Rahm Emanuel uses insult "retarded"

[shabba4detroit]

Originally Posted by DetroitCity313

Honestly man? I made a simple point that language changes over time and while your point does make sense (and I actually agreed with it) that there were points in time when African Americans did not have the "ability or wherewithal" to defend themselves.

It's a "Back to the Future" joke. Maybe it's my fault that it isn't a good one, but here's a reference from "Stripes" we throw around here too ...

"Lighten up, Francis."

[shabba4detroit]

Originally Posted by DetroitCity313

LOL I haven't heard anyone call Haitians "African Americans" but that is hilariously stupid.

I heard it twice on local news early on. And once on CNN or HLN.

[shabba4detroit]

Originally Posted by djhutch

It seems to me the difference here is the definition of Christian. Biff, I believe, is using the common definition that Christian means "Follower of Christ." Just because 24 of the 56 were Christian by Biff's definition, does not preclude the founding of America being based on Christian principles, when you consider the number of founding fathers who were deists, believing that there is one God.

The point of setting up a new country was simple - to escape the tyranny of King George. Some of that tyranny came in the form of forced Catholicism, some of it came in the form of abusive taxes. The founding fathers, by and large, were God honoring men who did not want to set up a theocracy, but wanted to allow men & women to worship as THEY saw fit. That's why they said "We don't want Congress to make a law establishing religion" - & Congress hasn't. PC judges & politicians have now twisted that to mean "I'm not a Christian, so you can't put up a nativity at city hall."

I believe George would have been imposing Anglicanism, not Catholicism. That is all.

[Oblong]

FYI, apparantly the apology was NOT accepted by the Special Olympics.

[shabba4detroit]

Originally Posted by Oblong

FYI, apparantly the apology was NOT accepted by the Special Olympics.

Rahm was heard calling them "f***ing retards" as he was leaving.

[pfife]

Originally Posted by Oblong

FYI, apparantly the apology was NOT accepted by the Special Olympics.

really?

In a statement, the group -- including the leaders of the Special Olympics and the American Association of People with Disabilities -- said they accepted Emanuel's apology, and hope that more Americans understand that "the R-word is polluting our language."

The statement added: "Every day our community hears this word -- in schools and workplaces, in print and in movies, on radio and television. And every day they suffer its dehumanizing effects -- mockery, stigma, ridicule. This is a word that is incredibly damaging -- not only to the seven million people with intellectual disabilities, but also their friends, family and to all of us."

Emanuel apologizes for using the 'R-word' - The Oval: Tracking the Obama presidency

[Biff Mayhem]

Tim Duncan called. He wants his controversy back.

[Oblong]

Originally Posted by pfife

really?



Emanuel apologizes for using the 'R-word' - The Oval: Tracking the Obama presidency

Special Olympics: Apology not accepted - Ben Smith - POLITICO.com

The vice president for communications at the Special Olympics, Kirsten Seckler, told me that this account of the conversation is "inaccurate."

"Tim didn't accept his apology," she said. "Tim can't do that. He can't accept an apology on behalf of all people with disabilities."

Shriver had simply said, she said, that he was willing to continue the conversation with the chief of staff.

[pfife]

crazy. I don't know man.

I wonder if they'll accept rush's apology?

I think the big news is the crackup going on. Our politically correct society is acting like some giant insult has taken place by calling a bunch of people who are retards, retards.


I mean, these liberal activists are kooks. They are loony tunes. And I'm not going to apologize for it, I'm just quoting Emanuel. It's in the news. I think the news is that he's out there calling Obama's number one supporters effing retards. So now there's going to be a meeting. There's going to be a retard summit at the White House, much like the beer summit between Obama and Gates and that cop in Cambridge.

Solid.

[Melody]

I really don't see "retarded" as a bad word unless used in the context of an insult, as it clearly was here. And THAT is my issue. I think that the American people deserve to have the people that work for them speak to and of them with respect.

Entertainers, change the channel. Then you aren't contributing to their pay checks.

[pfife]

Originally Posted by Oblong

Special Olympics: Apology not accepted - Ben Smith - POLITICO.com

wait does this mean its impossible to accept an apology then? If Tim can't do so, who can?

[Oblong]

I don't know. Maybe he didn't think it was his/their place. They just didn't want it to look like they didn't something that they cannot/did not do.

I don't think he should be fired over this. It's up to Obama if he wants him as his chief of staff. Not my place to say who should be in that position. Obama can take the heat/criticism of having him there. I also don't want to see him at the Special Olympics doing something he'd rather not be doing. His outburst exposed the sensitivity issues involved.

I'm not a Palin fan but I do think she was right to draw attention to this because it deserves it.

[Duane B. Sims]

Originally Posted by DetroitCity313

But yes..calling someone a retard is a low, low thing to do and one of the worst things to say in the English language along with the N word, C word to women, etc.

How about the "h" word to whites? Because I've been hearing that on TV regularly since "The Jeffersons," and it's usuallly accompanied by a laugh-track.

[DetroitCity313]

Originally Posted by Duane B. Sims

How about the "h" word to whites? Because I've been hearing that on TV regularly since "The Jeffersons," and it's usuallly accompanied by a laugh-track.

Really? I have never heard that on TV.

[Duane B. Sims]

Originally Posted by DetroitCity313

Really? I have never heard that on TV.

Wow. You've never heard George Jefferson call Tom a "honkey"?

You've never watched Def Comedy Jam?

[Duane B. Sims]

"Nothing's worse than a honky except being married to one." (laughter)

George Jefferson (Character) - Quotes

[Duane B. Sims]

[Duane B. Sims]

313, since you obviously have no knowledge of the indignities my people have had to face in the past, perhaps you should make this "White History Month."

[DetroitCity313]

Originally Posted by Duane B. Sims

Wow. You've never heard George Jefferson call Tom a "honkey"?

You've never watched Def Comedy Jam?

The Jeffersons were before my time and I think it was at a time when Archie Bunker openly made racist and bigoted comments too. That was a different time, but it is a stupid and hurtful thing to say.

Def Comedy Jam is on HBO, they try to push the limit on everything.

On TV these days, I have never, ever heard it.

[ToledoTigerFan]

Originally Posted by DetroitCity313

The Jeffersons were before my time and I think it was at a time when Archie Bunker openly made racist and bigoted comments too. That was a different time, but it is a stupid and hurtful thing to say.

Def Comedy Jam is on HBO, they try to push the limit on everything.

On TV these days, I have never, ever heard it.

You've never heard the word "honky" on TV these days? You haven't listened closely enough.

[DetroitCity313]

Originally Posted by Duane B. Sims

313, since you obviously have no knowledge of the indignities my people have had to face in the past, perhaps you should make this "White History Month."

More than 90% of the time spent in history classes is devoted to white history.

Honestly man, you made this into race for nothing. You guys keep asking me to stop bringing race up yet it is YOU who has brought it up. I know of the indignities "your people" have faced in the past in America and I would hope you have enough sense to know it is not comparable to the N word.

[DetroitCity313]

Originally Posted by ToledoTigerFan

You've never heard the word "honky" on TV these days? You haven't listened closely enough.

What show have you heard it on? Really, I don't watch TV too often and I have never heard it.

[Duane B. Sims]

Originally Posted by DetroitCity313

More than 90% of the time spent in history classes is devoted to white history.

Honestly man, you made this into race for nothing. You guys keep asking me to stop bringing race up yet it is YOU who has brought it up. I know of the indignities "your people" have faced in the past in America and I would hope you have enough sense to know it is not comparable to the N word.

Hey, I just asked you a question. Why is it the most horrible thing on the face of the earth to call someone a retard, or use the "n" or "c" words, and yet nobody says a thing about the "h" word, which is the exact equivalent to the "n" word in terms of its use.

Now before you go on a rant about the historical context of the "n" word, let me save you the trouble. I get it.

But in the now, it's the same thing. It's a derogatory term to refer to a race.

Personally, I'd like to live in a world where the intent, not the word itself, is judged, where someone like Fuzzy Zoeller, who is known as a jolly, non-hateful guy, can make a joke about watermelons without having to apologize. And where George Jefferson can call Tom the "h" word....and then Tom can turn around and call George the "n" word...and everyone can just laugh about it.

Unfortunately we don't live in that world. We live in a world where college professors lose their jobs because they say the school needs to be more niggardly with the budget, and some idiot gets offended. Or where a college professor can't say "I like that jacket" without getting written up.

In such an environment, I ask you again: Why are the "n" and "c" words so terrible, but not the "h" word? You're the one who brought up the "n" and "c" words. I just asked a question about it.

[DetroitFolly]

Its still not the same thing. I can't imagine it would ever be the same thing, unless in some future world, the tables are completely turned, and the white race is subjugated, denied its culture, sold into slavery, stripped of all rights and dignity; When honky is used as a weapon meant to dehumanize and degrade white people and remind them of their "place" in such a society...on THAT day, the "H" word might carry the same weight as the "N" word.

[pfife]

Originally Posted by Duane B. Sims

Now before you go on a rant about the historical context of the "n" word, let me save you the trouble. I get it.

But in the now, it's the same thing. It's a derogatory term to refer to a race.

I find that logic commensurate with the following:

$1 = $1000 because they're both money.

[DetroitCity313]

Originally Posted by DetroitFolly

Its still not the same thing. I can't imagine it would ever be the same thing, unless in some future world, the tables are completely turned, and the white race is subjugated, denied its culture, sold into slavery, stripped of all rights and dignity; When honky is used as a weapon meant to dehumanize and degrade white people and remind them of their "place" in such a society...on THAT day, the "H" word might carry the same weight as the "N" word.

Exactly.

[DetroitCity313]

Originally Posted by pfife

I find that logic commensurate with the following:

$1 = $1000 because they're both money.

Its like saying what the Irish experienced in America is equal to the holocaust. Oh wait, we already had people claim that....

[Duane B. Sims]

Originally Posted by DetroitFolly

Its still not the same thing. I can't imagine it would ever be the same thing, unless in some future world, the tables are completely turned, and the white race is subjugated, denied its culture, sold into slavery, stripped of all rights and dignity; When honky is used as a weapon meant to dehumanize and degrade white people and remind them of their "place" in such a society...on THAT day, the "H" word might carry the same weight as the "N" word.

On a macro, abstract level, you're absolutely right. But what if you're the only white kid on the playground and you're being called a honky? Then it has the exact same meaning and weight as the n word.

Now imagine you're that same kid and you go home and turn on the tube and watch that same word being thrown around accompanied by a laugh track.

This doesn't matter? If not, why not? You can't say this isn't a reality for millions of people. There are lots of predominantly-black neighborhoods in the United States, meaning there are lots of white kids in the minority to whom the word "honky" carries as much personal weight as the n word would to the great-great-grandson of a slave.

Why are we concerned about the feelings of one group but not the other? Is it because white kids in mostly black neighborhoods are ... um ... a minority? Most white kids don't have to deal with that kind of thing, so who cares about the few who do? Yeah...why care about a minority?

[DetroitFolly]

Again,

Originally Posted by DetroitFolly

Its still not the same thing. I can't imagine it would ever be the same thing, unless in some future world, the tables are completely turned, and the white race is subjugated, denied its culture, sold into slavery, stripped of all rights and dignity; When honky is used as a weapon meant to dehumanize and degrade white people and remind them of their "place" in such a society...on THAT day, the "H" word might carry the same weight as the "N" word.

[Oblong]

I'm not offended by Honky. It's a manufactured word and thus loses it's meaning.

[DetroitCity313]

Originally Posted by Oblong

I'm not offended by Honky. It's a manufactured word and thus loses it's meaning.

What do you mean it is manufactured?

[Duane B. Sims]

Originally Posted by DetroitFolly

Again,

Oh, I read it right the first time. And in the abstract world you're right. In the real world, though, the "h" word hurts just as badly to some people as the "n" word. If you want to covert reality into the pages of a history book, go ahead. But what's real to some people is real to all. If you're going to be concerned about offending the great-great grandson of a slave, or the grandson of someone who had to drink out of a different fountain, then you should also take into consideration the feelings of white kids living in the ghetto who get the crap beat out of them daily.

Thanks all the same, but I didn't ask for a repeat of what you'd posted. I asked for an answer to the question: why is one group's feelings and reality rendered insignificant? If you think you're standing on the side that is right and just, then why should this be allowed? That is, we're going to live in this world where offending a member of another race is the worst thing imaginable. Or, as I said, we could all just lighten up.

[DetroitFolly]

But in your instance, calling the kid a *****, wimp, or redneck would be just as damaging. None of those words carries the same weight as the N word does. You can't just toss the baggage like that.

What's happening to a kid like that is wrong, no question. But its not the same. There isn't the history behind it. And the history is incredibly powerful. Its legacy is still felt today.

[Duane B. Sims]

Originally Posted by DetroitFolly

When honky is used as a weapon meant to dehumanize and degrade white people and remind them of their "place" in such a society...on THAT day, the "H" word might carry the same weight as the "N" word.

Does this principle only count if you're dealing with a majority? Because you would have to stipulate that, to the only white kid on the playground, growing up his entire life hearing the word "honky" thrown at him would make him feel dehumanized and degraded. And, in their society, it's most definitely being used to remind them of their place.

Granted, there probably aren't a whole lot of white kids in this situation, although there must be hundreds of thousands, if not millions. But that shouldn't matter anyway. When we stop caring about the minority...well, that's not a good thing, is it?

[DetroitCity313]

Originally Posted by Duane B. Sims

Does this principle only count if you're dealing with a majority? Because you would have to stipulate that, to the only white kid on the playground, growing up his entire life hearing the word "honky" thrown at him would feel dehumanized and degraded by the use of the word.

Granted, there aren't a whole lot of white kids in this situation, although there must be hundreds of thousands, if not millions. But that shouldn't matter, anyway. When we stop caring about the minority...well, that's not a good thing, is it?

Duane, this is coming from someone from Detroit who went to school with very few white kids...no one from this generation uses that word. They might call em white boy, but not honkey. I haven't heard it.

[Duane B. Sims]

Originally Posted by DetroitFolly

But in your instance, calling the kid a *****, wimp, or redneck would be just as damaging. None of those words carries the same weight as the N word does. You can't just toss the baggage like that.

What's happening to a kid like that is wrong, no question. But its not the same. There isn't the history behind it. And the history is incredibly powerful. Its legacy is still felt today.

Again, on an academic, abstract level, you're right.

In the real world, either we care about the feelings of all people or we don't. Some slurs shoudln't be shrugged off because they don't carry "historical weight."

I guarantee you the fat kid in class feels every bit the resentment at the taunts as any black kid ever did from being called the "n" word. So let's stop comedians from making fat jokes, ugly jokes, etc. Or else we could just lighten up about the issue of race. One of the two.

Life is not a history book. Life is life.

[Duane B. Sims]

Originally Posted by DetroitCity313

Duane, this is coming from someone from Detroit who went to school with very few white kids...no one from this generation uses that word. They might call em white boy, but not honkey. I haven't heard it.

Then "white boy" if used with the same venom, is just as bad. The word doesn't matter. IT's the intent. That's my whole point. If a white guy known for being a decent person makes a watermelon joke, he shouldn't have to apologize.

[DetroitFolly]

Duane...

I am not saying your kid is not a victim. He is. That said, he isn't in a situation where his government, his owners, his entire social system, deemed his as less of a HUMAN.

I was talking to a Tuskegee airman the other day. This guy was a heck of a pilot...flew 18 and a half bomber escort missions over Europe in WW2. Shot down a number of german planes, strafed and destroyed some fuel depots and took out a German destroyer. He almost didn't get the chance, because the army tried to shut him out. They were so certain he didn't have the brain power to work on planes as a mechanic, let alone fly them. The Pentagon found a professor at the University of Texas, and had him conduct a study to prove that black people lacked the intelligence to serve with white people in the military. This was in 1940.

[DetroitCity313]

Originally Posted by Duane B. Sims

Then "white boy" if used with the same venom, is just as bad. The word doesn't matter. IT's the intent. That's my whole point. If a white guy known for being a decent person makes a watermelon joke, he shouldn't have to apologize.

Just saying, that word is not really in the vocab of this generation. Still wondering what TV show you have heard it on recently?

[Duane B. Sims]

Let's just sum my feelings up this way: Any black father who would sit around the dinner table and teach his kids to hate white people is every bit as bad as a white father who rails against blacks to his children. I don't care what happened yesterday, or the day before.

To me, in this modern world, all races are on equal footing, in that we all have the opportunity to either treat each other decently or not. One person's slur isn't any less offensive than anothers because of "historical weight." A slur laced with venom, like Emanuel's idiotic comment about "retards," is terrible and should be treated as such.

But if a white comedian uses the "n" word in his act, it isn't the worst thing in the world. Back in the 80s, George Carlin did use the word, and to great effect. But I doubt he could now. Then again, Carlin never did give a ****, so maybe he would.