I think you're pretty much on target on this one.

Deer GLAAD,

Giving Alec Baldwin a pass sends what message to the rest of us? go ahead, take your time, contemplate for a bit.

I pretty much never listen to anything coming out of "Hollywood" for political opinions or how to treat people.

About the only time is when they're hypocritical anti-gunners. Then I do the opposite.

I keep hoping that somewhere along the line, someone will realize that they're overreacting. Whether it's the Food Network or Ballantine Books, who dropped Paula Deen's book, even though it was the number one in preorders.

I couldn't care less what Alec Baldwin thinks about me. He was hot once, now he's a fat old man. And him doing comedy is like me doing brain surgery. We just don't have the goods to make it happen.

Did Alec Baldwin call me a butt-pirate while driving to work in his car? I hope he gets hit by a milk truck then careens into a telephone pole!

Paula Deen is a fat, white, Southern older woman. She's all the mock-able things in one package. I think she's dim to have not noticed that no one says the N-word any more, but she's hardly the only person I've ever heard of who says or said it. Her Old Southern plantation days stuff is stupid and tacky, but that's hardly a crime, even if it should be. I'll bet Hil and Bill have a lot of friends and acquaintances who've used that word.

It's about marketing. No matter what rude words Baldwin tosses out, he can sell his product. Paula Deen's career with the Food Network depended on her not being the kind of woman who makes racist comments. It's not about fairness or ethics. It's about sales.

MonicaP, How can it be about sales when as stated above, her book was number 1 in presales. And breaking contracts with her will lose the publishers a lot of money.

It is about PC ism, in which who said it, and what groups they belong to, matters way more than what was actually said and why.
This is why so many reporters are claiming of course Travon saying cracker can't be racist. Not because it isn't racist, or meant as racism. But because of who said it.

It's about long-term sales. The Food Network doesn't make its bank by being a center of controversy for supporting "that racist chick." It sells entertaining food shows. The presales of one author's book don't mean much in context.

To put it another way: The Kardashians are vile. But that's OK, because they make a living off of being vile. The Food Network's bread and butter (ha!) is harmless food shows. The Kardashians' shtick won't work there, but not because there's anything uniquely foul about them.

It's worth noting that Paula Deen might not have been all that anyway.

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/06/27/paula-deen-show-struggled-with-ratings-before-food-network-dismissal/

Maybe the FN was looking for an excuse to cut her loose.

There are only two types of people in America- those who have used the word "nigger" in some context, and those who lie about never having said the word "nigger".

I really don't understand what the deal is. You cannot erase the past, but "nigger" is mostly used in an entirely different context today than it was 50 years ago. Remember the Film "Guess Whose Coming to Dinner"? A truly groundbreaking film. Sidney Portier's family, very respectable people, at the time were still being called "niggers" in the most derogatory fashion. They were outcasts in general society even though they worked hard and maintained very ethical, family motivated lives.

Nowdays it is used to self-describe either famous celebrities or thugs, but you never hear it in a general context. I doubt anyone would (other than that small minority that will always exist) refer to Bill Cosby, Clarance Thomas, Condoleeza Rice, Colin Powell, etc. as a "nigger". I don't for a minute think Paula Deen held animosity in her heart towards black people. She just got caught in a slow news cycle.

It's a historically interesting word, not some mystic incantation. It should not be redacted out of Huck Finn or bleeped from "To kill a mockingbird". Muhammad Ali should not be piloried for saying "No Asian boy ever called me nigger". Patti Smith should not be punished while Kanye West earns tens of millions just because she isn't part of the club that is acceptable to use the word.

There are far more substantive racial issues to address today.

From what I've heard, a lot of people were ALREADY pretty angry at Deen for pushing her unhealthful recipes to thousands of fans over the years and then covering up her diabetes. I.e., her racist language was just the straw that broke the camel's back.

So comparing Baldwin to Deen seems pretty pointless. Has HE lured anyone toward diabetes?

Exactly my point Amy. Should there be a backlash since you used he word "kike", or is it ok since you come from a Jewish heritage? Couldn't you just have said "the k-word"?

Offense is in the eye of the beholder.

You won't be "equal" until whatever word used about you means nothing.

You can call me a "cracker", "honkie", or whatever, and it doesn't offend me at all. I'm above it. Why? Because I don't act in ways that earn any epithet; it reflects back on the utterer.

And there's delicious irony for you:

Every dollar comedians like Chris Rock have made with "Nigga, please!" routines is right there with the money the Dutch paid for Africans centuries ago. Africans sold other Africans, and that's A-OK, having preceded "the N-word" in banishment from polite American conversation.

Just like the existence of slavery today.
It's ultimately Orwellian: in the Newspeak dictionary, other terms appear to describe (untrustworthy, worthless) blacks, as we pretend that they do not exist.

From what I've heard, one reason slavery was considered morally (and economically) acceptable for so many centuries was that it was just a matter of who had the bigger army and not so much anyone's lineage. Therefore, your people could be the slaves in one century but the masters in the next century, so it all "evened out."

But once people started arguing that people who LOOKED a certain way were subhuman, no better than cattle, and forbidden to rise in social status, global revolution became inevitable.

Trouble is, of course, ILLEGAL slavery still exists practically everywhere.

I heard 30Rock was a really funny show. I'll never find out, because I long ago decided I was never again going to support anything Mr Baldwin was involved in. I get a lot, if not most, of the famous actors are self-centered and assholish. But the way he treated his kids-that was it for me.

It drives me batty when black people use the n-word and try to say "we're taking the word back, making it a positive, blah blah blah". No you aren't. You want respect from others? Give it to yourself first. Idiots.

I agree Amy. There is an allowance. As a man, here is my reply:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8oH6uXFaUk

Open usage of words weeds out truth.

And of course, I do not consider you anything than a close friend who I respect and admire, so I was never tempted to say the last part of that dialogue to you. Never any intent. I only use that to scene to illustrate that someone who uses those words is an endangered animal.

PS- I know all the critics HATE that film, but it is in my top, uh, 25 or so. The acting is pretty awful though, but great story.

PPS- Why do I feel a need to apologize in a civil, thoughtful disagreement????

Exactly, there is context for everything. My Hispanic friend calls herself Spic as a joke, there is an allowance.

I don't understand why people bitch it's not fair, you belong to certain groups you have your own allowances. Being funny or irrelevant or whatever is all about context. I call myself & some female friends cheap and easy but it would not be appropriate for others to do it.

Think about what they asked Paula Deen. They said do you use the word nigger? Her reply was Of Course. Then she gave one example of when she used it.

She didn't say " oh yes one time" or "maybe when I was young and dumb". Her reply was Of Course.

Paula Deen is obtusly racist. It isn't just about using the word nigger, one of the most cringe worthy moments was when she mentioned having a black friend. She then calls to him and tells him to stop leaning against the black board because NO ONE CAN SEE HIM since he's so dark. The plantation wedding with slaves, keeping the light skinned blacks in front and the darkies hidden away, etc. are just some of the examples we know of.

"were subhuman, no better than cattle, and forbidden to rise in social status"

The "Latin" language slave owners ( the French, Portuguese & Spanish) created a whole middle class of mixed people who looked down on the less mixed. The category went:

1. Born in Europe
2. White but born in the colonies
3. Mixed light (only with indigenous)
4. Mixed light (mixed with black)
5. Indigenous
6. Indigenous & black
7. Black

The English were the ones who never did it anything of the sort and were thoroughly disgusted when meeting light middle class Creole women mixing openly with French men in Louisiana.

Oddly enough the Latin system created an even worse form of slavery, the worst being practiced in Brazil.

(I'm not even including the Arabs who enslaved everybody)

"And yes, I know it is a term used by rappers and black people to play with each other, and sometimes in other colloquial ways."

I read an article the other day, which unfortunately I wasn't able to find again, about how a language caste system is developing in America. Politically and culturally privileged groups are allowed to use words and phrases that are prohibited to others. Politically incorrect groups are facing increasing restrictions on what they are allowed to say and what words they can use to say it; almost anything that can be taken as a racial or sexual reference, no matter how oblique, is prohibited. And the boundary of the prohibited territory is growning fast.

I am extremely careful what I say, anywhere, any time. The only time I can ever let my guard down (other than here, where I can do it anonymously) is at home with my wife. Within earshot of anyone else -- no. No one at work has the slightest idea of what my politics are, because I've never expressed an opinion, nor have I agreed or disagreed with anyone else's opinions.

"Being funny or irrelevant or whatever is all about context. "

You're wrong about this. When you are a member of a poltically incorerct group, context doesn't matter. I learned this lesson the hard way years ago.

Maybe you're just not funny.

Alec Baldwin gets away with it largely bc he is a liberal democrat.

Just like why the late Senator Byrd, a former clansman, got off with a simple apology after using the word on the air. He was a liberal democrat.

Meanwhile, Trent Lott, who I do not support as a politician, was excoriated for an off handed compliment at a 100th birthday party that was dishonestly misportrayed as a pro segregation comment.

And let's not forget President Bush, who appointed more blacks to higher positions of power than any predecessor, and who helped Africa to the point that George was the most popular baby name. Yet he was compared to Bull Connor and accused of a lynching by the NAACP. Meanwhile, Bill Clinton is revered as "the first black president," which is a peculiar epithet for a man who stood by and did absolutely nothing in the face of black genocide. But hey, one was a Republican and the other a Democrat.

The assumptions the media makes about one's character based in their political opinions is a huge factor in how one is portrayed and how easily they will be forgiven.

A long time ago, I forget if it was in the OED or Webster's Dictionary, I looked up the word. It was defined first as "a stupid person". Color was not mentioned until the second entry, which said it was a derogatory term coined during the 17th century when slaves were brought to the New World. Something about the buyers mispronouncing the word "negro".

"Political correctness" is neither. It is absolution of personal responsibility. Period. It was created by the liberals so that they could justify treated certain people differently and promising them the moon for "past transgressions". And it's done far more damage than good. I'm "politically INcorrect". I'm not falling for ANyone's bullshit.

Not "absolution", well maybe, but what I meant was political correctness absolves people of personal responsibility.

"Maybe you're just not funny."

You really do think of me as some kind of racist cracker, don't you? Let me ask you a question: what is your image of me? What circumstances do you think I grew up in? What do you think my family background is?

The other thing to remember is that the Food Network is associated with Disney. So any controversy is going to be effected by them protecting the Mouse.

"You really do think of me as some kind of racist cracker, don't you? "

Weird wording. Anyways using the word 'cracker' (first time I've used it by the way) comes off rather passive aggressive. I know you're trying to make a point that I, a minority, must think of you, an old white guy as racist because I made quips here and there.

Reverse racism is what they call it nowadays right? Oh wait you used the term "politically incorrect group" aka "heterosexual white middle aged guy"

See here is the thing, it has nothing to do with the color of your skin I just don't care for your opinions. I personally love Crid, and uhh he's prolly around your age and white. (I guess what I'm trying to say is "I'm not racist some of my best friends are white!)

"what is your image of me? What circumstances do you think I grew up in? What do you think my family background is?"

Who cares? No seriously I could lecture you on my family history (basically its full of dirty Arabs)...but what would be the point? I'm sure yours were as badly persecuted as mine but isn't that the universal human condition?

Your experience is different than mine but my whole career has been working for, and being mentored by old white guys who say impolitically incorrect things all the time and nobody gave two fucking shits. Actually the only time I saw them offend someone was an old dried up cunt (but aren't dried cunts the ones we all have problems with?).

I dunno there are people in this world whose only job is to be "professionally offended" and we all get flak from them.

I get annoyed with whites whining about why they can't say the n-word, or "reverse racism!" for the same reason i hate it from blacks. You know what the reason is? Because:

I FUCKING HATE EVERYONE.

"I FUCKING HATE EVERYONE. "

Oh okay, we're level set now. No, I'm not being sarcastic. I may not agree with that viewpoint, but I emphathize with it.

And look: I don't want to play the damn political correctness game. But it's the only game in town these days. You either do unto others, or they do unto you. Western morality is gone. From now on, power is self-justifying. It's just a matter of how to get it.

"Alec Baldwin gets away with it largely bc he is a liberal democrat."

That's funny, in a Mel-Gibson-phone-message sort of way.

I am extremely careful what I say, anywhere, any time. The only time I can ever let my guard down (other than here, where I can do it anonymously) is at home with my wife. Within earshot of anyone else -- no. No one at work has the slightest idea of what my politics are, because I've never expressed an opinion, nor have I agreed or disagreed with anyone else's opinions.

Posted by: Cousin Dave at July 1, 2013 6:51 AM
___________________________________

Is that so terrible?

As most people understand on one level or another, there are three verboten social topics when talking with people face-to-face: sex, religion....and politics. (That is, those who don't agree that these are sensitive issues often regret trying to convince others that they shouldn't be sensitive about them.)

Even on organized debates on TV, such topics don't get discussed that intelligently (between politicians, anyway).

So why NOT leave such discussions to the best and brightest writers, who have more time to think before they speak - and whose books, essays and columns we can read in quiet dignity instead of blurting opinions on issues we haven't always done much research on?

As a well-known journalist once wrote: "Think before you speak. Read before you think."

Lenona, you don't understand the problem. If I say anything that can somehow be cast into some context, then I have committed an act of political correctness, totally free of the context in which I actually spoke. If I say "I don't like the red man", then I have committed a mortal sin against Native Americans, even though what I meant was then I don't like to use the red piece when I play the board game Sorry. Before you speak, you have to think about the fact that anything you say can be put into any context whatsoever, and then used to cast you as a racist sexist homophobe.

"So why NOT leave such discussions to the best and brightest writers, who have more time to think before they speak - and whose books, essays and columns we can read in quiet dignity instead of blurting opinions on issues we haven't always done much research on? "

I can't tell if you are being sarcistic or if you are serious. The paragraph reads like sarcasm. However, in the event that someone takes it seriously, I'll supply the following:

WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU? Yes, I shouted, because this is beyond the pale. The idea that only our elites and "betters" are entitled to have opinions is straight out of age of Marie Antoinette. If this statement were to be enforced, there would be no point in Amy or any of us being here. In fact, there would be no point in us existing. I do not live to be a drone, thankyouverymuch.