What are the views on the use of racial slurs in America, and what should be done?
157121
If a word or phrase is offensive to races, then the word needs to be removed from usage.  It shoud not be used to offend, describe, or compilment.  Since it is offensive, it should not be used at all, period end of story.  On the flip side, this is America and you do not have the right not to be offended.  If offended, either leave the situation if possible, or try to politely debate the usage.  The debate suggestion is at your own risk.  If the offender is using the phrase inappropriately - they are most likely narrow minded and you will be lowering yourself to their level trying to debate!
856527
there should be no punishment, let me ask this in return what should chris rocks punishment be for calling white people crackers, or carlos mencea for saying spick,or kike,or whoop or jap, or nigger,or honkey.  You dont see fit to punish them so why punish this man.  As all other comedians say if you are easly offended or cant take a joke dont watch.  He may have said it out of spite but maybe the individuals deserved it for being rude and inconsiderate to him.  It sounds to me that justifys them to be called the names they where.  Now quite wasting our time with issues that dont directly concern you.  If you are african american go listen to rap music you will hear that word every 5 seconds but you arnt complaining about those musicians saying it.  hypocrates!!!!
362996
I don't enjoy the word no matter who says it. It has been incorporated into black culture as a way of claiming(power)it from negative to positive.It has been handed down from slavery times. It is a bastardized form of the Spanish word negro which means black. It was used to demean a people thus even today if a white person uses the word it is viewed as racist.Check and see which group of people use that word as much if not more than some blacks.Let me give you a hint-White Power!!There are various groups of this type however i think that you will find not only some whites follow this line of thinking. Check other races as well. Peace!!
723880
There is, and no you are not the only one. I am not offended by racial slurs at all, I was raised to love everyone regardless of skin color. If people want to act ignorant around me, than so be it. \n\nJust roll it off, and try one by one to change the world :)
772283
Start the trend that the term Caucasian is a racist term.  I want to be known as Danish American or Irish American or Latvian American; not lumped into a single homogenous category.\n\nUse this logic every time you fill out paperwork where they ask your ethnicity and list Caucasian.  If they harrass you, call them bigots and call the local ACLU to tell them you are being harrassed because of your ethnicity.  It makes them crazy.\n\nSign up the info@peta.org email address to every meat processing plant's email\n\nSwear in public alot and cite the first amendment rulings that say obnoxiuos speech is covered.  Tell them they are illegally censoring you if they ask you to stop.\n\nTell PC Professors at universities that your opinion counts and that if ever a grade is lowered because of your opinion, you will write the dean of the school and the president of the universIty that you are being harrassed and prejudiced against because of your beliefs.\n\nSTAND UP AND TAKE THE COUNTRY BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
996632
I LOVE this question. Absolutely love it. I believe the "urban" vocabulary (or the lack of it) is destroying what little is left of good English in this country. I agree with all of the above, except the one about the "N-word." I hate that word too. However, the fact that our sister has implied that people who are black can use that, and us blanco's can't, is pure hypocrisy. Hypocrisy and stupidity. \n\nThe fact that that word carries any negative connotations at all is entirely because of who invented it (redneck southern plantation owners, who didn't CREATE it...they merely changed the pronunciation). n--i--g--g--e--r is simply a white rednecks way of reading/pronouncing the spanish word (LOOKITUP!) for black, niger. So I very firmly believe that no one should use the word, INCLUDING people who are black who don't respect themselves. The use of the word by them and not us "whites" is also hypocritical because it is reverse-rascism. So because you are a person who is black, that means that the blancos are racist, because they're white? Did anyone stop to consider that when you play the color game the insults run both ways? Hypocrisy. If a person who was black called me white-trash, that wouldn't bother me. It's true. If I said "black trash" to a person who was black who lived in the gutter, they'd probably kill me. There's something wrong with this picture! A person's skin tone should not change the way we interact with them.
822434
I think you are Americanizing a world issue...And I strongly disagree with it. I also believe it is obvious that their are vast differences in races and cultures. I also think its great that there are differences.
733934
I have to admit, I was angry when I read the first few sentences.  Then, I realized what you were trying to say and how your concept has some truth, to a degree, but the incorrect approach.  Most Americans stand behind the Constitution and feel strongly about freedom.  We MAY practice our freedoms and enjoy being open about how we feel -- and here's the kicker -- AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T INFRINGE ON OTHERS.  Freedom to express racism is not something for which a culture should strive.  The freedom to accept one another, to practice our different cultures, for acceptance of all races is the goal for which Americans should strive.  The practice of racism, to me, is the practice of the ignorant.  A person's attitude, responsibilities, self-accountability is taught and develops as they mature.  If a person is taught to be racist -- no matter their own race -- then it spreads generation by generation.  I believe that who a person truly is inside has little to do with the color of their skin.  Do they care about other people?  Are they unselfish and accomodating?  Do they stand behind what they claim to believe?  Are they responsible and accountable?  These things have nothing to do with race itself, rather what they truly believe, whether it is learned at home or elsewhere.\n\nYour idea that since many people are racist we should be more open about it is counterproductive to our society.  Negativity, finger-pointing, and not being accountable for oneself breed feelings of hatred and add to chaos and rioting.  Instead of dwelling on the differences in our inherited or imigrated cultures, we should embrace each other as members of the HUMAN race.  This is what America is supposed to be about.  We should be teaching our children that the negative aspects of human behavior do not derive from race -- they derive from a person's individual character.  Instead of focusing on our differences, we should note our commonalities as people -- as animals of higher intellect striving toward peace.
528608
I would say no because first of all euphemism are actually words to sugar coat foul language/cursing words.For example instead of saying " f**k you" you'd say "screw you".\n\nPolitically correct is is basically the same. like the word n**ger (im black btw)is not PC...African American is...\nAnother PC word is Caucasian instead of saying white people\n\nSo technically euphemism would not be a good way to change attitude but I do believe Polittically Correct is a great way to start...it helps eliminate and cut down on descrimination against certain race,sex,gender..etc.Hope you get the idea\n\n\nNO HONEY EUPHEMISMS ARE NOT AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE....THIS IS A  TOUGH QUESTION BECAUSE SOME MAY SAY IT IS & SOME MAY DISAGREE.BUT TO IT NOT AN EFFECTIVE WAY..I SEE EUPHEMISM'S AS A WAY TO COVER UP NEGATIVE COMMENT AND FOUL LANGUAGE.dO YOU GET ME?
807279
America MUST solve its racism problem.\n\nIt must also do something about improving the education system and the health system to ensure people have an adequate education and are not dying because they can't pay a hospital bill.
910038
Yes, and I don't really understand why you're defending him. When people get angry or drunk their true colors come to the surface. Him using the "n" word wasn't even the big point, it was the context in which he used it. If saying the "n" word doesn't mean you're a racist then why is the "n" word a racial slur?
340453
racism is taught by other racists--it is a learned behavior which is often passed down through many generations of other racists. People close their minds to the differences in people,their society and cultures. Somebody will hear a statement like,"all the Mexicans are taking away American jobs", and without questioning,will take the statement at face value,and infect their kids with it too. Maybe someone had a grandfather who fought in Okinawa,and now they are racist against all oriental people--thinking they are all Japanese. Racial slurs also are passed down,and often mimicked by somebody who really does not even know what they mean. It is ignorance and stupidity,pure and simple!! Be careful that you do not form a stereotypical opinon of Americans,because some of us will not tolerate racism,bigotry or ethnic/religious stereotyping near us,or our families!!
762736
The line should have been drawn 20 years ago in the infancy of political correctness. I think it's too late to get rid of it. It's already caused irreparable damage to society.
1020606
Many people are instantly offended when this question is asked, even in the most respectful way from a curious mind.  So now instead of getting information on your question people are attacking you for asking the question.  This is why this question and the word in fact remains a taboo, because most people will not talk about it openly with another race and automatically take offense to the inquiry.  \n\nI don't know why any race would refer to themselves with an offensive word or term.  But in the same sense a word only has the power to offend you when you allow it.  And in reference to this word it carries so much meaning historically, and not in a good sense, that Americans as a culture should make the decision to omit the word from our vocabularies.
1172701
no one should say it, it's derogatory, but we get more when a white person says it than a black person because of the history behind the word. it was used to humiliate and honestly it still does. I don't use it and I get pissed when anyone calls me that.
467593
JD, the left-wing activist are working very hard to make it a racial slur. I don't know where you live, but here in Dallas, I listen to KLIF radio. Gregg Knapp had Domingo Garcia, who is activist in the boycott and is currently representing an illegal immigrant who was arrasted by the cops. You HAVE to listen to this podcast to see the flagrant attempt by Garcia to equate illegal alien to the N-word. It is incredible. I promise it is not spam or a virus: Dallas Lawyer Domingo Garcia \nhttp://www.amfmpodcast.com/podcast/klif/... \n\nSource(s):\n\nwww.klif.com
395920
In the United States a citizen has a right to voice their opinion. This is called Freedom of Speech and unfortunately you cannot do much about it.  If that person were to infringe on your rights, or commit an act of violence because of your nationality/creed it would be a hate crime.  The best thing to do is to keep on going and ignore their hateful comments.  If you let an idiot affect you, what have you become?  an idiot.  So don't let these people get beneath your skin because thats what they want.  If you take steps to silence this person, well that would be infringing on their rights, so its best to just ignore them and move on.