizens of Japanese descent, particularly when regarding the historical context of internment camps in the United States from 1942-45.
In June 2006, the U.S. Senate voted down a resolution banning flag burning saying it is protected free speech under the Constitution. On what basis can it be judged that a racial slur is more inflammatory than burning the American flag?
The politically correctness of 'African American' instead of 'black' alienates an entire population of Caucasians called 'whites', and 'Mexican Americans' called 'Latinos'. But in the spirit of correctness itself, the word 'nigger' should never be used by anyone, particularly those whom it has hurt the most.
"In America's ideal of freedom, the public interest depends on private character - on integrity, and tolerance toward others, and the rule of conscience in our own lives. Self-government relies, in the end, on the governing of the self. That edifice of character is built in families, supported by communities with standards, and sustained in our national life by the truths of Sinai, the Sermon on the Mount, the words of the Koran, and the varied faiths of our people. Americans move forward in every generation by reaffirming all that is good and true that came before - ideals of justice and conduct that are the same yesterday, today, and forever." - George W. Bush, inaugural address, 2005
Perhaps Mayor Corley shouldn't waste focus on an impossible, symbolic and tangled web of banning a racial slur, while confusing the law by affectionately allowing some to use it, and refocus on building character in the community over which he presides. Perhaps dialogue encouraging the black community to hate using the word 'nigger' as much much as they hate other people using it would be far more productive. The confusing dichotomy between the vileness of the word and the use of it by those it purportedly offends needs to be addressed for any progress to be made in serious race relations and mutual respect.
Bishop Ricky Jones, a black minister of a Christian Church in Brazoria, says he supports the proposed ordinance but doesn't agree with the "term of endearment" loophole:
"It's trying to be made a term of endearment in the black community, the way it has been used so loosely, but I for one, when I look at that word and look at the history of it, it has been used to demonize, demoralize and degrade black people as a whole."
Well said, Rev. Jones.
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Reader Comments (25)
Is calling Democrats ' smart ' a racial slur? Maybe we should ban that adjective from all books and media. I thought I lived in a country of freedom of speech?
What happens when a half-black, half-white person uses it?
I find it offensive and foul when blacks call each other niggers. A term of endearment? Is that word ever said with love?
Niger, the Latin root in which the 'n' word derivers means only 'black.' That is the color only. So what happens if a person of the color black calls a person of the color white a ' whitey?" I happen to hear this all the time. According to Corely do then the perpetrators get fined as well? Or it this only a one-way street?
Calpatriot,
Ehh,.....right, if the term "whitey" had the same historical significance as the word "nigger/negro" - ie, decades of open slavery, suppression and abuse that African Americans had to overcome, then maybe your point would be somewhat feasible. The "strength" of the term "nigger" is related primarily to its historical significance, not in its direct translation, as you erroneous interpretation seems to claim.
"historical significance"
Christians of white colored skin have been in slavery for centuries in Old Europe, the Middle East, and other parts of the globe in history, by people of other tones than white. However, I have no need to pass laws against their bitter rhetoric against the color of white skin. Let them also have free speech. They can say what they want, what do I care!
What "historical significance "?
I had nothing to do with slavery, nor my family’s past. I owe nothing to them. They call people of the color white ‘Whitey’ as a derogator term. What do people that were never involved in exploitation of people of another color have to do with anything of another’s past? Have an answer? They have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of or responsibility to them. I’m not responsible for my skin color Mavic - although, you may think so in your twisted world. Maybe to people that came from slave-owning parents or heritage, mainly southern liberals that have a tradition in the Democratic Party today, then I say you may be correct – let the laws apply to them, and let me have mine – peace from this nonsense. Liberals of the south were the main slaveholders, long after the north pushed for abolishment. Funny how the liberals have so much guilt they want to blame someone else that had no part in history of this linking of the liberal mentality. I’m not a liberal nor ever had anything to do with slaveholding. Nig[g]er, means black, and Whitey means white. Both are used in a derogatory stance and both should be regarded as such . If slavery is illegal today and you want to punish people living by accountability for heritage, or direct heritage involvement of the past, then half the Democratic Party would be in prison and who would run your programs of entitlement for you? Many Republican’s past show that they never owned slaves or were involved in the trading, so I guess there would be more of them walking free than in jails as would be most of the democrats.
rebel mama, I think that's the hardest part of this issue to understand. The word "nigger" is so offensive and vile and to hear blacks calling each other that is totally confusing. I get that it is a part of some circles as a way to be comedic or "endearing", but how can anyone blame non-blacks for using the word if they use it themselves? It's totally hypocritical and a double standard. It takes away from the credibility of the "victim".
You've all missed the subtle, yet powerful, point Amy has made. How can flag burning be OK, and using this derogatory term is not OK? This country is WHACKED!!!
Oh, and do any of you know the situation that Catholics were in living in the South in the 20s, 30s, and 40s? My Mom ran home from school on Fridays ... there was no room for people of color, or those scum Catholics.
History is an amazing thing. How quickly we all dismiss things from our not so distant past.
Like, hmmm, 9/11 ... :|
Dunno why flag burning always jumps up and pokes me in the eye, Amy. :)
Well, done.
Life in this country is becoming increasingly ridiculous. The N word is absolutely disgusting, but so are many other words - we can't ban them all.
it's a term of endearment? what planet is he from?
Fix is right; the irony is that some want what offends them to be banned while saying it is a Constitutional right, for example, to burn the flag, which offends most people.
The solution is what Pres. Bush said in his 2005 inaugural speech: the governing of the self. Personal responsibility and building up of communities and families leads to a "rule of conscience in our own lives. Self-government relies, in the end, on the governing of the self."
I believe using these words and phrases represent the condition of one's heart.
"...Perhaps Mayor Corley shouldn't waste focus on an impossible, symbolic and tangled web of banning a racial slur, while confusing the law by affectionately allowing some to use it, and refocus on building character in the community over which he presides."...
This is an excellent observation. I too, am greatly offended when I hear of, or see a flag burning; however, free speech does not provide me the freedom of being insulted or offended.
So then, do we attempt to change the heart of man by introducing new laws to prevent him from offending? I think not. The use of this word is a character issue that runs deep, but will like all things, will dissipate over time.
I am mortified that this moonbat is from Texas, Amy! Absolutely mortified! We do have our share of liberal morons here, but they are far outweighed by conservatives so I doubt he'll get this thing passed into law. It's weird but do you know where the highest concentration of liberal extremists are in Texas? Austin! That's right, Austin, our state Capitol. GRRRRR!
Gayle - two reasons for that: it's the seat of the state government and high tech is big there in Austin.
My sister worked in Juneau, AK. You wouldn't BELIEVE how the city with the state capitol attracts liberals and nut-cases ... :) For us in California, Sacramento, while in a relatively conservative farming community, has TONS OF TREE HUGGERS TOO! :)
It's an upside-down-cake-world we live in these days.
"No matter where you go, there you are."
(name the movie that quip is from, folks, parallels are everywhere!)
:)
Austin Powers?
Rebel Mama - it is even more obscure ... a nerdy cult flick of sorts ... anyone else?
I'll let the cat outta the bag around 9P PST tonight ... :)
If they are going to ban that word why not ban all bad words? And what is construed as a "bad word?"
I find the word repulsive and I shutter when I hear it. It was used as a deragotory remark towards the slaves. Why anyone would willingly choose to say it nowadays is beyond me.
"Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension"?
Google. =)
Grrr the Google-machine!
:)
Yes, now, after you've seen the flick, you'll get the, upside-down-cake-world reference ... and, lookout for John Bigboote (pronounced big-booh-tay!) ... errrr, Kerry ... no, Bigboote ... heh ...
Why is it even called " the N word?" It is just ridiculous!!Like if the word crosses your (white) lips you will burst into flames or something!
why don't we all just grow up and stop referring to offensive words or terms with acronyms, etc...it really sounds foolish to hear two adults seriously discussing the issue of racism and then use the term the "N word"...it won't kill you or the person to whom you're speaking to hear it...this is just more of the infantilization of society by liberals and the politically correct...
I did say"nigger" a few times in the entry. Saying the "n" word is like saying the "f" word. It's better if there are kids in the room (like myself) but if "nigger" is good enough for blacks to call each other, how bad of a word can it be? (/rhetorical question)
Calpatriot,
I must admit that new things are learnt everyday. I must first appologize for revisiting those horrible ole’ days when crazy black men and liberals used to throw innocent Christian boyz like yourself into plantations, demanding "whiteys' to start pickin' that cotton! In my thirst for knowledge, I've been seeking information about those long lost oppressed "white" folks of past and present. Enlighten me. My crazy leftist history books tell me that "Christians of white skin-color" had been enjoying the fruits of slavery, especially for the past few hundred years. But shhhhh, I think it remains a huge secret amongst the Bill o'rielly/Ann Coulter scholarly crowd.
Besides, why do you feel that you need to justify the color of your own skin, as you have been doing here? No one, including black people, hold you responsible for the errors of the past, nor are they claiming that other racially motivated terms such as "whitey" are justified. Whether you accept it or not, the term "Nigger" will always be etched in history as a term that was associated with a lot of pain and suffering. Period.
I don't subscribe to any nonsensical partisan American politics but since you wish to claim that the abundance of liberal democrats from the south are some how somehow solely responsible for the propagation of slavery, lets follow you on that digression. If this was the case, how do you possibly justify the south as currently a Republican stronghold? Was there some sort of mass migration employed to replace those crazy, wacko liberals from the south, with the noble Republicans of today? You must still think that Abrahim Lincoln hides in Bush's closet, feeding him advice on how to wage wars and exploit 3rd world countries and their untapped natural resources. Or maybe we can afford you the benefit of the doubt and say that you totally forgot the malleability of politics and how it would be merely impossible to apply the same political spectrum that existed over 200 years ago, to modern day politics. Lets hope for the sake of sanity, that the latter takes precidence.
The n-bomb is an awful word. So are all racial slurs. Still, I do have to wonder what ever happened to free speech?
I've noticed that words seem to get banned an awful lot when people say "now, I'm not advocating censorship, but..."
Maybe in the future, the only way you can greet anybody is by saying "Greetings! What is going on in your life (the choices of which I approve, support and endorse where applicable by law), my homo sapien friend without regard to gender, race, religious affiliation, nation of origin, language of choice or preference for Bigs Macs or Whoppers?"
People who are this stupid should be sent to a remote island with the other crazies.
Trent, I'm not opposed to banning the "n" word as long as Christian bashing, profanity and all inflammatory speech is banned. That includes burning the flag. The problem is that liberals want to have their cake and eat it, too. They want WHITES to stop using the "n" word, but they can use it affectionately. They want to burn the flag, but ban the free speech of recruiters on college campuses. Total hypocrisy.