Quote:
Originally Posted by The Yen Man
Here's the reality of the situation though. Black people can use that word because, for them, they're mocking the people for being racist in the past and inventing that word to distinguish them based on skin colour. When other people use it, it's usually thought of because there is underlying racism in it. Is it fair? That's debateable. But that's the consequence for the white man being so racist in the past generations.
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I understand where the problem comes from, the point Carlin was trying to make (which I subscribe too completely) is that it's absolutely stupid to carry on that assumption......all it does is allow the negative power of the word continue. People need to get over it. The primary reason that the words remain offensive......the persecuted group wants to keep it that way for one reason or another.
Gays and lesbians (imo) seem to have this figured out the power of language better than most groups. Words like Fag, Queer, Fairy, are associated with the lifestyle/reality of their lives and have lost all power. Nowadays, these words aren't typically seen as offensive. The attempt to use those words for hate/oppression are still a huge issue, but that's all about the ACTION and not the WORD.
Sorry to be on the soapbox about it......this language stuff just drives me crazy. I see how words get manipulated to create divisions or trick people and it makes me really, really angry. I'll say it until I'm blue in the face.....I sure wish we were as focused on people's actions as we are their words. We'd be a helluva lot better off.