"your boy Obama"

[ccpup]

Who knew three little words -- meant as a starting point to conversation with no malice intended -- would engender one of the most callous, cruel, heartless, ignorant things anyone would ever -- could ever! -- say to me on DU? But it did.

And what was this response? These words that felt like a slap in the face? A punch in the guy? A bucket of ice water dumped over my head in front of a crowd of laughing high schoolers in the middle of Home Room? The simple, but unmistakably cruel and heartless, words that forced me to rethink just who the people in the Democratic Party really were? That leaves me questioning if we are, honestly, any better than those pontificating repuglicans on the Morning Talk Shows who seek to diminish and slander the core of who you are rather than answer the question put before them? Who hurl -- with truly frightening ease -- labels and slurs at perfect strangers in an attempt to distract from the more important matters at hand?

"Racist much?"

Yep, that's it. "Racist much?"

I responded, of course. Didn't really take the bait and got no response. But still ...

"Racist much?" It was so blatant, so cruel, so ... shocking to have come from someone who professes to be a Democrat.

Thirty-eight years of treasured friendships with amazing people who had skin tones that span the colors of the rainbow (well, if the rainbow journeyed from very, very white through tan to very, very dark, that is) questioned just like that. My parents successful efforts at instilling in their children a sense of respect and fairness for everyone, regardless of how "different" they may appear from you mocked by a total stranger in "defense" of his or her candidate with callous ease. A horrible word -- racist -- used as casually as other everyday words. Kitten. Butter. Chair. Computer. Vote. Puppy. Racist. Nope, doesn't work. It's still jarring, isn't it? Not an everyday word, that one.

Needless to say, this bothered me. Perhaps I'm oversensitive? Or maybe I'm over-reacting a little? But what, exactly, about it was getting to me? I'm not a racist and those who know me well -- and have known me for some time -- would be shocked at that label being used in relation to me. Besides, I believe that those who know themselves well aren't easily thrown by the ignorant hatred of others. So what was it, really, about this ONE episode that was so ... shocking to me, I guess. That buzzed around my head like an irritating gnat and wouldn't leave me alone?

And then it came to me: is it possible, though hard to believe, that Democrats who zealously, sometimes blindly support their candidates are no different in many ways than those Republicans -- the Freepers, we call them -- who support their Party with equal zeal and energy?

Obviously, I would hope there are differences in how they treat people. In what their ultimate goals are. In what they want for the Country, as a whole. But after last night, I don't know anymore.

What's the difference behind someone calling me a "racist" because I evidently disagree with them -- and even included a sarcasm emoticon -- and a Freeper questioning, let's say, the patriotism of someone against the war? Or a Democrat on DU accusing someone of supporting the bottomless greed of corporations because they don't support X or Y candidate and a Freeper accusing someone of providing aid and comfort to the enemy because they don't support * or the pro-war Repuglican in the race?

You see, being called a racist -- while laughable in the light of day -- made me stop and think about those assumptions I've made and lived with as Truth about Democrats and, specifically, the Democrats on DU. Are we REALLY an open-minded, welcoming community? Or are we, in our own way, brow-beating those who disagree with what we believe into compliance using personal attacks just as the Freepers do. Do we in all actuality welcome honest discourse and disagreement? Or do we call each other horrific names because that's the easiest thing to do with someone who responded in a way you disagree with ... just like Freepers do.

Look at the reality of what happens here sometimes before you answer that.

A friend of mine who lives in Barcelona and is Spanish (as if that's important, but it's sad that I feel the need to add that now) wondered aloud the following this morning: if one were to take statements personally attacking someone made on DU, put them next to statements made on one of those freeper sites and take away any indicators of Political Party, would one be able to tell the difference which came from where? I couldn't answer because I don't know anymore.

I want people to support who they want voraciously, with energy and drive and a strong belief in their "rightness". I encourage that. The success of our Country depends on that kind of focus and drive. But there will be people who disagree with you -- sometimes with an equally strong sense of belief. Does one respond with facts, ignore the person and decide not to respond at all or, in ignorance and frustration, slap a label solely intended to demean and diminish them all in the name of being "right".

It's a choice we'll all need to make in the months to come. How we choose will determine what kind of Party we really are.

[Clark2008]

1. It's not racist, trust me.

It's a new catch phrase. My husband uses it to tease me. Like just the other day he said, "I see your boy Alberto resigned." And he said it when Rove left, too.

It really is just a catch phrase and I'm sorry you felt it was something different (I didn't say it, btw, I hate that new catch phrase. I think it's juvenile, for sure, but not racist).

[wyldwolf]

2. faux outrage.

[JTFrog]

3. You don't see how calling

a grown black man "boy" could be taken as racist?

I'm not saying you are or not, just not sure why you are so surprised that some would see it that way.

*edit spelling

*edit to add - Most people have no way of knowing you or your social history. Lots of stuff misconstrued on the net these days.

[ccpup]

20. a bit about my history

I was fortunately raised in a heavily multi-cultural, extremely diverse environment. The thought that addressing someone as "boy" could be seen as demeaning never entered my mind. Now, it's incredibly important to put this in context. If I'm ordering someone who's african-american around with "do this, boy" or "do that, boy" ... well, I just wouldn't do that! That is obviously offensive. THAT is demeaning. But referring to Obama as "your boy"? My friends -- some of whom happen to be black -- found it amusing that someone would be offended by that. With all the TRULY offensive things out there in the World today, they don't -- and I've checked with them on this to make certain I hadn't unintentionally crossed some horrible line -- find that offensive.

So, I was surprised to see offense taken at it because it just -- based on my long-standing friendships with people from much different backgrounds than mine and what I believed of those in the Democratic Party -- never occurred to me that it could be misconstrued.

But the OP and I have privately shaken hands and offered apologies.

[ellacott]

4. I think we use the term racist too frequently

I doesn't appear that it was you intention to offend but the person on the other side was obviously very sensitive about that term.

I understand their point. To some it is insensitive and condescending especially in the context of denying someone's manhood. There are other terms that are offensive to different segments of our population.

My opinion, the best way to handle this is to sincerely apologize if you offended but it was not you intention to be offensive.

As far as this place being the flip side of freeper land. Many times I do agree with you.

[MethuenProgressive]

5. The Google sez:

illinoisreview: Obama Preaches Fuel Efficiency From the Back Seat ...My boy Obama screwed up on this one. Just take your licks and move on. Posted by: Bill Clinton | Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at 02:40 PM ...
illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2006/08/obama_preaches_.html - 58k -
================================================================================
David Corn Oh Boy, Obama. Reuters reports:. Sen. Barack Obama announced on Sunday he had raised $32.5 million for his presidential campaign in the past three months, ...
www.davidcorn.com/archives/2007/07/oh_boy_obama.php - 22k -
================================================================================
BarelyPolitical.comFirst Romney changes the facts and goes after my boy Obama. Now the Romney girls are accusing me of flip flopping! Look at YOUR candidate! ...
www.barelypolitical.com/feed/ - 25k
================================================================================
Democratic Underground - I'm waiting for neolib 'Chicago Boy ...Reply #5: I'm waiting for neolib 'Chicago Boy' Obama to say this... ... I'm waiting for neolib 'Chicago Boy' Obama to say this. ...
www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3348394&mes... - 45k -
================================================================================

[ellacott]

6. What does the Google have to do with it?

Because people use it doesn't mean there are those who would be offended by it.

[MethuenProgressive]

11. It means the common usage isn't racist. Perhaps unaware, insensititve...

Me, for instance, I rankle a bit when I hear 'Indian,' or 'I got gypped,' or see certain images, but I know there's no evil intent behind the usage. YMMV.

[ellacott]

13. I do agree that it may not be racist

I do think it was unaware and insensitive. I don't think the OP intentionally set out to offend but it happens from time to time.

[MethuenProgressive]

64. I agree. And, I feel that if one seeks offense, one is likely to find it.

Whether actual, factual, or intended, ala the post below that warns if you offend a black person "you may not survive". :eyes:

[earthlover]

53. Oh please....I dare anyone call someone "boy" in a room filled with blacks.....

If you survive....you will have been taught a lesson.

I taught for two years at a mostly black high school. There were some racists among the blacks and among the whites. But I never saw the most confirmed racist student use the term "boy". Everyone knows that term is demeaning.

Unless you grew up on another planet.

[MethuenProgressive]

63. You stereotype 'blacks' as violent? Why?

I dare anyone call someone "boy" in a room filled with blacks.....
Posted by earthlover
If you survive....you will have been taught a lesson.

You say when a black person is offended, the offender might not survive.
Racist much?

[dmallind]

7. I think I've referred to Richardson

as "my boy" a few times. If I were an Obama supporter (nothing against him and if he gets the nod would do my damnedest to get him elected, just don't think he's best primary option) I'm sure I'd say the same thing, with exactly the same intent - which is one of implying (completely absent of course) close fellowship between myself and chosen candidate in a very positive way.

If we start panicking about saying anything that could possibly offend someone in the most tangential way because he is biracial, then we're not treating him the same as everyone else. I'd rather be colorblind than condescendingly protective of somebody's feelings. And of course it's not Obama whose feelings are hurt at all - it's the professionally offended who see any word usage which could possibly have some form of racial or gender or sexuality overtones as a massive outrage that get their panties in a bunch.

When you start calling him "your (insert racial epithet of choice here) Obama then I'll worry about you being racist. Calling him by the same appellation you would a white candidate by definition cannot be racist - as isn't racism all about viewing the races as not equal? If you'd say "your boy Edwards" then "your boy Obama" has absolutely no implication that says anything about you - although it may say something about those who get offended on his behalf.

[ellacott]

8. Professionally offended? That's something else

I think it's insensitive to minimize someone's feelings. The most considerate thing to do would be to just "apologize if I offended but it was not my intention to offend"

Because you see no offense doesn't mean an offense was not made.

[dmallind]

15. But we cannot apply a standard

that avoids ALL possible offense. Not only would this result in extremely sterile language but it would be impossible.


We should surely seek out a "reasonable person" standard instead. Much of the judgement of offensiveness has to come from context. Calling out to Obama "hey, boy, come over here" would at least I think be seen by most people as disrepsectful if not downright offensive, but that's light years from a common use applied to all races and with clearly positive implications as in "my boy Edwards" or "your boy Kucinich", none of which turn a hair when applied to white men who are far from boys. By turning a hair when it is applied to a (partly) black man is more condescending than anything else to me - that we have to "protect" poor Barack from being addressed the same way we would a (completely) white candidate. Why? To treat people of different ethnicity differently?

[ellacott]

16. We will never avoid ALL offenses

Our personal standards will never apply to everyone. But we should make an attempt to try to understand different perspectives.

[dmallind]

28. Not arguing that

I try to ask WHY people are offended in these situations. In this case of course "boy" CAN have some racist intent in some situations, but saying we can never use the word "boy" in any association or context when referring to a black man is far too extreme. Are "boy racers" in their little cars with silly spoilers over the non-driving wheels only the white ones? Does "boys in blue" refer only to Caucasian cops?

[ccpup]

18. exactly.

and for someone who was raised in a heavily multi-cultural, diverse environment, the usage of "boy" or "girl" simply wouldn't imply an effort to diminish or demean someone. If someone says "your girl Hillary", is that demeaning? Are we to follow some kind of code that says one can use "your boy Kucinich", but not "your boy Obama" because it could cause offense?

Obviously, putting this in context is very, very important. But if we're being asked to look beyond the color of someone's skin in deciding who best to be the Nominee, then those who become sensitive (perhaps overly so?) with the words sometimes used to address, describe, etc. said Nominee should strive to utilize the same sense of fairness with EVERY candidate. If "your boy Obama" is somehow off-limits, then "your boy Edwards", "your boy Kucinich", "your boy Dodd", "your boy Biden" and even "your girl Hillary" should be off-limits as well.

See how crazy, useless and frustratingly PC this can get? Again, it depends on the context it was used in.

[Ethelk2044]

19. boy was not used as a derogatory term against whites during slavery

therefore it will not be seen as the same thing.

[ccpup]

21. so there IS a different standard

when speaking of a candidate who happens to be black and Obama SHOULD somehow be treated differently than the other candidates? And here I thought we were all equal.

I don't disagree with you, by the way. But placing words in context really is everything.

[ccpup]

23. Oops. self delete

[Ethelk2044]

25. I was once told you have to take a person's back ground into consideration as to not to offend them.

There is not a different standard. Common sense dictates, if in history you know a culture would likely to be offend by calling them a name, don't do it. Now days you have to be culturally sensitive for all races.

[ccpup]

26. I appreciate your input, Ethelk2044

I guess it comes down to the fact that those I know who could be sensitive just aren't to some things other people might be. An awareness of what that COULD be is always good, I agree, but if one's experience is with those who aren't offended easily, one can easily and innocently step into a big pile of PC dog doo.

[dmallind]

29. Again context matters even in that case

Can white (or even black) lovers not refer to black male SOs as "boyfriends" oy "toyboy"? Can we not say about a black friend that "he's a big boy now and can make his own decisions"? Rich black colleagues with Corvettes and speedboats not be teased about all their "boy toys"?

When there is no - absolutely no - implication of demeaning or putting oneself in a position of power or superiority over a man by using the word "boy" in any of the dozens and dozens of contexts when it would be used in exactly the same way to a white man, isn't it surely more patronizing than respectful not to use it to a black man and instead use a far less vernacular and more "careful" phrase?

I'm sure as heck nmot going to use the "black friends" example because to me it's way too easily seen as defensive and in any way is pretty irrelevant but I can say I must associate with thicker skinned black guys than some people do if ANY use of the word boy could be seen as offensive.

[ellacott]

27. I think you may be looking at this totally from your perspective

That person took offense. You didn't mean to offend. I would just apologize and tell them I'm sorry if I offended but it was not my intention.

[earthlover]

56. Does anyone call him "my boy Kucinich, Edwards, etc?" "Guy" "Man" would be more common

As in "my man Obama"

[earthlover]

57. Imagine, the debate.....

The announcer introduces Hillary as a "woman" and Obama as a "boy who is in the Senate".....

OMG...


To anyone who refers to their candidate as their "boy" I recommend graduating from elementary school before you post.....

[dmallind]

67. Sure.

I've used the term for Richardson, and speculatively considering a switch to Edwards myself, and seen it used many times by others for all the male candidates.

[EST]

9. A wise man once told me, and I think it's right,

"Apologize immediately, especially when you're right."

If your objective is to show how offended you are that someone else, rightly or wrongly, was offended by something you said, congratulations, you've secured your reward.

In my universe, one is responsible for whatever results arise from being here.

If your objective is a better world, where such insults are not made, even inadvertently, not recognized as insults even if they are made, and the assumption always made of the speaker's good intentions, perhaps a simple statement of recognition of responsibility, accountability and intent would suffice, as well as an invitation made to those who felt the need for blood to a similar meeting of the minds.

[ellacott]

10. Very wise words. n/t

[MethuenProgressive]

12. wise words indeed

"I'm sorry dear, it's all my fault and I'll never do it again, I apologize." :lol:

[dmallind]

30. I think one point in the OP has not been addressed yet.

If the word "boy" in this context can offend some (I'm sure this is the case, whether it makes sense or not is subjective to a large degree) and for this reason should be avoided by those who wish to not give offense, surely to a group of liberals at any rate the word "racist" is far MORE likely to be seen as an offensive insult and should be avoided even more scrupulously except when incontrovertibly true?

[EST]

50. Very true.

There is always a need to remain sensitive to one's audience. Because rubbing two people, especially strangers, together is likely to produce sparks and fire, one should be ready to handle any upset one produces right away.

Also, it is good personal policy never to expect the other guy to be as enlightened as you are. He can't be in your mind and know you meant no harm nearly as well as you can predict what may be upsetting to him. This means it is necessary for you always to be responsible for any thing that happens while not expecting to have a deal that the other guy also accept a share of that responsibility.

It is a powerful tool for creating personal freedom to always be the responsible and accountable party, no matter the circumstances. When you have the surety that you can always depend on yourself to do the right thing, no matter what or how bad things get, that is a powerful position to be in in your own life.

[Ethelk2044]

14. I am not saying you are a racist. However, I will state how African Americans feel when someone

calls them a boy or You people. It goes back to slavery. When they were called boy. Yes, African American's get offended when someone make those references. To other people, they may not give it a second thought. However, African Americans tend to get pissed off when they hear those type of phrases. I did not read your post. However, I do know if someone states boy or your boy they will come back on you. We all just have to remember people are sensitive and someone will take some responses the wrong way depending on their history. Boy was used to address African Americans during Slavery. African Americans do not like for another race to call them "boy". Just a little thought.

[ellacott]

17. Very true n/t

[Stephanie]

22. thou dost protest too much

unintended slurs can still be taken as slurs. your "background" has nothing to do with anything.

[Labors of Hercules]

32. Get over yourselves...

Too many people get way too offended way too easily. My boy Gore is gonna whup all y'alls asses and make all this bullshit a moot point anyway, so blblblblblblblblblbttttthhhhhhhttttttt!!!! :evilgrin:

[ccpup]

24. Thank you

I sincerely thank all those who have responded to this Post respectfully, thoughtfully and without malice. It's greatly appreciated.

[ieoeja]

31. You seem upset about the wrong part.

With 99% of my family in the same, albeit out of the way, locale, my (now ex-)wife and I decided to get married there. Her family was spread around the country and would have to travel regardless.

So we held the marriage on the Saturday of a Labor Day weekend. This permitted her family an extra day for relaxation before having to hit the road again. Accordingly, my parents held a gathering at the family farm that Sunday (also allowing us to get more out of that last keg our idiot friends decided to open the night before after 99% of the guests had left).

An hour or two into the festivities someone pointed out to my mom that she had just served her new African-American in-laws a bunch of fried chicken and watermelon.

That is pretty much the menu every Labor Day weekend for my family. The racist implication simply had not occured to her. And she was horribly embarrassed and terribly upset at the thought some of my in-laws might have taken it that way. (My ex says so far as she knows, while the thought did cross some of their minds, they realized rural white people just happen to eat the same things rural black people are stereotyped for eating.)

What my mom was NOT upset about was someone pointing out her faux pas. You seem less upset about your faux pas hurting someone than about someone pointing out your faux pas.

[FlaxieB]

33. Please read some African American history .

Get on the internet or your visit your local library and research Slavery in America, Jim Crow Laws and the Civil Rights Movement. This way you can learn all about racist terminology and demeaning language. Just use a little common sense and good judgment when you speak/write in terms of African Americans or any other ethnic group. Sensitivity to racist words are based on centuries of systematic oppression and unequal justice. You say that it's a pet term used within your family but please check your thoughts before you reference a candidate's color, gender or religious belief. Think about your audience. :hi:

[Bucky]

34. I think that phrase demeans Obama. He's not a "boy," but a fine strapping young buck.

Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week.

[AtomicKitten]

35. If you don't support my candidate, you must be crushed.

or something like that

[draft_mario_cuomo]

36. Consider the source. Personal attacks from that poster against BO critics are par for the course

Don't let the Obama thought police silence you. He gets increasingly bitter as Obama declines in the polls and this week has been a rough one for Obama fans, with Edwards erasing a 19 point deficit to catch the Obama juggernaut in the national Rass poll, BO losing his vaunted ARG NH and SC leads (NH was a tie) by hemorrhaging 14 and 12 points respectively in each state in a month.

[ellacott]

66. That's just ridiculous

You will use every opportunity to discredit Obama. You have missed the entire point of this discussion and apparently didn't take the time to read any of the responses posted in this thread.

My goodness, what will you do if Obama would get the nomination?

[lumberjack_jeff]

37. Grow thicker skin.

You said something in a way that was easy to misinterpret. Apologize for the misunderstanding and restate what you meant using better words.

I get my ass handed to me all the time here. Nevertheless, they're good democrats too.

[nealmhughes]

38. "My boy" and "Your boy" is commonplace now with youth. It has no racial connotation.

The use is also "My girl" and "Your girl" all with not a whit of racialist meaning. Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, and everyone under the sun use the term at a certain age level. It merely means "part of my/your crew".

Addressing a person of color by "Boy" by a Caucasian would be a vastly different thing.

It a youth thang and not for those who do not have teens/college students around much to "get."

Oh, and by the way, "gay" means "lame" now, if that ain't the bee's knees! Well, 23 Skidoo!

[Connie_Corleone]

39. You wrote all that because one person said, "racist much?"

Address that person (in the original thread) and move on. No need to waste your time writing a long rant about your history.

[ccpup]

40. interesting

I brought up some very good questions about how people on DU can treat each other if they disagree and you, without much thought, perhaps, simplify it to a "waste of my time writing a long rant about my history". If you were that unimpressed, why the need to insert yourself into the conversation while adding nothing to it?

Oh well.

[Connie_Corleone]

47. Yes, you are oversensitive.

That answers one of your questions. I "inserted" myself into the conversation because I wanted to. Am I not allowed to respond?

I didn't write my response to be malice towards you or anything. I just said address the person who wrote that about you and move on. What do you want, a long written speech addressing every single thing you wrote?

I usually write short responses.

If you don't like my response, that's your problem.

[ccpup]

51. You're allowed to do what you like

So am I. As for what I want from you? Absolutely nothing, please.

Short enough for you?

[Connie_Corleone]

61. My question was rhetorical if you didn't catch that.

[earthlover]

60. I disagree with you. The OP raised several very worthy topics for discussion....

I am dumbfounded that this would not be obvious.

[ccpup]

65. thank you

I'm happy to see that someone discovered the intent of my Original Post. But, like much of American society, the worthy topics have been overwhelmingly ignored in favor of the "sexy" topic of whether someone is racist or not. Stuff like that usually happens when people need to scratch their I-gotta-argue-'bout-something itch.

[saracat]

41. Wow! And to think I just thought it was an answer back to Hillary's "I'm your girl

comment! Which as a woman, I found offensive! But I can definately see where some would find "boy" offensive when applied to an AA candidate.I am sure you meant nothing by that and racist was a real overaction. But isn't it great we have candidates that we have to worry about being PC about/ What do the GOP have"Ol white boys" ? Giggle:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[ccpup]

42. excellent point

I think in the feverish stampede of supporting this candidate or that candidate, we sometimes forget that we have an amazing, truly historic group representing our Party. A woman with a serious shot at being the Nominee, an African-American man who also has a serious shot of representing us and all around them men of wit, brilliance, fresh ideas, humor and true care and concern for their Country.

It's pretty cool, ain't it?

[saracat]

43. I do think it is very cool.We may like some more then others but in then end they are all "our "

candidates! But I must add I thought it was even more "cool " when Carol Mosely Braun ran. That was a twofer! LOL!

[ccpup]

44. don't forget, though,

that there is a (one man) effort to draft African-American Republican Allan Keyes into the Presidential Race. Is he the GOP's Secret Weapon to counter balance Obama, perhaps?

:rofl:

[saracat]

45. oooooH! We scared! And that one man effort is led by Keyes himself! Snark!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[illinoisprogressive]

46. The words used are a recall to other days not so long ago. However,

some say race should not be evoked. what about those who are offended by whore or bitch. Or spic(?), ect.
the point is that there are many words that are just derogetory and insulting and we should not use them lightly.
Instead, maybe there are some who have some feeling subconscience or way back in the mind that they don't know exist to any one particular group.
But, on another hand we are racist in a different way. Assuming almost all of our fellow citizens would never vote for Obama based on his skin. It may come as a shock to many but, there are alot more open minded and accepting people all over the country than you give them credit for. Dont' just assume someone who's republican or southern, ect. would not vote for Obama based on his skin. So, many here have different prejudices.

[Colobo]

48. Obama's my boy.

[illinoisprogressive]

49. lol

[dsc]

52. My first teaching job was at a public school in the Mississippi Delta

In the first week I said "Boy, is it hot outside today" in one of my classes. You could hear a pin drop. I never used that word again. Like it or not, some words are offlimits to some people in some situations. I would think it could have been handled better, but there are some things you just need to refrain from saying.

[David Zephyr]

54. Well said.

:thumbsup:

[LBJDemocrat]

55. "Boy" has certain connotations for black Americans

It used to be a patronizing way of addressing blacks in the South.

I can't blame the other poster for suggesting you might be racist, but I do believe that you didn't mean it that way.

Accusations of racism, though, have no place in political discourse though. I agree with you. Same with the reductio ad Hitlerum.

[brentspeak]

58. How do you know the person who responded to you is a Democrat?

There's a ton of people here who aren't Democrats - and more than a few people who say they're Democrats, but really aren't.

You're dealing with anonymous people on an internet message board.

[beaconess]

59. Do you see the irony in your post?

You seem to be very offended because some people assumed something about you that you believe not to be true. You have every right to be offended by such assumptions, if their comments rubbed you the wrong way.

But, by the same token, YOUR comments obviously rubbed some others the wrong way, yet you don't seem to be as respectful of THEIR right to be offended.

By the way, referring to a black man "your boy" does not make you racist or bigoted by any stretch. But I hope you do understand that using such a term can be seen as somewhat insensitive. Pointing that out does not mean that someone is calling you a racist, since there are many degrees on the spectrum between racism and perfection. Insensitivity falls somewhere in between.

[rocktivity]

62. The hosts of my favorite sports talk show use the term constantly

to needle each other when someone for whom they've voiced support under-performs or does something dubious: "I see that your boy Tom Brady threw three interceptions" or "Guess who's going to be on the next Dancing With The Stars? Your boy Mark Cuban!" Here's another example: "Bush put in his boy Gonzo as attorney general." It has nothing to do with color anymore.

And by the way, here are the hosts:



:headbang:
rocknation

[Capn Sunshine]

68. Meanwhile, Bush is about to bomb Iran

while DU dithers in rhetorical flourish and whether or not it can be misconstrued.

Yeah, THAT'S keeping your eye on the ball.