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Caution: Anything You Say Will Be Racist Somehow
American Thinker.com ^ | July 2, 2020 | Eileen F. Toplansky

Posted on 07/02/2020 11:43:52 AM PDT by Kaslin

I first learned of John Leo in 1999 when he penned the clever and prescient piece titled "A Waspish, Niggardly Slur," wherein he exposed the dangerous trend in language manipulation that is now so wildly prevalent. It was an equal-opportunity poke at the absurd lengths to which people will go to accuse someone of racism.

Leo explained that a Washington, D.C. white mayoral aide, David Howard, had used the term "niggardly." A black official took offense because he felt that it was a racist term. In fact, niggardly means miserly or cheap and has nothing whatsoever to do with race. Nonetheless, Howard offered his resignation, and then Mayor Anthony Williams accepted the resignation, explaining that "although Howard didn't say anything that was in itself racist" (emphasis mine), "using a word that could be misunderstood was like 'getting caught smoking in a refinery with a resulting explosion.'"

Thus began the onslaught of alleged coded insults that has now metastasized so that everyone is afraid of calling a spade a spade. The "expression 'to call a spade a spade' entered the English language when Nicholas Udall translated Erasmus in 1542. To be clear, 'the 'spade' in the Erasmus translation has nothing to do with a deck of cards, but rather the gardening tool. The early usages of the word 'spade' did not refer to either race or skin color. The Oxford English Dictionary says the first appearance of the word spade as a reference to blackness was in Claude McKay's 1928 novel Home to Harlem, which was notable for its depictions of street life in Harlem in the 1920s. 'Jake is such a fool spade,' wrote McKay. 'Don't know how to handle the womens [sic].'

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: ignorantdemonrats
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1 posted on 07/02/2020 11:43:52 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

They’ll make anything said fit their narrative of what racist speech is.


2 posted on 07/02/2020 11:45:00 AM PDT by SkyDancer (~ Pilots: Looking Down On People Since 1903 ~)
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To: Kaslin

Well, then, don’t take caution. Might as well not worry about something if it is going to happen anyway.


3 posted on 07/02/2020 11:45:16 AM PDT by CodeToad (Arm Up! They Have!)
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To: Kaslin
"using a word that could be misunderstood was like 'getting caught smoking in a refinery with a resulting explosion.'"

A better explanation is being educated and using your native language correctly while in the presence of ignorant people.

4 posted on 07/02/2020 11:46:56 AM PDT by Lizavetta
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More recently, we have been told that Chess is now a racist game because the white pieces go before the black ones.

Wow, this is unbelievable

5 posted on 07/02/2020 11:48:18 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: CodeToad

What’s that line Lauren Bacall had to Jack Lemmon in “My Fellow Americans”? Something like, “Please, if you’re going to use the F-word, go for the gold.” Well, if they’re going to find you offensive for anything and everything, say whatever ya want just to see what happens! ;)


6 posted on 07/02/2020 11:48:19 AM PDT by Retrofitted
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To: Kaslin

Racist - Someone winning an argument with a liberal.


7 posted on 07/02/2020 11:49:40 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: SkyDancer
Heck just being white can trigger some people without saying a word!....


8 posted on 07/02/2020 11:51:16 AM PDT by caww
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To: Kaslin

As a cultural analyst you can criticize any subculture you feel that deserves severe criticism.

That includes the black subcultures including jocks, rabble rousing black politicians and especially the criminal element which seems to presently control all that is black. The greatest American enemies are democrats who pander to the black criminal subculture

Cultural analysis


9 posted on 07/02/2020 11:52:07 AM PDT by bert ( (KE. NP. N.C. +12) Progressives are existential American enemies)
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To: caww

Try going through a check stand with a black cashier and all you have in your cart is white stuff: bread, flour, sugar, etc. She’ll scream you’re intimidating her.


10 posted on 07/02/2020 11:53:47 AM PDT by SkyDancer (~ Pilots: Looking Down On People Since 1903 ~)
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To: Kaslin

OR,

If you say or do something you’re racist

But,

If you DON’T say or do something you’re racist.


11 posted on 07/02/2020 11:55:22 AM PDT by Leep (We can go to the grocery store but we can't go to work?)
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To: Kaslin

OR,

If you say or do something you’re racist

But,

If you DON’T say or do something you’re racist.


12 posted on 07/02/2020 11:55:22 AM PDT by Leep (We can go to the grocery store but we can't go to work?)
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To: Kaslin

Whites need to quit using black slang that disparages whites, e.g., Karen etc.

If you need to trash mask wearers then go ahead. Not the issue I’m addressing. But use words that don’t harmonize with those who want to break society with violence.

Join the side you’re on.


13 posted on 07/02/2020 11:56:38 AM PDT by coaster123 (Trust no one under 60.)
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To: CodeToad
Kinda like your spouse accusing you of having an affair when you didn't and then punishing you for it.

You might as well go out and have one if you're going to be blamed and punished.

At that point, you have nothing to lose and all of the fun to gain.

🤪

14 posted on 07/02/2020 11:58:12 AM PDT by HotHunt
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To: Kaslin

There is more to the niggardly story. Turns out the manager was gay so he was not fired but transferred.

Got it?

Hetero=fired
Homo=transferred


15 posted on 07/02/2020 11:58:35 AM PDT by joshua c
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To: coaster123

Conservatives, sanctimonious conservatives, are their own worst enemies


16 posted on 07/02/2020 11:59:21 AM PDT by bert ( (KE. NP. N.C. +12) Progressives are existential American enemies)
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To: HotHunt

As the old saying goes: May as well be hanged for a goat as for a sheep.


17 posted on 07/02/2020 12:00:02 PM PDT by decal (I'm not rude, I don't suffer fools is all.)
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To: CodeToad

Best thing one can do?

Simply go Gault.

Don’t have anything to do with the moochers.
It’s lots easier than you may think at first it to be.

Becoming happier each day.


18 posted on 07/02/2020 12:04:34 PM PDT by Macoozie (Handcuffs and Orange Jumpsuits)
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To: Kaslin

19 posted on 07/02/2020 12:05:56 PM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: SkyDancer

“Try going through a check stand with a black cashier”.
And they’ll give you grief?

Why?

pick another line, or another store.

The “DMV Lady” ain’t a myth.

I get imnplied the sarc tag . . .


20 posted on 07/02/2020 12:08:12 PM PDT by Macoozie (Handcuffs and Orange Jumpsuits)
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