The One Way Street of Tolerance

Try being white and saying the "n" word in a scholarly debate or in the context of a Mark Twain novel, or similar texts.  I dare you.  If you have uber-liberal or progressive professors or associates, you'll soon find out how much venom they store in the sacs on their necks.

We're constantly assaulted with calls for "tolerance" and "healing", especially since Obama took office, but the pleas--or outright directives to redress historical injustices--only ever target whites, TEA party supporters or Southerners--sometimes all at once.

One example would be the arrest of Harvard professor Gates by the Cambridge police.  The whole incident was a misunderstanding, prompted by a 9-1-1 call from a neighbor as Gates seemed to be breaking into his own house.  It became out of hand when Gates refused to co-operate with responding officers (1 of the 2 happened to be white) and Gates was arrested.  Barry "It's all about me" Obama had to give his two cents and said the police "acted stupidly", even before the full details were known.  Eventually, this prompted a "beer summit" at the White House for the trio and a so-called "teachable moment" for us all.  What did we learn?

It seems the black liberal establishment (Congressional Black Caucus and leading figures such as Al Sharpton and professors such as Gates) make race a perpetual issue.  They see the world though a bitter, resentful, "selective historical" prism instead of seeing the world as it is today. 

I say "selective" because for example, no one ever wants to discuss the Africans who sold other Africans into the slave trade.  As we move forward, the efforts shouldn't be to understand the plight of past or current black slaves, rather the plight of all slaves and the divine right to be free men and women.

Another example, specifically regarding the 'n' word comes in the form of a Fox 29 news anchor being fired for saying the Voldemortian word at a staff meeting discussing the word--after black associates had said it too.  He's suing.

We're so afraid of words, aren't we?  At least when it affects a protected minority group.  It's okay (and often a hoot) to insult Christians, Jews, the smart, comic book or sci fi fans, fat people, TEA party supporters...

I'm not even getting into when you "exchange words" with someone.  While a black person might find nothing comparable between getting called the "n" word or calling someone the "c" word (cracker), I find them both insulting. Whoopi has a nice philosophy of calling people out by what they are--regardless of what they are.

For example, "You blankety blank black blank!"  Or, "You blankety blank man!"  Applied across the board, this is normal way to blow off steam without being racist or sexist.  You're just telling the truth!

There is no real consensus regarding the "n" word.  It's a slang of the word negro, the root word for which means black.  Even when the word is used in historical contexts, especially in Twain, it seems to just be a derogatory slang word and is not synonymous with 'slave'.  Being treated as a slave is what makes it about slavery.  Today, the black community is divided over the word.

Some never say it at all and find it offensive like your usual assortment of four letter words.  Some use it affectionately to fellow blacks; and some use it as a run of the mill swear word with no racial implications.  This is why it makes no sense to punish a white guy saying this in an historical discussion and see nothing wrong in black people saying the same thing.

When it's not the "n" word, it's the Confederate flag that sends progressive word & image censors into fits.  If blacks can take the "n" word and make it their own and have power over it, why can't Southerners do the same in an effort to embrace their roots and Southern pride?

According to Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, of Texas, a proposed (optional) license plate featuring a Confederate flag must be stopped because it's a "symbol of intimidation."  The plate will honor Confederate veterans and help fund memorials.  Lee and her supporters don't want to acknowlege their sacrifice.  Like it or not, through the pain and bloodshed of the civil war, we became one nation.  THE United States.

Lee says she will take a petition to Austin on the day the DMV votes on the design; hopefully she'll do so without intimidating anyone.

This double standard won't go away any time soon, especially in this "new age" of Obama.