Kanye West threatens to move out of the United States because too many people are racist

[B_J 2,752]

As far as blacks using it, I can see why. When you're called out of your name for so long, it's going to have an effect on you. I have to correct some people I know personally when they start using it, and I know it's hard for them since it's been ingrained into our society.

I was actually thinking of this thread when I went to bed last night. ( I hate when that happens )

In case you didn't know, I'm a high school teacher and the school where I'm currently at is a vast majority Hispanic (about 89%). The rest of the school is about 10% white and 1% black. And, just from observing my students, I'm amazed at how common it is to hear young people use "that word". Of course, they end it in "a" instead of "er"; but to me it's still the same word. I can say with confidence that over 50% of my students are totally comfortable with the word. But here's what gets to me. It doesn't matter the race of the students; I've heard black students use the word while talking to white students and I've heard white student use the word while talking to black students. I've even had students use the word while referring to me.

I still can't decide if its a good or bad thing that the word seems to be losing its traditional meaning. I just know I'll never be comfortable with the word.

[GandD 5,966]

We are told the 1% don't pay taxes

The 1% usually live on capital gains and then typically pays capital gains taxes. Where you pay somewhere around 35%, they pay 15% on capital gains. Fair right?

Edited February 5, 2014 by GandD

[Danno 1,228]

Passivity is a good thing, when it comes to being taunted. Not easy to do, and in his shoes, I may have done what Kanye did. There is usually no need to disrespect a man's wife, regardless of the words used. But... the RIGHT thing to do would be to walk away from it. Any woman who wants a man to get into a fight over her does not deserve a good man.

After I made my last post I thought perhaps I jumped the gun misunderstanding you but apparently even when I think I might be mistaken I am "right again."

You in fact seem to have more passivity than most women, insult a womens child or mother and watch her go into cat-mod.

You on the other hand would watch someone call your dear mother a string of filthy name and your reaction would be to retreat (walk away).

Not to be over the top but....

Can anyone explain how we went from a society of men who would challenge another to a duel to the death if his honor was challenged to a society which find more honor in retreating from a man who just calls his mother a cheap #######?

Seriously, if anyone else can explain explain this unusual development I would like to hear it.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

You in fact seem to have more passivity than most women, insult a womens child or mother and watch her go into cat-mod.

You on the other hand would watch someone call your dear mother a string of filthy name and your reaction would be to retreat (walk away).

Not to be over the top but....

Can anyone explain how we went from a society of men who would challenge another to a duel to the death if his honor was challenged to a society which find more honor in retreating from a man who just calls his mother a cheap #######?

I'm a woman and if someone insulted my mother, I wouldn't go into "cat-mode" ... I'd be an adult and walk away.

The right, mature answer IS to walk away.

It isn't to throw a punch, it isn't to call the police, it isn't to pull your gun ... it's to walk away.

That doesn't make someone a coward or a doormat. It makes someone a rational human being who knows that getting into a physical altercation simply is not worth it.

Violence isn't the answer, Danno, didn't anyone teach you that?

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

I was actually thinking of this thread when I went to bed last night. ( I hate when that happens )

In case you didn't know, I'm a high school teacher and the school where I'm currently at is a vast majority Hispanic (about 89%). The rest of the school is about 10% white and 1% black. And, just from observing my students, I'm amazed at how common it is to hear young people use "that word". Of course, they end it in "a" instead of "er"; but to me it's still the same word. I can say with confidence that over 50% of my students are totally comfortable with the word. But here's what gets to me. It doesn't matter the race of the students; I've heard black students use the word while talking to white students and I've heard white student use the word while talking to black students. I've even had students use the word while referring to me.

I still can't decide if its a good or bad thing that the word seems to be losing its traditional meaning. I just know I'll never be comfortable with the word.

No matter how they say it, it's wrong. The problem is, trying to rationalize with people who have spent decades being called that and now that they feel like they "own" the word by dropping an a behind it is pure insanity.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

After I made my last post I thought perhaps I jumped the gun misunderstanding you but apparently even when I think I might be mistaken I am "right again."

You in fact seem to have more passivity than most women, insult a womens child or mother and watch her go into cat-mod.

You on the other hand would watch someone call your dear mother a string of filthy name and your reaction would be to retreat (walk away).

Not to be over the top but....

Can anyone explain how we went from a society of men who would challenge another to a duel to the death if his honor was challenged to a society which find more honor in retreating from a man who just calls his mother a cheap #######?

Seriously, if anyone else can explain explain this unusual development I would like to hear it.

You've officially become the new "BooYah!"

[B_J 2,752]

No matter how they say it, it's wrong. The problem is, trying to rationalize with people who have spent decades being called that and now that they feel like they "own" the word by dropping an a behind it is pure insanity.

I agree with what you're saying.

It is just so strange to me....kids that are 14-16 years old, of all races, using the word in a friendly manner with each other. I honestly don't think they know the history of the word at all. And if you tried to explain it to them, they'd look at you like you're crazy. The history of the word has nothing at all to do with how they use it.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

After I made my last post I thought perhaps I jumped the gun misunderstanding you but apparently even when I think I might be mistaken I am "right again."

You in fact seem to have more passivity than most women, insult a womens child or mother and watch her go into cat-mod.

You on the other hand would watch someone call your dear mother a string of filthy name and your reaction would be to retreat (walk away).

Not to be over the top but....

Can anyone explain how we went from a society of men who would challenge another to a duel to the death if his honor was challenged to a society which find more honor in retreating from a man who just calls his mother a cheap #######?

Seriously, if anyone else can explain explain this unusual development I would like to hear it.

Because it takes a bigger person to walk away. There's been plenty of times where I've had to do it, it's probably why I'm still here today. Pride can get you killed. And for what? Just to "win" the argument?

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

I agree with what you're saying.

It is just so strange to me....kids that are 14-16 years old, of all races, using the word in a friendly manner with each other. I honestly don't think they know the history of the word at all. And if you tried to explain it to them, they'd look at you like you're crazy. The history of the word has nothing at all to do with how they use it.

It's not to me because I grew up around it, and heard it every day. In my youth, I was the same way. Listening to NWA and such, you find yourself singing along or talking like that when you're around people. But when I got older, I started paying attention, and when you see how easy it is for people to define your entire race based of what they see in one person, I swore I wouldn't give them the chance.

[B_J 2,752]

It's not to me because I grew up around it, and heard it every day. In my youth, I was the same way. Listening to NWA and such, you find yourself singing along or talking like that when you're around people. But when I got older, I started paying attention, and when you see how easy it is for people to define your entire race based of what they see in one person, I swore I wouldn't give them the chance.

As hard as it is for me to understand, when these kids use the word, it has absolutely nothing to do with race.

[deleted-05292014 331]

As hard as it is for me to understand, when these kids use the word, it has absolutely nothing to do with race.

It doesn't usually. The word has evolved and you are correct I have observed Whites calling other Whites the N word - what can I say we're like our parents, never understand the youth and what they do. It has been used under both terms of endearment and as an insult. I honestly don't have an answer, and I really don't care either as long as no one uses the word directed at me. But here in the U.S different cultures and ethnic groups have slang words that they use to call each other. I've known several Italian Americans who I was around calling each other ethnic slurs, but I think the N word is just more prevalent because of the cultural impact African Americans have on American culture in general...just an idea.

[deleted-05292014 331]

I'm a woman and if someone insulted my mother, I wouldn't go into "cat-mode" ... I'd be an adult and walk away.

The right, mature answer IS to walk away.

It isn't to throw a punch, it isn't to call the police, it isn't to pull your gun ... it's to walk away.

That doesn't make someone a coward or a doormat. It makes someone a rational human being who knows that getting into a physical altercation simply is not worth it.

Violence isn't the answer, Danno, didn't anyone teach you that?

You're right it's better to walk away but it is not always easy.

For me growing up and attending schools where I was truly a minority, being the only Black or one of few in a class and school for that matter, I got in fights all the time, exclusively with racist White kids who thought they could get away with it because they had the numbers. I always got tested and most of the time that "word" was involved. If I have kids someday I will teach them to stand up for themselves as well. It's purely situational and often children have not developed the internal mechanisms to deal with certain events in a constructive manner.

As an adult yeah I have more to lose than gain so I would opt to walk away provided I could and myself or my family were not being threatened with the possibility of physical violence.

I have a great deal of respect of those who made sacrifices during the civil rights movement. Peace requires a lot of courage. I can't imagine marching and having someone spit on me, much less throw rocks and assaulting me. I am very thankful that I nor my future kids will have to make that decision, our society is better for it - the sacrifices that were made.

...But I won't judge Kanye for what he did. I understand. Maybe he was having a bad day, I can relate. Anyway if it were me (and I'm Kanye) I might have done the same thing, because I'm Kanye. I got the money to lawyer up and pay off whatever civil litigation that may come. Now If I'm me, I know that there is a 99% chance I get arrested for assault and sent to jail, lose my job, and probably sued.

[GandD 5,966]

After I made my last post I thought perhaps I jumped the gun misunderstanding you but apparently even when I think I might be mistaken I am "right again."

You in fact seem to have more passivity than most women, insult a womens child or mother and watch her go into cat-mod.

You on the other hand would watch someone call your dear mother a string of filthy name and your reaction would be to retreat (walk away).

Not to be over the top but....

Can anyone explain how we went from a society of men who would challenge another to a duel to the death if his honor was challenged to a society which find more honor in retreating from a man who just calls his mother a cheap #######?

Seriously, if anyone else can explain explain this unusual development I would like to hear it.

Its a good thing Danno. Honor killing is terrible.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I agree with what you're saying.

It is just so strange to me....kids that are 14-16 years old, of all races, using the word in a friendly manner with each other. I honestly don't think they know the history of the word at all. And if you tried to explain it to them, they'd look at you like you're crazy. The history of the word has nothing at all to do with how they use it.

I think it's largely a sub-cultural thing - like 'we're all in this together'. The problem is that there's an implicit assumption being made there that 'the man' is out to get them.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

After I made my last post I thought perhaps I jumped the gun misunderstanding you but apparently even when I think I might be mistaken I am "right again."

You in fact seem to have more passivity than most women, insult a womens child or mother and watch her go into cat-mod.

You on the other hand would watch someone call your dear mother a string of filthy name and your reaction would be to retreat (walk away).

Not to be over the top but....

Can anyone explain how we went from a society of men who would challenge another to a duel to the death if his honor was challenged to a society which find more honor in retreating from a man who just calls his mother a cheap #######?

Seriously, if anyone else can explain explain this unusual development I would like to hear it.

It's like this, Danno... if you have never met my mom, and you talk shite about her, it means just about as much as if you were to talk ####### about Arpita Pichai of India. Exactly nothing, since you don't know them. Why would I get upset and all in a tizzy due to your ignorance? It's just a reflection on YOU, not my mom.

Now, if you know my mom, and are talking shite about her, and take it too far (call her a cheap ####### as you said above), expect to walk away from the convo with a bloody lip, minimum.