Thoughts on Racism

I would like to say first and foremost I do still think that racism is a problem in today’s society and I don’t believe it is acceptable by any means. One point that Tucker brought up that is always under constant debate that I think is interesting is the use of the “n-word” and how its use is sometimes accepted based on the race of the person saying it. In my opinion racism should be thought of as of something that can be seen as offensive to a race no matter the context it was said in or the race that said the comment. Allowing one race to call themselves a word but not allowing others is in my books still racism. Many African Americans that I’ve talked to feel the same way and find the word to be reminiscent of when they were enslaved and the word was used as a way of asserting dominance. In today’s society everyone should be equal and the word has become completely unacceptable. Another idea surrounding this topic, which I find interesting, is how some people think it is ok to refer to the word as the “n-word” and if used instead of using the real word it is ok. What I find wrong with this is isn’t it what it stands for that infuriates people not just the word? For instance if anyone says “n-word” everyone thinks of what it stands for and to me that isn’t really any different than using the real word. Words should be acceptable to all or to no one although different things offend different people.

            Another aspect of Tucker’s blog that I found interesting was how freedom of speech was brought up. In America not all speech is considered free and there are many things that we can’t legally say. For instance we can’t say “bomb” while in an airport or anything that incites violence or anything illegal to another person. Also some forms of racism can fall under the category of Fighting Words, which also aren’t protected by the first amendment. Fighting words are words that would likely cause the person who the words were addressed to to react and commit violence. Freedom of speech does protect most of the things we say but in the end people still need to be careful on what ideas they express to the public as it might not be protected by the first amendment like they think it is.