Posted on 07/31/2006 6:33:52 AM PDT by JRochelle
Prominent black Bay Staters are outraged by Gov. Mitt Romney’s use of the words “tar baby” to describe the Big Dig as he stumped for presidential points in Iowa. “Tar baby is a totally inappropriate phrase in the 21st century. If Calvin Coolidge didn’t use it, why the hell should Mitt Romney?” railed Larry Jones, a black Republican and civil rights activist. Tar baby can refer to a sticky mess, but it also has been recognized as an epithet to humiliate black people. President Bush’s spokesman Tony Snow learned that in May when his expression, “I don’t want to hug the tar baby of trying to comment on the program,” raised the hackles of political correctness. “He thinks he’s presidential timber,” Jones said yesterday of Romney, “but all he’s shown us is arrogance.”
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bostonherald.com ...
You would have to be a rake to go near the hoe.
This is turning into a real hatchet job against hoes.
I am sick and tired of loud mouthed "activists" hijacking the American English language. First "gay" was perverted. Then "niggardly" was made a cause celebre and an innocent man fired for his language skills which 'offended' a fund-raising bunch of professional race card players.
I refuse to give up any more of my American linguistic heritage. The PC speech crowd will just have to learn to live with being 'offended'. Personally, I find those oxygen thieves continued existence offensive.
Anybody know how to get a call through to Heaven for a request for some "language traitor" Zots? Mere Viking Kitty efforts are inadequate in this case.
LOL
Since the term 'tar baby' is, according to the article above, not only racist, but antiquated and obsolete, I think we need a phrase that is more appropriate for a 21st century sticky mess...I suggest, "Gorilla Glue Baby."
Perhaps that will be less racially insensitive.
When did they get the other one?
Recently a Radio talk show host lost his job for saying "coon" when, while praising Sec. Rice, he meant to say boon.The station fired him.
When posters on FR figured out he meant to say "boon", they were immediately informed that even "boon" is listed in current PC directories as a racial slur.
Nigger, Bitch, & Ho are acceptable if spoken by an African American only.
Boon-A benefit bestowed, especially one bestowed in response to a request.
A timely blessing or benefit: A brisk breeze is a boon to sailors.
Boon-Current PC directories- Short for Baboon.
"Gorilla Glue Baby."
Perhaps that will be less racially insensitive."
Are you kidding? Don't you know that gorillas and monkeys are related? They would make that connection.:)
What about the other diging utensil, the hoe? It shall henceforth be called...?
In this line of sensitivity no one would be allowed to use the phase, "It's a cake walk".
Ha ha ha ....
Is it "timbre" as in the quality of a sound or "timber" as in wood or seasoned lumber? I think the sense could work as a metaphor for character judgement either way.
Similarly, is it "to the manner born" or "to the manor born" ?. Either could convey presumed upper class staus.
next time someone says "honk the horn" I'm going to be offended
Long ago if you called a white child a tar baby it was a teasing insult. Something along the lines of "Hey, if you tar babies don't quiet down, I'm going to send you all down to the South to pick cotton!"
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