No, 'n' does not stand for 'nappy-headed'

[novapsyche]

Dr. Laura spews racist rant on her radio show! w. audio (DailyKos) | Full transcript here | audio log pt. 1 | audio log pt. 2

Michael Richards meets a broadcast audience.

lameautarch says he doesn't see how she retains her show. We will see. This country is in a completely different political 'atmosphere' (as Olbermann would say) than when Don Imus lost his job in 2007.

See also:

Dr. Laura apologizes for saying N-word on the air | Text of apology

Comments

[rmeidaking.livejournal.com]

I found this section in an article on the Flint-area serial killer to be telling in a racism way. The neighbor (race unknown) clearly differentiates between a 'white' man and one of 'Middle-Eastern descent.' I'm guessing there are a lot of Israelis out there who might be surprised to find out that they're not considered 'white' by their neighbors.

"Neighbor Janet Hutchinson said the man who lived in the house kept to him­self, though it’s a tight-knit block with neighbors recently forming a neighbor­hood watch after several recent home break-ins by kids in the area.

“It’s a total shock,” she said of the possibility that she was living a couple of houses away from a murder suspect. Neighbor Carrie Strang said she last saw a green GMC Jimmy with gold trim around the bottom “right after they came out with the description of it.”

She said she and other neighbors had said they didn’t think to notify po­lice, because the sketch and description was of a white man and the man who lived in that house was of Middle East­ern descent.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

Do you have a link for that article?

[rmeidaking.livejournal.com]

It's on the Detroit Free Press digital page, but that's behind a paywall. It's on Page A7 of today's (Aug 13, 2010) print edition.

[rmeidaking.livejournal.com]

It's also important to note that Elias Abuelazam's victims viewed him as being 'white' - they're lumping men of Middle-eastern descent in with the rest of the Caucasians. Meanwhile, Abuelazam's neighbors did not do that; they assumed that others would view him as non-white, as they did. I wonder what box he checks on the interview forms, where he self-identifies?

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

IIRC, the official U.S. governmental definition of Caucasian includes those of Middle Eastern descent. I know it includes the upper portions of Africa.

I'll try to locate the aforementioned race & ethnicity classifications.

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

I guess it comes down to whether her advertisers think her obvious racism is a liability to them. They may well conclude it isn't, much. I haven't seen much evidence that there is actually any liability or cost to entertainers, talking heads, or elected officials for being openly racist. If they're someone with a boss they might get fired, but if they are accountable to the public, there's usually not much that can be done besides grumbling.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

She has a boss. The checks she deposits are signed by someone.

[pgdudda.livejournal.com]

Dr. Laura will get fired for her racism on the same cold day in hell that Rush Limbaugh loses his job for his racism.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

Considering that her show is syndicated by ClearChannel, I fear you may be right. She may end up Becked, however (that is, supported only by companies emphasizing the purchasing of gold).

[pstscrpt.livejournal.com]

It sounds like her actual point was offensive itself, but the failure to say "The N Word" is a red herring. Talking about the word isn't remotely the same thing as calling someone the word.

She failed to say nothing.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

Context is everything. Did you read the transcript? It was provided in the DailyKos diary; I will amend my post to include it as well.

Her caller's point was not Dr. Schesslinger's point, whatever that may have been.

Re: She failed to say nothing.

[pstscrpt.livejournal.com]

I read some of it, and saw where Schlessinger was saying the caller was being oversensitive; that's what I was saying really was offensive.

I think the childish idea that you can't say a word to talk about that word (not that I have the courage of my convictions to actually do so) is distracting people from what really was offensive. Just like with Kwame Kilpatrick's state of the city speech a couple years ago; he was pointing out that he was being slurred, and everyone was upset that he was willing to repeat it.

Re: She failed to say nothing.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

The way she was using the word is tantamount to slurring the caller. One of the comments at Media Matters elucidates that Ms. Schlessinger used the word as provocation. She wasn't deconstructing the epithet in an academic way (the manner in which we are now).

You imply it's childish to not say a word when referring to it. Again, context is everything. I personally try to minimize any personal iteration because I have a personal understanding of its damage, once uttered. However, if I were writing a college paper about the use of epithets in American culture throughout its history, of course I would not hesitate to utilize the term.

My point here is that it is perfectly possible to have an adult conversation about racial slurs without using them specifically. We are doing so right now. Avoiding the term isn't childish in itself. (Honestly, I do so out of respect not only for myself but also for anyone else who might read this journal. I don't like encountering racist invective without warning; I assume others feel the same.)

As for Ms. Schlessinger, her entire diatribe was racist, top to bottom. She covered the spectrum from 'that's mildly stereotypical' to 'whoa, that's beyond the pale'. However, she was also offensive in ways beyond racism (particularly that the caller came to her looking for advice [& perhaps comfort] as to how to combat backhanded racism & got full-throttle racism [vitriol] in turn).

I believe she is reaping the full breadth of criticism about her response, not just the slur itself, so I do not see how such could be considered childish.

[nagisa-kaworu.livejournal.com]

So, Can we hate her now and avoid the Christmas rush?

Granted I'm already ahead of the curve this time.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

I don't hate Ms. Schlessinger personally, because I don't know her personally. (Similarly, I do not hate George W. Bush; I, however, loathe his policies [many of which continue under the current administration].)

No, I don't hate her. I don't believe she deserves a national soapbox, though.