I am obliged to preface this by stating that I am a white kid, in a largely white area, who has little to no personal experience with racial epithets, either as a user or recipient.
I do not condone use of the N-word. It connotes too strongly to the days of barbaric racism and blatant mistreatment. The word is an unfortunate remnant of an, at least partially , bygone era of segregated society and disrespect.
For better or worse, the black community has indoctrinated the term as a part of their cultural fellowship. The word is so brashly thrown about that young people experiencing it become immune to it.
It isn't my place as a white guy to police the cultural movements of the black community. I don't like the word. Plenty of African-Americans don't either. But the word has strangely united the young black community in a way that is a bit backwards- at least in theory. Pejorative words rarely in the history of English discourse become terms of endearment. The N-word has that ubiquitous distinction.
And just like it's not my place, it isn't the place of the NFL to be the impetus of a definite crackdown on an ethically polarizing and puzzling topic that has no clear right or wrong answer. It's rather arrogant, to me, that the NFL, lead by fellow caucasian Roger Goodell, sees it fit to eliminate a word so integral to the fellowship of the black community- even if its a filthy word in origin and still is today.
I hate the N-word. It's a dated (clearly), low term that harks to the emotions of a nation divided.
But the NFL unfortunately is not the ethical epicenter of the globe and the league should consult some of the leaders in the field of applied ethics and the social sciences before making such a contentious moral issue.
I do not condone use of the N-word. It connotes too strongly to the days of barbaric racism and blatant mistreatment. The word is an unfortunate remnant of an, at least partially , bygone era of segregated society and disrespect.
For better or worse, the black community has indoctrinated the term as a part of their cultural fellowship. The word is so brashly thrown about that young people experiencing it become immune to it.
It isn't my place as a white guy to police the cultural movements of the black community. I don't like the word. Plenty of African-Americans don't either. But the word has strangely united the young black community in a way that is a bit backwards- at least in theory. Pejorative words rarely in the history of English discourse become terms of endearment. The N-word has that ubiquitous distinction.
And just like it's not my place, it isn't the place of the NFL to be the impetus of a definite crackdown on an ethically polarizing and puzzling topic that has no clear right or wrong answer. It's rather arrogant, to me, that the NFL, lead by fellow caucasian Roger Goodell, sees it fit to eliminate a word so integral to the fellowship of the black community- even if its a filthy word in origin and still is today.
I hate the N-word. It's a dated (clearly), low term that harks to the emotions of a nation divided.
But the NFL unfortunately is not the ethical epicenter of the globe and the league should consult some of the leaders in the field of applied ethics and the social sciences before making such a contentious moral issue.
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