victor809 wrote:I'm gonna try to throw a bit of perspective here.
I don't advocate banning any books. I think literature is our most valuable asset.
But don't you think it's funny that a bunch of older white males (most of whom probably used some racial or sexual slur at some point in their lives to intentionally hurt someone) are now saying people should just "stop whining ". None of us know what it's like to be on the other side. It seems to me that some parents are trying to keep their kids from being exposed to something that they had to endure in their past.
Whether they are going about it the right way or not is debatable. But a bunch of white males saying "get over it" is probably not a productive way to resolve the issue.
Every time I hear you guys whine that "this minority is upset about something I don't think is anything important " I get images of a guy whining about his hang nail while his wife is in labor....
I guess we can't make laws to punish a murderer unless we've killed someone.
I'm white.
I've used racial slurs in my lifetime. Mostly in jest, but I'm sure I've said some things that were hurtful on purpose. Just like I've said things to people who were fat, or ugly, or geeky, or too feminine/masculine, or based on ethnicity etc. to hurt them with words. A verbal punch, so to speak.
I don't remember specifics, but I'm sure I've done it.
So what?
Doesn't mean I don't have empathy.
Doesn't mean I feel those people are somehow inferior.
It would have been said in anger. Maybe in response to an action or word they said. Or maybe they were just Jets fans...
Point being, we have to stop being so hyper sensitive and inconsistent.
On one hand, we begrudgingly support the Westboro Church when they poke fun at dead soldiers, while we simultaneously vilify a politician or celebrity who uses ONE nasty word that's on the liberal do-not-speak-if-you're-a-white-male list.
It's disingenuous at the very least.
Call a spade a spade. If someone is an azzwipe, let's say it. If they're a good person who let slip an inappropriate term, discuss it and move on.
In other words, Get Over Yourselves.
Whatever happened to sticks and stones?