(June 10, 2017 at 2:10 pm)pool the matey Wrote: I don't think we should be invalidating the feelings of any black person that were hurt by saying disqualifying things like "it's just a word". It was completely up to old Bill to want to apologize or not, he has that right and others have the right to not give their audience to his shows.
In my personal opinion, he deserves the backlash. As a side note, I don't think it's possible for Bill (anyone really) to piece together house and nigger so effortlessly in a conversation unless they frequently use it or are surrounded by people that use it. At the end of the day Bill does what he does for his own profit and not for some superior moralistic reasons.
I agree, it is not just a word, in the same way atheists know when the word "atheist" is used just as a description between us, or sarcasm between us to make fun of religious bigots, and the difference when a bigot uses the same word aimed at us.
Any word can become a pejorative over time. Those whom are the target over long periods of time and have been persecuted over long periods can still feel the effects of that word even when times change.
He got the backlash yes, but he does not deserve any long term punishment.
If you are going to claim that Bill is solely out for profit then the same can be said for Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter and between the three it would be an absolute absurdity to claim between them Bill is racist or even close to the other two.
I have no problem with liberals being blunt or using sarcasm or humor, Bill simply wasn't thinking, but he is not a racist.