Quote:
Originally posted by Moses
But he's right about abandoning the "n" word. It serves no one.
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I disagree. Not using the word is one thing. Abandoning it because of its projected meaning is completely short-sided.
If at all, the word serves a cultural purpose. Yes, it is offensive, as are many other distateful words - the f-word and c-word included. But the n-word has a much deeper social context than the f or c-word, s-word, a-word or any other inflamatory word who someone could find offensive. T n-word is important because it holds connotation and definition in this country which should not be conveniently swept away. To refuse it refuses a part of American's past and present.
I think the same idea was tried in Germany with the word "Nazi." Obliterating the word, however, did not obliterate the fact Nazis did (and still do) exist.
Or, as another example, take "fat" which is an offensive word in many cases. Should we abandon that word because it, when used from one person to another, can be offensive, hurtful, and in most cases, egregious?
It may be hard to believe, but abandoning words because they are rendered offensive or archaic, is how societies lose their history and definition.