While Dr. Laura parades herself around the country as the victim, we need to realize that there is a greater debate that needs to take place. Furthermore, we are doing ourselves a dis-service by starting debates about race by talking about the N-word. That is similar to a domestic violence couple speaking only about the violent acts that take place in their relationship without first looking at the root causes of manipulation, bad tempers, and past experiences that may make the perpetrator of the violence think his (or her) acts are acceptable. Moreover, those who use disparaging terms cannot say they are taking the word back because the word was never theirs in the first place. Jews didn't invent the k-word, Gays didn't invent the f-word, and blacks didn't invent the n-word. The English language is broad enough to find real endearing terms to use but let's also realize that every time a person within a group uses the term, it's not always to show love. Many times, especialy in our music, it's to speak about killing n....s, etc. Let's be real. Lastly, while many call Rev. Al Sharpton a race pimp, he has been at the forefront of trying to get this word off the airways. Rather than condemn him, we should support his efforts. If you don't like him, you should at least find other ways to stop the broadcast of disparaging language, unless, like Dr. Laura, you want to hide behind this "first amendment right" to free speech and then just get mad when the debate flares up again. We can't just point fingers at HBO. Most of what we see on HBO would never be attempted in real life by any of us. Let's get real about race. Let's get real about the dialogue.
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