The War on Language Continues

[paft.livejournal.com]

Paula Smith, seller of an anti-Obama bumper-sticker that invokes the word "Nigger": According to the dictionary [the N word] does not mean black. It means a low down, lazy, sorry, low down person. That’s what the N word means.

Well, after all, “torture” has been redefined. The right wing drive to redefine “racist” has not been quite so successful, though they have managed to raise the bar for calling someone a “racist” about as high as the bar for publicly accusing someone of homicide. It’s inevitable, I guess, that, flush with this progress, racists start batting around their venerable and beloved word “nigger” in an attempt to rehabilitate it. In this case, it’s a woman whose website is selling a bumpersticker that reads, “2012: Don’t Re-Nig!”

Ha! Ha! Don’t re-NIG! Get it?




The Forbes interview with Smith touches many bases familiar to anyone who’s ever argued with racists online or off. She affects, of course, a wide-eyed, why-whatever-could-be-wrong innocence about the offensiveness of the bumper-sticker:

I do find it amazing and entertaining that one of our stickers has become a racist thing.

Bless her little pink heart, she’s just amazed that anyone would be offended by her invocation of the word “nigger” in association with President Obama.

The 21st century’s version of “some of my best friends” takes its bow:

I have kids here around me that are black kids. I call them my own kids. I’ve helped black families…to guide them in the right direction.

To hear some racists talk, black folks just cluster around them, eagerly pecking and chirping for crumbs of wisdom and good will, like birds around St. Francis of Assisi.

And then there’s the “I don’t see race” meme Stephen Colbert so frequently skewers:

And besides Obama is not even black. He’s got a mixture of race. It’s his choice of what his nationality is.

Right. If President Obama were just an ordinary citizen and Ms. Smith, knowing nothing else about him but his appearance, were asked to offer the police a description or him, “black” (or “colored,” or “nigra” or “nigger”) would crop up nowhere in her response. I believe that. I do.

But the quote that truly establishes her as following the traditions of internet racism is the inevitable, “I'm mixed race, too” bit:

I’m a mixed breed. I call myself a Heinz 57.

Forbes writer Roger Friedman drily points out that this “mixed ancestry” is French, Scottish, and German.

Well, at least she didn’t do what some Internet commentators do, claim to be non-white because she found out a year ago that Great-Grandad was one quarter Cherokee.

So what's the next word the right wing is going to attempt to redefine/rehabilitate? Any thoughts?

Crossposted from Thought Crimes

Comments

[its-anya.livejournal.com]

"According to the dictionary [the N word] does not mean black. It means a low down, lazy, sorry, low down person. That’s what the N word means."

Funny kind of dictionary she has.

[kayjayuu.livejournal.com]

This is deplorable. My husband, who is a few steps behind me in the "words mean things" category and whom I would not call racist, saw this and thought it was funny. I told him in no uncertain terms it was NOT. It's a clever play on words, for those who want to find some redeeming value in... something, whatever. But it is in no way, shape, or form FUNNY. Or appropriate, or good, or anything. He was sheepish about it, so it's a start.

I also had a discussion about N with a couple of coworkers, one who doesn't view himself as racist and felt badly that I was offended (me... he hasn't progressed to "someone else" being offended or the view itself being offensive). The other coworker IS racist -- but he's also obnoxious, opnionated, and manages to insert the word "fuck" into every other word. But we discussed nonetheless; I didn't yell or get upset, I simply told him it wasn't acceptable. Period. Now, suddenly, he's nice to me. Did I change his mind? No. Did I give him something to think about? Who knows. But I will not be silent about these things... neither will I be militant and write someone off. I'll engage.

TL;DR: People from all walks of life have issues, not all of them have examined them, and that has to come from engagement with people who still treat them like people, instead of enemies.

[paft.livejournal.com]

People who use the word "nigger" casually often insist they aren't racist and it's no big deal. The problem is, if you get into the habit of using a word like that, one of these days you're going to say it in front of someone you'd rather not hear it.

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

It's a clever play on words

Actually, its dumb there as well. To renege on Obama would be to not choose him for a 2nd term. To not renege would be to accept him for a 2nd term.

So, even the play on words was backwards - just like her worldview.

[kardashev.livejournal.com]

Well, they should. In fact, I'll do it now: George Bush and Glenn Beck are a couple of niggers. They deserve this far more than Obama does.

But still, even then a bunch of lefties would still complain. I know because a bunch of them bitched at me for calling myself "Niggerbot". This is because one of the things political correctness(both the left and right wing versions of it) is adept at is denying the context of what a speaker is saying and substituting their own.

Political correctness is for liars. No exceptions.

(frozen) (no subject)

[dv8nation.livejournal.com]

You're trotting out a known sock? Really?

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

I dunno... It still feels like we're insulting Bush by calling him a slander term for an African American though.

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

Well, at least she didn’t do what some Internet commentators do, claim to be non-white because she found out a year ago that Great-Grandad was one quarter Cherokee.

According to the government definition of race, that is completely accurate (although they should check both Native American and White on the census). And I don't know about Cherokee in particular, but some tribes would allow that person to be in the tribe.

[paft.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my great grandfather was half native American, but I'm willing to bet I'd still be described as "white" by anyone who saw me, as would my siblings -- even the brother with darker skin and eyes.

In a discussion about racism and how it works, the fact that most white Americans whose families have been in this country more than a century have some Native American ancestry is utterly irrelevant.

[awdrey-gore.livejournal.com]

You are not discussing a government definition of race. You are discussing a Census categorization of racial self-reporting. The Census does not convey racial status. It permits people to self-report on concepts of race. To think the Census concepts of race are actual race definitions is misguided at best when the process doesn't stop white people who cannot prove a damn thing from claiming Indian ethnicity on a census form because they heard great-grandma knew someone who died on the Trail of Tears. The Census goes on the "let be be the finale of seem" approach to race because no one confers status on the basis of marking a box or two.

Yes, you can try to get the federal government to recognize 1/32 status, but the notion that anyone who had an Indian ancestor can apply for and receive a Certificate Degree of Indian Blood card is myth. If you don't have at least one ancestor who was on the Dawes Roll, you will be facing an uphill battle trying to be declared ethnically Native American. And even if you do have a direct ancestor on the roll, you still have to prove an unbroken chain of lineal association. And tribes and the Bureau of Indian Affairs are completely unaffected by whatever it is anyone marks on the Census.

[usekh.livejournal.com]

[Citation needed]

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

You're assuming she's racist when she could just actually be ignorant of the meaning and usage of the word. You're just shoehorning it into your narrative.

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

You're assuming she's racist when she could just actually be ignorant

Its both.

The word is renege.
"Don't Re-Nig" is racist.

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

Looks like the hackers got to Ms. Smiths site:

http://stickatude.com/store2/index.php?main_page=product_reviews_info&products_id=77&reviews_id=3

"The attitude expressed in this sticker indicates that our churches and education systems are failing to conquer the ignorance associated with racism. Any person willing to publicly display such a sticker demonstrates an offence to both humanity and God."

[msretro.livejournal.com]

Not a hack. It's a review of the sticker. Considered leaving one myself, but wandered off because you have to register to do it.

[op-tech-glitch.livejournal.com]

I’ve helped black families…to guide them in the right direction.

And I would truly love to hear more of what "direction" she considers that to be. (Actually I'm pretty sure we hear a whole lot of that 'round these parts already.)

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

she is guiding them in the... white direction?

(frozen) (no subject)

[mrbogey.livejournal.com]

That's pretty cocky to say there's a war on language when your last post was outrage over a law you refused to read and ultimately decided that clear and concise language didn't matter.

I'm guessing that's why you posted this. Something to get the taste of embarrassment out of your mouth.

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

My icon summarizes my whole view on what this idiot thinks is happening versus what actually is happening. I almost dread finding out how anyone would defend this but I know, the Internet being the Internet, someone will try.

[dwer.livejournal.com]

His Nationality is american. His race is human. His ethnicity is half caucasian, half african. And many of his opponents are racists.

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

This. It's a sad sack of a world when this happens.

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

Sam barks in his sleep!

[kardashev.livejournal.com]

"The right wing drive to redefine “racist” has not been quite so successful..."

Well, neither has the left wing drive to redefine racism either, i.e. only people in power can be racists even though the dictionary says otherwise. You guys are no better than they are on that point.

I swear, you partisans and your insane language games. One of these days the English language is going to get so fucked up by both the left and the right that it'll sound vaguely like sorcerous incantations merged with pig latin while still managing to say nothing.

[paft.livejournal.com]

k: Well, neither has the left wing drive to redefine racism either, i.e. only people in power can be racists even though the dictionary says otherwise.

Can you name a few prominent and influential leftwingers who've said this?

[oportet.livejournal.com]

If she feels that strongly that the word is not racist or offensive, why shorten it? Go on and put the full word, 'nigger', on a bumper sticker. Spread the love and understanding to millions. Just let me buy stock in Goodyear first...

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

Just choose where you drive carefully.

[kylinrouge.livejournal.com]

She's just taking it back. Like porch monkey.

[dwer.livejournal.com]

mighty white of her.

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

Oh please Paula, tell the whole black community out there what the word should mean to them. [Sarcasm]...

"Oh it only means the grossly untrue stereotype people assigned to African Americans being lazy and low down, the one that's been with us since the days of minstrel shows, how's that racist?!"

This literally makes me sick, Paula is taking what could just be between Obama and his candidates and drags a whole community of fine people down with it, this person can go to hell.

[yelena-r0ssini.livejournal.com]

"...DEAD honky."

[zebra24.livejournal.com]

What is the point?
According to you now all anti-Obama should be liable for it?

Or you probably should be also concerned about Michele Bachmann's harassment and Palin's family harassment in most of pro-Obama media.

Also I am concerned about this cynicism of Obama-supporters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ikW7ljSm3Fs
http://dailycaller.com/2012/03/05/the-lefts-respect-for-women-a-look-back/

Not talking about fascists from "Occupy" movement, with all that anti-Jewish and anti-wealth propaganda.

[kylinrouge.livejournal.com]

I love you. Please keep posting.