New York City bans racial slur

Pred · 03-02-2007, 06:34 PM

Quote:

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City symbolically banned use of the word ni!!!! on Wednesday, the latest step in a campaign that hopes to expunge the most vile of racial slurs from hip hop music and television.
The City Council unanimously declared a moratorium that carries no penalty but aims to stop youth from casually using the word, considered by most Americans to be the most offensive in the English language.
The New York City measure follows similar resolutions this month by the New York state assembly and state senate, and supporters of the ban are taking their campaign to The Recording Academy, asking it not to nominate musicians for Grammy awards if they use the word in their lyrics.
Many rap artists and young New Yorkers toss the word around as a term of endearment or as a substitute for black, angering some black leaders who consider those who use it as ignorant of the word's hate-filled history in slavery and segregation.
"This could be the beginning of a movement," councilman Albert Vann said.
Councilman Leroy Comrie, a sponsor of the moratorium, said the campaign against the word has gained strength since comedian
Michael Richards spewed it in a racially charged tirade in Los Angeles.
The Laugh Factory club where Richards performed has since banned comedians from using the word there and the former "Seinfeld" television star has apologized.
"The Michael Richards incident really brought it to another level. It has forced people to express their outrage. Many people had been seething quietly," Comrie said.
Comrie also asked TV network Black Entertainment Television to stop using the word in its shows. Representatives of BET did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A Grammy spokesman said he doubted the academy's 11,000 voting members would support any measure that might censor artists.
"They are not going to be supportive of something that excludes someone simply because they are using a word that is offensive," said Ron Roecker, vice president of communication for the Recording Academy.
The city resolution calling for the moratorium traces the etymology of the word from the Latin "niger," meaning black, to its first documented written use in 1786 as a term slave masters used to label their African slaves.
Use of the word by blacks exploded with the rise of rap music in recent years, and some black comedians like
Chris Rock continue to use it in their routines.
"What, is there a fine? Am I going to get a ticket?" Rock mocked in a Reuters interview when asked about the City Council move. "Do judges say, '10 years, ni!!!!!"'
Rock said politicians were trying to divert attention from real problems: "Enough real bad things happen in this city to worry about how I am going to use the word."

New York City bans racial slur - Yahoo! News

At what point does being politically correct go to far?

SPOCAHP ANAR · 03-02-2007, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pred

declared a moratorium that carries no penalty

This is great; pass a stupid law without any consequences. This is absurd as the people who came up with the idea!

Mooseman684 · 03-02-2007, 07:07 PM

Guys better be careful calling their wives "Naggers"...It could get UGLY !

SPOCAHP ANAR · 03-02-2007, 07:09 PM

Leave it to Chris Rock to get to the point of the matter.

troy2000 · 03-02-2007, 07:41 PM

I hate PC idiocy...

.22guy · 03-02-2007, 08:27 PM

You know the F-a-g word is next.....

troy2000 · 03-02-2007, 08:49 PM

In my newspaper today they had a story about a Mormon student who was being quizzed (and probably mildly harassed) by other students at school about her religion. One girl asked her, "so do you have ten mothers, or what?"

She retorted, "that's so gay," and got marched to the office for it. Wound up with some kind of punishment, and a notation on her permanent record. The kids who were being complete idiots about her religion got nothing, of course.

She says she was using it as a generic retort to mean, "that's so stupid and so disconnected from reality," rather than using it as a sexual slur. I tend to believe her; I've heard my son's friends use the phrase that way.

Spurzmaker · 03-02-2007, 09:07 PM

Bill Cosby tried to teach people that using the word in every day common speech was degrading within the culture.

Best put by Augustus of "Lonesome Dove": Ya just don't get the point do ya Woodrow?

I believe the word is still used among common conversation last I checked in circles.

What are they going to do take away your birthday?

Dallas · 03-02-2007, 10:12 PM

Are they banning ALL racial slurs or just the N word? If just the N word I find that racist in itself. What are they going to do fine you? Arrest you? Sounds like they are bowing to pressure from a special interest group without taking the whole picture into view. But with politicans what else is new.

Lng Rng · 03-03-2007, 03:34 AM

Thats reminds me of the Virgina congress that passed a document a couple weeks ago, apologizing for their roll in american history, or more precisley, slavery. it carried no legal meaning, nothing, just apologized for what "they" did. As far as banning the "N" word, I dont think it will happen, due to its popularity in hip hop. If it was/is considerd obscenity, it could possibly be punished, mainly becase it isnt then protected by the first amendment. It would be a tough case though.

Rufus Rhastus J · 03-03-2007, 08:07 AM

Well, the "N" word is just the start. If they can get away with it, who knows what will be next? Fortunately, the dictionary has lots of words to ban!

Rave · 03-03-2007, 08:21 AM

Once the lid is lifted there will be no end to "offending" words being banned,look how religon is being treated now.

Spurzmaker · 03-03-2007, 08:31 AM

Just rewrite the history books so no one feels guilty, and take away everyones freedom while they are at it.

SKS NOOB · 03-03-2007, 09:59 AM

People have to understand where the "N" word came from...(excuse me for typing this) "Nigger" is the improper word for "Negro" which in Spannish means "Black" or, in some instances (i think) can mean "Lowly". Ignorance and strife breeds such words used in hate like these. Both by the user and the reciever. That's just me though.

knightRider · 03-03-2007, 11:04 AM

i say they need to ban <cracker> allso <honky> lol
stick it to the man !

Mooseman684 · 03-03-2007, 11:11 AM

What ever happened to..."Sticks and stones may break my bones, but Names will never Hurt Me " ???
Beam me up Scotty, Stupid stuff is taking over the planet !!!

Rave · 03-03-2007, 02:11 PM

Might be guilliani attempting to garner votes?

troy2000 · 03-03-2007, 03:50 PM

Maybe it's Bloomberg at work, protecting us against ourselves in spite of ourselves...

Rufus Rhastus J · 03-04-2007, 09:27 AM

Hey! I'm about to become offended!

Rave · 03-04-2007, 10:45 AM

Easy now.

03-02-2007, 07:07 PM	#3
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,702 Images: 2	Guys better be careful calling their wives "Naggers"...It could get UGLY ! __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

03-02-2007, 07:09 PM	#4
SPOCAHP ANAR Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: SC-upstate Posts: 4,097 Images: 3 Blog Entries: 4	Leave it to Chris Rock to get to the point of the matter. __________________ Spocrest Out!..........

03-02-2007, 07:41 PM	#5
troy2000 Resident Armed Liberal Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 9,479 Images: 9	I hate PC idiocy... __________________ If a million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing. -Anatole France

03-02-2007, 08:27 PM	#6
.22guy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4,163	You know the F-a-g word is next..... __________________ Guns: they are like baseball cards except they are cool and you can kill things with em. -Billy

03-02-2007, 08:49 PM	#7
troy2000 Resident Armed Liberal Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 9,479 Images: 9	A classic example of PC run amok... In my newspaper today they had a story about a Mormon student who was being quizzed (and probably mildly harassed) by other students at school about her religion. One girl asked her, "so do you have ten mothers, or what?" She retorted, "that's so gay," and got marched to the office for it. Wound up with some kind of punishment, and a notation on her permanent record. The kids who were being complete idiots about her religion got nothing, of course. She says she was using it as a generic retort to mean, "that's so stupid and so disconnected from reality," rather than using it as a sexual slur. I tend to believe her; I've heard my son's friends use the phrase that way. __________________ If a million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing. -Anatole France

03-02-2007, 09:07 PM	#8
Spurzmaker Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Luis Valley Colorado Posts: 313 Images: 2	I am myphed!! Bill Cosby tried to teach people that using the word in every day common speech was degrading within the culture. Best put by Augustus of "Lonesome Dove": Ya just don't get the point do ya Woodrow? I believe the word is still used among common conversation last I checked in circles. What are they going to do take away your birthday? __________________ Prairie Dogs fear me!

03-02-2007, 10:12 PM	#9
Dallas PUKHA DAWG Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Virginia, just outside of Washington D.C. Posts: 3,596	Are they banning ALL racial slurs or just the N word? If just the N word I find that racist in itself. What are they going to do fine you? Arrest you? Sounds like they are bowing to pressure from a special interest group without taking the whole picture into view. But with politicans what else is new.

03-03-2007, 03:34 AM	#10
Lng Rng Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 944	Thats reminds me of the Virgina congress that passed a document a couple weeks ago, apologizing for their roll in american history, or more precisley, slavery. it carried no legal meaning, nothing, just apologized for what "they" did. As far as banning the "N" word, I dont think it will happen, due to its popularity in hip hop. If it was/is considerd obscenity, it could possibly be punished, mainly becase it isnt then protected by the first amendment. It would be a tough case though.

03-03-2007, 08:07 AM	#11
Rufus Rhastus J Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: West, Central Florida, Third World America Posts: 6,339 Images: 1	Well, the "N" word is just the start. If they can get away with it, who knows what will be next? Fortunately, the dictionary has lots of words to ban! __________________ "They cannot be trusted.....The Romulans (our politicos) are without honor." Worf

03-03-2007, 08:21 AM	#12
Rave Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tampa Posts: 6,889	Once the lid is lifted there will be no end to "offending" words being banned,look how religon is being treated now.

03-03-2007, 08:31 AM	#13
Spurzmaker Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Luis Valley Colorado Posts: 313 Images: 2	Just rewrite the history books so no one feels guilty, and take away everyones freedom while they are at it. __________________ Prairie Dogs fear me!

03-03-2007, 09:59 AM	#14
SKS NOOB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Minnesotah Posts: 689	People have to understand where the "N" word came from...(excuse me for typing this) "Nigger" is the improper word for "Negro" which in Spannish means "Black" or, in some instances (i think) can mean "Lowly". Ignorance and strife breeds such words used in hate like these. Both by the user and the reciever. That's just me though.

03-03-2007, 11:04 AM	#15
knightRider Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: you know where Posts: 2,684 Images: 19 Blog Entries: 11	i say they need to ban <cracker> allso <honky> lol stick it to the man !

03-03-2007, 11:11 AM	#16
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,702 Images: 2	What ever happened to..."Sticks and stones may break my bones, but Names will never Hurt Me " ??? Beam me up Scotty, Stupid stuff is taking over the planet !!! __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

03-03-2007, 02:11 PM	#17
Rave Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tampa Posts: 6,889	Might be guilliani attempting to garner votes?

03-03-2007, 03:50 PM	#18
troy2000 Resident Armed Liberal Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 9,479 Images: 9	Maybe it's Bloomberg at work, protecting us against ourselves in spite of ourselves... __________________ If a million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing. -Anatole France

03-04-2007, 09:27 AM	#19
Rufus Rhastus J Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: West, Central Florida, Third World America Posts: 6,339 Images: 1	Hey! I'm about to become offended! __________________ "They cannot be trusted.....The Romulans (our politicos) are without honor." Worf

03-04-2007, 10:45 AM	#20
Rave Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tampa Posts: 6,889	Easy now.