Mel Gibson's Racist Rant Caught On Tape

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well this is a guy who went off on a tirade against Jews.

I think you can put 2 and 2 together.

[IndigoSkies 168]

It's because he used the n word in a group context. He said a pack of n-word. If you noticed black people never use the n-word in a group context. It's always a singular n-word-gah!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think the "N" word is always questionable, no matter what context it is used in. And by whom.

[IndigoSkies 168]

Yeah. I was totally serious in my previous post. There wasn't a single ounce of sarcasm in it. Even in this post also. There's no sarcasm here.

I hear black people using the n-word with impunity. Not that I want to use the word or anything. It just perlexes me that the group that was victimised gets to use it but others cannot. Even if the world negro is a valid, English word that denotes the color black.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I hear black people using the n-word with impunity. Not that I want to use the word or anything. It just perlexes me that the group that was victimised gets to use it but others cannot. Even if the world negro is a valid, English word that denotes the color black.

The use of the "N" word is controversial within the black community - there is no consensus on its use being widely acceptable.

Negro referring to the color black is actually a latin word, not English.

[_Simpson_ 250]

I think the "N" word is always questionable, no matter what context it is used in. And by whom.

Context is everything. So of course context does matter. A black man using the word would never by any reasonable person would be looked as a racist.

[IndigoSkies 168]

Seeing as English came from Latin, the word negro being Latin doesn't diminish anything from its case to be used as a word in English. To me it seems like the black community uses the word negro in an academic sense such as in United Negro College Fund. I don't think anyone argues with that usage. Perhaps they argue with the day to day usage of the n-word ending in -er or (less informally) -ah. See how we are using the "n-word" instead of "***" even though we don't intend any malice or harm to anyone. We should be able to use the word in such context. Right?

Oh how nice! VisaJourny automatically censored the word.

Edited July 5, 2010 by IndigoSkies

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Context is everything. So of course context does matter. A black man using the word would never by any reasonable person would be looked as a racist.

If a black person uses it to describe themselves it isn't just the use of the word - but rather the attitude that it conveys - an attitude which perpetuates social division.

On another level it's self-abusing.

[Susita 175]

Seeing as English came from Latin, the word negro being Latin doesn't diminish anything from its case to be used as a word in English. To me it seems like the black community uses the word negro in an academic sense such as in United Negro College Fund. I don't think anyone argues with that usage. Perhaps they argue with the day to day usage of the n-word ending in -er or (less informally) -ah. See how we are using the "n-word" instead of "***" even though we don't intend any malice or harm to anyone. We should be able to use the word in such context. Right?

Oh how nice! VisaJourny automatically censored the word.

English is not one of the languages derived from Latin.

English is a germanic language and it's ancestry comes from a language they now call 'proto germanic.' Our sister languages include Dutch, German, Afrikaans, (which are the most similar) and then Norwegian, Danish, Swedish and Icelandic.

The reason that we have so many latin derived words in English is because of William the Conqueror and the French occupation of England in the early modern period.

Just sayin'

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Seeing as English came from Latin, the word negro being Latin doesn't diminish anything from its case to be used as a word in English. To me it seems like the black community uses the word negro in an academic sense such as in United Negro College Fund. I don't think anyone argues with that usage. Perhaps they argue with the day to day usage of the n-word ending in -er or (less informally) -ah. See how we are using the "n-word" instead of "***" even though we don't intend any malice or harm to anyone. We should be able to use the word in such context. Right?

Oh how nice! VisaJourny automatically censored the word.

You said that Negro is an English synonym for the colour black - it isn't. It's the latin word for black.

The commonly accepted meaning of the term "negro" in English is a derogatory descriptive term for blacks.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

English is not one of the languages derived from Latin.

English is a germanic language and it's ancestry comes from a language they now call 'proto germanic.' Our sister languages include Dutch, German, Afrikaans, (which are the most similar) and then Norwegian, Danish, Swedish and Icelandic.

The reason that we have so many latin derived words in English is because of William the Conqueror and the French occupation of England in the early modern period.

Just sayin'

This is true. The Romance languages (Spanish, French, Italian etc.) are derived from latin.

[_Simpson_ 250]

If a black person uses it to describe themselves it isn't just the use of the word - but rather the attitude that it conveys - an attitude which perpetuates social division.

On another level it's self-abusing.

social division yes,racist no

If I was a black man I would be embarrassed to throw that word around.

I have never seen Negro as derogatory term.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

social division yes,racist no

If I was a black man I would be embarrassed to throw that word around.

I have never seen Negro as derogatory term.

I'd say that it isn't possible for a person to be racist against themselves, but it isn't really true. Regardless, That isn't the point I was making here.

The sort of attitude expressed by someone who would use "N!gger" to differentiate themselves and their community from the rest of society isn't one that suggests tolerance.

[_Simpson_ 250]

I'd say that it isn't possible for a person to be racist against themselves, but it isn't really true. Regardless, That isn't the point I was making here.

The sort of attitude expressed by someone who would use "N!gger" to differentiate themselves and their community from the rest of society isn't one that suggests tolerance.

I think often when the word is used in the black community it is nothing more than lingo.

Do you believe Michael Richards to be racist based on what happened at the comedy club?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

In his heart? Only he can know that.

Unfortunately people are judged by the words they use. That he screamed "n!gger" at a black man seems racist to me.