If that were the rule, we could all free ourselves from the bounds of racial sensitivity forever - look we're not prejudiced, we're just using those words, it's okay!
Now, now.
Is Bill Cosby anti-black?
We have to be able to discuss things. For decades we couldn't discuss any problems in the black community at all without being charged with racism. PC came into vogue. After all, we can't use "those words." That turned into "we can't hurt anyone's feelings." It did that because there was this grey area between "those words" and the exaggerated sensitivities of the victims or the prejudice. Not knowing how to operate there, we gave the authority to draw the line to the victims, the leadership of whom are the most sensitive amongst them. Sure, everyone knows not to use the n-word. But who woudda thunk that "water buffalo" would be a problem?
If everyone shies away out of PC we can't solve problems. Sure, some people are bigots. Some are really nasty bigots. Bigoted language causes problems but PC silence or, even worse, accommodation, cause problems, too. We need to be able to talk about the relationship between Israel and the US without people being overly squeamish or overly sensitive. My approach to that is to give people who say painful things the benefit of any doubt. |
