THE "N" WORD - ENOUGH ALREADY!
By Lee Degenstein
According to the Oxford English Dictionary’s second edition, there are approximately 171,476 words in the English language. So let’s say for arguments sake that there are another 30,000 words that Oxford does not include in their dictionary, thus making a total of slightly more than 200, 000 words.
This begs the question, why does there exist a word in our language that can only be identified by its first letter? I am not talking about the “F” word or the “C” word. I am however referring to the “N” word. I really don’t get it.
The African American Community very little if anything to do with the introduction of the phrase “N word”. In fact, many members of that community feel the phrase should not be used. So where did it come from? The answer and blame goes to the news media both print and broadcast.
You rarely hear individuals using the phrase. Why do newscasters and print reporters have to resort to using the phrase “N” word? It sounds like they are talking to a group of young school children. Why can’t the “N” word be replaced with the phrase “racial slurs”? That’s what they say when other ethnicities are verbally attacked.
I would go as far as to say that using the “N” word is offensive, insulting and completely divisive. Does the media not realize that the use of the “N” word phrase is an example of inequality to begin with? Simply put the liberal print and broadcast media, is treating the African American community differently than it treats others and that divides people, rather than bringing them together.
The website Dictionary.Com calls the word Nigger, the “most offensive word in the English language”. I am Jewish and I would be terribly offended if I were to be called a Kike. Yet there is no “K” word in our language. It is my belief that any racial or religious slurs are equally offensive. I don’t see how one can be more offensive than another.
I would agree that when that kind of word is used, it is almost always used in a derogatory or disparaging way and meant to hurt the person or people to whom it’s directed. However so are the words Cracker, Honky, Kike, Mick, Spic, Wetback, Guinea, Kraut, Frog, Gook, Towel Head and Dot just to name a few. They are all just as bad and should never be used under any circumstances. I have never heard a media report refer to the “H“word for Honky or the “C” word for Cracker etc. Why should one word have a letter attached to it and not the others? How about just not using it all together? Then this would be on a more level playing field.
We have gone overboard in this country with political correctness. We are so careful not to offend anyone’s race, sex or religious beliefs that all too often we end up doing more damage. The use of the “N” word reflects that. The level of prejudice in our country seems to rise and fall according to the times we are in. We currently are in a very sensitive time (mostly due to political correctness) but the media is fanning the flames as it often does. Personally I wish the media would stop using the phrase all together.
Finally, the racial slur referred to here is not even one of the seven words you can’t say on television. Just in case you have forgotten them they are: the “S” word, the “P”, word the “C” word, the “F” word, the “CS” words the “MF” words, and the dreaded “T” word. I personally still think George Carlin was right the “T” word doesn’t even belong on the list!
Lee Degenstein has covered the financial markets for print and broadcast media for more than 15 years. Mr. Degenstein was also the news director and morning anchor at two major radio stations in New Jersey. He has been a reporter/contributor to United Press International, The Associated Press, The Mutual Broadcasting System and New York 1 News. A former winner of the Associated Press award for 'best business story' he lives and works in New York City. Mr. Degenstein can be reached by email at: lee723@verizon.net© copyright 2006, Lee Degenstein.
All rights reservedwww.leereports.blogspot.com
According to the Oxford English Dictionary’s second edition, there are approximately 171,476 words in the English language. So let’s say for arguments sake that there are another 30,000 words that Oxford does not include in their dictionary, thus making a total of slightly more than 200, 000 words.
This begs the question, why does there exist a word in our language that can only be identified by its first letter? I am not talking about the “F” word or the “C” word. I am however referring to the “N” word. I really don’t get it.
The African American Community very little if anything to do with the introduction of the phrase “N word”. In fact, many members of that community feel the phrase should not be used. So where did it come from? The answer and blame goes to the news media both print and broadcast.
You rarely hear individuals using the phrase. Why do newscasters and print reporters have to resort to using the phrase “N” word? It sounds like they are talking to a group of young school children. Why can’t the “N” word be replaced with the phrase “racial slurs”? That’s what they say when other ethnicities are verbally attacked.
I would go as far as to say that using the “N” word is offensive, insulting and completely divisive. Does the media not realize that the use of the “N” word phrase is an example of inequality to begin with? Simply put the liberal print and broadcast media, is treating the African American community differently than it treats others and that divides people, rather than bringing them together.
The website Dictionary.Com calls the word Nigger, the “most offensive word in the English language”. I am Jewish and I would be terribly offended if I were to be called a Kike. Yet there is no “K” word in our language. It is my belief that any racial or religious slurs are equally offensive. I don’t see how one can be more offensive than another.
I would agree that when that kind of word is used, it is almost always used in a derogatory or disparaging way and meant to hurt the person or people to whom it’s directed. However so are the words Cracker, Honky, Kike, Mick, Spic, Wetback, Guinea, Kraut, Frog, Gook, Towel Head and Dot just to name a few. They are all just as bad and should never be used under any circumstances. I have never heard a media report refer to the “H“word for Honky or the “C” word for Cracker etc. Why should one word have a letter attached to it and not the others? How about just not using it all together? Then this would be on a more level playing field.
We have gone overboard in this country with political correctness. We are so careful not to offend anyone’s race, sex or religious beliefs that all too often we end up doing more damage. The use of the “N” word reflects that. The level of prejudice in our country seems to rise and fall according to the times we are in. We currently are in a very sensitive time (mostly due to political correctness) but the media is fanning the flames as it often does. Personally I wish the media would stop using the phrase all together.
Finally, the racial slur referred to here is not even one of the seven words you can’t say on television. Just in case you have forgotten them they are: the “S” word, the “P”, word the “C” word, the “F” word, the “CS” words the “MF” words, and the dreaded “T” word. I personally still think George Carlin was right the “T” word doesn’t even belong on the list!
Lee Degenstein has covered the financial markets for print and broadcast media for more than 15 years. Mr. Degenstein was also the news director and morning anchor at two major radio stations in New Jersey. He has been a reporter/contributor to United Press International, The Associated Press, The Mutual Broadcasting System and New York 1 News. A former winner of the Associated Press award for 'best business story' he lives and works in New York City. Mr. Degenstein can be reached by email at: lee723@verizon.net© copyright 2006, Lee Degenstein.
All rights reservedwww.leereports.blogspot.com
posted by Lee Degenstein | 10:38 AM
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