People say offensive things. Why can't we discuss what they say explicitly?
Warning! If you are easily offended please do not read this column. I will be using the "N-word" several times. And when I say that I'll be saying the "N-word" I don't mean I'll say "N-word" I mean that I'll be saying "nigger." If this bothers you in any way, please do not read this column. However, I doubt that my next column will contain the "N-word." Please come back next week and read my column. Also, don't forget to check out this weeks Heineken Dialogues (again, I didn't title the column).
As I have said in the past, I'm not easily offended. I have no problem with people saying all sorts of things that would bother most people. Many time, while I'm not offended, I can at least understand why people would be.
So even though I was not offended by Micheal Richards little shenanigans recently I certainly can understand why certain others may have been. However, what I do not understand is why the media is handling it as it has been.
Don't get me wrong, I do fully understand that the media has to cover this story. And further I realize that they have to cover it negatively. They have to make Richards look like a frothing from the mouth racist. Fine. What I don't understand is why they can't just say what Richards said.
In case you don't know, Michael Richads (Cosmo Kramer from Seinfeld, or for the very cool, Stanley Spadowski from UHF) was in the middle of a stand-up routine when a black audience member started heckling him. Richards responded by calling the heckler a racist term for a black person. We all know the word.
Every news media source, as I just said, has been all over this story. What I'm annoyed with is what they are saying. Every tv station, radio talk show, etc. are all saying something like the following:
"In a shocking event over the weekend, Michael Richards, of Seinfeld fame, let loose in a racist tired where he let the N-word fly many times."
Why do we have to say "the N-word." Why can't the news media just say (brace yourself), "Michael Richards let loose and called an audience member a nigger."
Now I know that the term "nigger" has a lot of background and emotion involved with it. We all know that it is the worst of the worst when it comes to racist slurs. "Cracker" and "honkey" sound almost quaint and laughable when put next to "nigger." Further, it is pretty much understood what happens with a white guy looks a black guy square in the face and calls him this name (that this is not the appropriate reaction won't be discussed in this column). The point is we all know the impact that calling someone this word has. (Hell, the word is so powerful that even using a word that sounds similar can get you into a trouble.
But the media wouldn't be calling someone a nigger. They would be reporting on the word being used. but they can't even do this. I haven't heard one commentator actually say the word. May of you might claim that this is not a big deal. I disagree. I don't like the control that this word has over us. It has moved from not only controlling black people (to anger, upsetedness, etc) to controlling everyone else (because most are scared to even utter the word in any context).
Is "nigger" such a powerful word that we can't even say it when referencing someone else? When someone else utters this word, can we not tell others what he said? Do we have to always use euphemisms for this word?
Let me ask this: why would a commentator saying "Michael Richards called a member of the audience a nigger" offend you? Does it? Or are you misplacing your feelings of anger for Richards onto the person repeating his words?
I am not trying to make it seem that this word isn't offensive. It certainly is. If you are black and called it, you could justifiably be angry. But to let this word have such a power is silly. To refuse to say it even when discussing the use of the word moves us from being respectful to the point where we are simply being overly worried about other's feelings.
Do you agree? Disagree? Let me know your feelings.
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