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JimBI am for keeping this forum as it is. Even in this thread the underbelly of racisim rears its head and I personally don't mind knowing where people stand on these sorts of things, though I generally like to keep politics and religion out of my hobbies.
I saw Al Sharpton on CNN a couple of days ago and thought he was very articulate and on target. The interviewer kept trying to twist his words and he kept it pretty straightforward. When Imus went on his show to apologize and then called Sharpton's arguments "jive", I think it was very revealing of where he was coming from on race. In this democracy, he is free to say and think what he wants, but I don't think he is deserving of a pulpit where his opinions are broadcast to millions.
Barry,
I think there is a big difference between when Chris Rock or any African American uses the "N" word and when a white person does. When a white person (as a person from the historically oppressing class in this country) uses a term like that which has for centuries been used by whites to denigrate a race of people, it perpetuates everything negative about the word and the attitudes it represents. When a black person takes a term like and uses it in a way that disengages it from its traditionally oppressive usage, its affect can be transformative of traditional racist attudes. When Chris Rock uses it, it can stimulate reflection in positive ways. WHen a KKK member uses it, it perpetuates a tradition of hatred. I don't think it is as black and white (pardon the pun) as to say that either everyone can use a word or nobody can. I don't know if that is what you were suggesting or not, but your comment stimulated my response which is trying to highlight some of the nuances.
Jim