Monday, January 10, 2011

THE N WORD

I was watching a comedy routine on TV last night. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_C.K. He mentioned the "N WORD" and in particular how the news media, and the politically correct, use the "N WORD" term.

Louis went on to say that the truth is, every time someone uses the "N WORD" expression, everyone’s brain automatically translates it to "Nigger." In 2011, with rare exceptions, Nigger is a politically and socially impolite term.

Within the past two weeks, there has been much controversy over the term, especially with regard to the rewriting of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

In fact, there has been a great hue and cry from the masses, over the controversy caused by the rewriting of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Indeed, upon learning of this, more than likely the late Mark Twain might have sat up in his coffin, changed ends, and then rolled over several times before coming to rest in an upright position, with a fresh cigar in hand.

I had the racial facts of life told to me one day while I was in the Air Force in 1962. There had been a lot of racial tension in our barracks, so a mixed group of several of us airmen were in the TV room talking about how to get along better.

A Black airman asked me if I knew the difference between a Nigger, and a Negro. I confessed that I did not. Then he asked me if I knew the difference between a White man and White Trash. I allowed as how I did. Then he told me that a Nigger meant the same as White Trash. That was his way of defining the situation, that our barracks had a mix of people, including Niggers and White Trash, living amongst the more civilized rest of us.

For the last 48 years, I have heard many Black men use the "N WORD" when addressing themselves in conversation with one another. As in, "Hey Nigga, whutup?"

Apparently, it is perfectly OK for Black men to use the “N WORD” in polite conversation. However, there are very strict boundaries, where a White person would be committing a social error by using the same term.

Also, during the past 48 years, I have seen how the word Negro has fallen out of favor, to be replaced by Black, or African American to define race...

Alan Gribben had the audacity to do the rewrite of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Regardless of reason, I think it was a BIG mistake to rewrite The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, in order to replace a word that was widely used, by both White and Black people at the time – 1885.

We all know and realize that over time the meaning of a word can change. I believe it is better to leave things in their proper historical context.

Instead of getting their undergarments all twisted and knotted, folks need to remember that “Huck Finn” is a satirical novel – one with great social value in 1885 and today.

People should consider visiting WikipediA’s information, to learn more about the book. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventures_of_Huckleberry_Finn

This rewriting matter sounds like political correctness, out of control.

There is a basic bottom line: If Black people are offended by the term Nigger, they too should stop using the term.