2 : to delay academic progress by failure to promote
1 usually offensive; see usage paragraph below : a black person
2 usually offensive; see usage paragraph below : a member of any dark-skinned race
3 : a member of a socially disadvantaged class of persons
usage Nigger in senses 1 and 2 can be found in the works of such writers of the past as Joseph Conrad, Mark Twain, and Charles Dickens, but it now ranks as perhaps the most offensive and inflammatory racial slur in English. Its use by and among blacks is not always intended or taken as offensive, but, except in sense 3, it is otherwise a word expressive of racial hatred and bigotry.
I sat and watched Sarah Palin on Fox News Sunday as I relaxed in bed, waking to the day that ahead. (At this time I refuse in principle to give her the moniker of "Governor" after she voluntarily, and without legitimate reason, just up and quit the job that she was elected to do by her Alaskan constituents) I was absolutely shocked by her casual dismissal of seemingly offensive comments by Rush Limgaugh, while in the same breath condemning the White House Chief-of-Staff for identical conduct.
My immediate and instant thought, "No mam, what you just espoused is absolutely retarded."
As background, there are a few things I should first provide for one to better understand my point.
First, I am one of those dichotomous creatures neither party seems to serve, a "Moderate." I believe in being culturally sensitive, however, I despise the recent attempts by the politically correct "Speech Police" in the last twenty or thirty years to destroy free thought and an effective use of the English language. I absolutely DESPISE the regulation of my thoughts and speech, no matter how offensive it may be perceived. Funny thing, I would also fight vehemently to protect your right to say what you want to say, even if I think it offensive, stupid, banal, or even insane. Why? In the arena of thought and speech, freedom of these concepts is the only means to insure a proper discord, to protect the ability to express one's self to others, to share points of view that my otherwise go unnoticed.
Second, some historical background for her comment. Apparently, sometime last week it was revealed that, in a private conversation in the White House between a small group of staff members, Chief-of-Staff Rahm Emanuel referred to liberal groups (apparently objecting to some aspect of the White House political agenda) as "fucking retards." (yeah I used the word -- it is a word and he said it, so I quoted it)
This comment, again said in private and not from the lectern or pulpit, brought scathing condemnation from Sarah Palin. She almost immediately went onto Facebook and responded calling essentially for his resignation or termination. (http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=Sarah+palin&init=quick#!/notes/sarah-palin/are-you-capable-of-decency-rahm-emanuel/278672843434 -- I wonder who writes this stuff for her as she is completely unable to be this articulate in public)
She equated the "R" word with using the "N" word. Oh no she didn't. Yep, she went there.
Then, when asked about the use of the same offensive "R" word on almost the same day as her post, she replied:
"They are kooks, so I agree with Rush Limbaugh," she said, when read a quote of Limbaugh calling liberal groups "retards." "Rush Limbaugh was using satire ... . I didn't hear Rush Limbaugh calling a group of people whom he did not agree with 'f-ing retards,' and we did know that Rahm Emanuel, as has been reported, did say that. There is a big difference there."
With this historical background, I post this warning: Careful Alice, we have just fallen through the looking glass.
What the hell? Can one really be that naive, vapid, and without reasonably calculated thought? Her handlers planted this argument into her hard drive to vomit there on national television with Charles Wallace? I don't know what scares me more: she came up with this on her own, or a consensus of learned and politically savvy individuals thought this made sense?
Nope. I can't let it pass Sarah. Can't let you slide on this one. Can't just let you play the "I have a special needs kid" card for your political gain. What you said is absolutely fucking retarded.
There is ABSOLUTELY nothing different between the way this "R" word was employed by either of these two men. In ABSOLUTELY no way does the use of the "R" verb equate to the damage and destruction of the "N" noun.
I am sorry, but last time that I checked, I am not forgiven for the use of racially derogative "slang" merely because I am trying to use it for "comical satire." Last time that I checked, even when joking with my best friend, under no set of circumstances calling him a "nigger" would be acceptable. Why? Because I am white, and this term harkens back to the very notion that, because his skin is pigmented more darkly than mine, he is a subspecies who can't consider himself my equal, or even superior for that matter.
No, the condemnation of the "R" word is something new by the "Speech Police." It is more akin to people similarly situated as myself preferring to being called "Big & Tall" rather than just fat, obese, or overweight. It is an attempt to restrict the use of a perfectly good verb because of only ONE possible definition. Yeah, there ain't no "good" way for one to use the "N" word noun outside of artistic purposes.
But what about the use of the word "retarded," that is bad because it describes a person and not an activity? Sorry folks, but adding an "ed" to a verb merely makes it the past tense form. Adding the "ing" would make it an adverb. Unlike the "N" word, this harmless verb is no more destructive as an adjective or adverb like "fire retarding foam" or "flame retardant clothing."
Rahm Emanuel apologized. He met with a Kennedy/Shriver to make amends. No one seems to have considered that "preventing or hindering advance or accomplishment" may have anything to do with his description of the offending liberals.
Rush Limbaugh, on the other hand, joked about the fact that now we would have a "Retard Summit" at the White House.
Yeah, that is the same thing Sarah. But this once, I will honor your inane request that I not use the word "retard" to describe someone I find objectionable both personally and politically. Rather, I will simply call you:
Fuckin' moron.
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