Dr. Laura Schlessinger's n-word rant, Part I
From the August 10 edition of Dr. Laura Schlessinger's Talk Radio Network show:
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Read Dr. Laura's apology here:
These are my opening comments from my radio program today:
I talk every day about doing the right thing. And yesterday, I did the wrong thing.
I didn't intend to hurt people, but I did. And that makes it the wrong thing to have done.
I was attempting to make a philosophical point, and I articulated the "n" word all the way out - more than one time. And that was wrong. I'll say it again - that was wrong.
I ended up, I'm sure, with many of you losing the point I was trying to make, because you were shocked by the fact that I said the word. I, myself, realized I had made a horrible mistake, and was so upset I could not finish the show. I pulled myself off the air at the end of the hour. I had to finish the hour, because 20 minutes of dead air doesn't work. I am very sorry. And it just won't happen again.
I received some letters, and what touched me is that, even though many of you were upset, you still showed friendship for all the years we've been together on the air, and for that, trust me, I am very grateful. Here's an example:
I'd like to thank this woman for sending me this letter. I was so very touched, and truthfully, it helped me make it through the night. So I'm going to read this letter:
Dear Dr. Laura:
I have been a listener for at least 20 years. I have bought and read several of your books. I have always held you in high regard, and have encouraged others to listen to you as well. I have to say, after today's call with the African-American woman with the Caucasian husband who called seeking how to handle "racist" comments, I am a bit dismayed. I believe that African-Americans using the n-word is disdainful, as well as Caucasians or any other race for that matter. I agree that the argument some African-Americans use that it is ok for them to use it and not others, is ridiculous. But, I have to say, when I heard you saying the word repeatedly, it struck a negative chord with me.
I don't believe you are a racist, and I don't believe, as an African-American woman, that I am hypersensitive. I have to say after the call, I found it difficult to continue to listen to the rest of the show. I have not made the decision to stop listening to your show, but I felt compelled to respond because I found it offensive.
Sincerely {and she gives her name}
One last note -
The caller in question (her name is Jade), called for help from me, and didn't get it, because we got embroiled in the "n" word, and I'm really sorry about that, because I'm here for only one reason and that's to be helpful, so I hope Jade or somebody who knows her is listening, and hope she will call me back and I will try my best to be helpful, which is what she wanted from me in the first place and what she did not get.
Sounds like a female Rush
At least according to our ancestral land's famous expert, Mr Stoker.
I really think Dr. Laura isn't a vampire. She does seem attracted to the bug eating lunatic in the asylum, however.
She's pretty close to doing the Rush "blame somebody else" apology. The caller was asking for help in dealing with some racially rude people, and suddenly, somebody was blurting out the N-Word, interrupting, and telling the offended party that it was her fault for marrying out of her race without the required sense of humor needed to deal with people as stupid as Dr. laura..
Stunningly clueless.
Well, Rush doesn't have the cojones to say that. It's either a saving stupidity, or an ignorance of her own folly.
I'm African American, but I don't use the term because its use was banned by my parents when my siblings and I were growing up.
I do agree with her that race and terms associated with race need to be discussed because I think it's important that people in our society understand that although some things are acceptable among certain members of a group, that is not the case with all members.
Is the big problem that blacks can use a word and whites can't, like Dr. Laura thinks, or is the problem that whites like Schlessinger seem to think that racism is people who "demonize whites as hating blacks"? And oh, that racism is over anyway now that Obama is President? And who so very casually uses the N-word in making that ridiculous point?
No, racism is not over since President Obama became president. Racism has existed in one way or another for centuries in countries around the world. I think Rwanda was an example of not only genocide, but racism of one group of Africans toward another. As for racism in America, I've experienced it in one way or another all of my life since I was born during our nation's period of segregation. I think where many people make a mistake is in accepting racial stereotypes and not getting to know people of different races.I have always gotten along with the whites I have gone to school and worked with, and I think the reason for this is the way my parents raised us. They chose not to focus on making us hate white people but on educating ourselves. They rightly thought that education was a vehicle to upward mobility. Although my parents are no longer here, I realize just how fortunate I was to have parents that didn't teach their kids to hate. I raised my daughter the same way, and it just so happened that the guy she has been dating for almost 4 years and plans to marry works in IT and is white. My daughter never would have had the chance to choose the guy she thinks is best for her had I chosen to teach her to hate. I taught her to educate herself and to believe in herself. She's a college graduate and has a good job, no children.
I'm a retired high school teacher as of 2009, and I heard the word n!99er used in all of the ways that I described in my first post. Even some of the white students and African American students used the term to refer to each other. I didn't like any of them using it, but I am open-minded enough to let them work out the dynamics of their own relationships. The younger members of our society have much more intimate relationships with each other in that they've known each other since Pre-K, they visit each other's homes, attend parties together, and some of them are members of the same church. These are those who so casually use the word n!99er in making what you refer to as "that ridiculous point."
HER point, and I still say its ridiculous, is that is UNFAIR or perhaps even RACIST that, in her view, blacks get to use the n-word and whites don't. She thinks its a huge issue that should be addressed ahead of actual, physical racism, WHICH SHE THEN DEMONSTRATED, by describing racism as something that only exists in the form of demonizing whites as hating blacks. Not to mention "don't NAACP me," etc etc. I am saying she has her issues all amuck.
She's Hannity. She's Limbaugh. Racism only exists against whites. Which is, well, racist!
And, what Dr. Loadof and other racists need to realize is this:
They should just GO. RIGHT. AHEAD. AND. DO. SO.
Nobody's stopping them.
Just be prepared for the consequences afterwards . . .
While I don't think the use of the word is the main problem with Dr Laura's rant, it did seem to roll off her tongue pretty smoothly.
AZ
On a related note, as a black person, I care more about context than the use of the word itself. For me, the problem with white people using the n-word is not necessarily the fact that they use the word, its that chances are that it will be used in a derogatory fashion (unlike the rap lyrics some want to use as justification).
Think about it this way; Do you think Eminem would get into trouble for using the n-word? I doubt it.
Yeah, Mad Magazine (from which I learned so much about American culture) observed this as long ago as the early '70s: If I make a joke about my ethnic group, I'm being funny. But if someone outside my ethnic group makes the same joke, they're being a lousy bigot.
But, as others have observed, a lot of white right-ringers sure seem to want to use that word really, really badly.
but if a frenchman? or a jew were to make the same joke? someone was going to get hit. and it wasn't going to me.
Someone like Eminen uses the n-word and AA's will see "NO" malice or hatred 'cause Eminen said he is the n-word too and proud of it, LOL. Someone like Rush, Dr. Laura, O'Reilly, Beck, Scarborough, Hasselbeck, Hannity, Palin, McCain, Republicans, Tea Party, David Duke, Imus, and FoxNews' Hosts would be seen by AA's as using the n-word out of malice and hate "against" AA's 'cause these people consider themselves much, much more "Superior" than ALL n-words (AA's). Hope this helps, LOL.
Oh you were "helpful" alright; you told the woman she was "hypersensitive" and suggested "she shouldn't marry outside of her race".
My question to you Dr Schlessinger, would you have been that insensitive and combative to a white caller with the same concerns? Which is what is required of a Doctor.
Or would you have conducted yourself with professionalism and compassion?
You gave absolutely no regard to this woman and her concern. You are only a "doctor" when it is convenient, otherwise you are no different than the white people who come to you for advice and solutions.
You are wrong in so many ways and you are in need of education and knowledge. REAL education and knowledge, not the kind of education you uses to pacify confused people.
However, this does raise the question of why is it liberals always seem to have race on their minds? The color of one's skin is not that important. The content of one's character is much more important. (10 points to anyone who can tell me who said this!)
A..Glenn Beck ?
do I win ?
Are you refering to Martin Luther King, when he said...
If you are going to offer points for getting a correct answer... then shouldn't you at least get the question right?
Your MLK "quote" was not only paraphrased, it was completely taken out of context. Nice try, faux "conservative."
BTW, it is the content of Laura's character which is being discussed. Not much there. She's also a racist as, apparently, are you.
Husbands are required to protect their wife's honor. He should have told his family and friends to respect his wife, but he didn't do anything, so this woman has a right to be resentful of her husband. But this is of no concern to this so-called Doctor.
She than wanted to convinced this black caller to believe she has no right to be offended, even though she told the "Doctor" how she felt.
White people have a problem with black people holding anything against them, no matter what whites do to us to us. Remember the Sharoal (forgive the spelling) "scandal" and what she said about not helping a white farmer? This is what whites had a problem with.
Although she had a compelling reason to be vindictive against white people (her father was killed by a white man who escaped justice), no white commentator wanted to explore the possibility that this black woman was within her right to be bitter toward those who benefited from an unjust society, at the expense of her own people.
Black public officials and black people in general are not supposed to be angry when whites do wrong against us. We are supposed to suck it up and let it go.
But that is not how white society behaves when blacks victimize white people. No, they are vengeful and they will make an example of you. Not only that, they NEVER forget ie O J Simpson.
This Doctor is no different than other infidels like Hannity, Limbaugh, O'Racist, Republicans and conservatives who constantly spew stupidity and hate over the airwaves.
The post wasn't racist, it was an honest opinion stated by someone who has experienced that of which he wrote.
"White people have a problem with black people holding anything against them, no matter what whites do to us to us. Remember the Sharoal (forgive the spelling) "scandal" and what she said about not helping a white farmer? This is what whites had a problem with. Although she had a compelling reason to be vindictive against white people (her father was killed by a white man who escaped justice), no white commentator wanted to explore the possibility that this black woman was within her right to be bitter toward those who benefited from an unjust society, at the expense of her own people. But that is not how white society behaves when blacks victimize white people. No, they are vengeful and they will make an example of you. Not only that, they NEVER forget ie O J Simpson."
Replace the words "white" with "black" and vice versa in the above and then say "the post wasn't racist". I swear you left-wingers would sell your souls in order to support each other. I mean good grief! Have you no morality and integrity?
BTW, I request you no longer refer to yourself as a "conservative" bintx. You are far from having the values needed to be considered a conservative - while continuing to display all of the goofy makings of a left wing liberal.
2BTW, I have disliked Dr. Laura for years. She's as inconsistent and goofy as you.
I swear you you you ______ will never_______________ and you always _____________________
so there.
Actually, nevermind. No point in debating a person such as you anyway conger. You obviously consider yourself to be a victim and I have learned debate is not possible with someone like you. You can't get past the victim-hood thing.
Your GOOFY comments are just,well...goofy because I don't see where black people have been in a situation to do to whites what was done to them and is still being done thanks to ignorant fools like yourself. Your reverse the words black with white make no sense. There was no racism in mano's post. How could you reverse or substitue the words black with white an make whats happening or happened accurate? Thats what makes your comment goofy it's never happened that blacks oppressed whites. You only validate mano comments that blacks should have no critque or harbor any feelings about whites actions against them.
Pointing out your absurdity and historical and current ignorance is not playing victim quite the contrary it is standing up and not letting your ignorance go unchallenged. It is you who now challenged and called on their bigotry that now trying to hide behind victimhood. . Grow-up and educate yourself and stop playing victim when your ignorance is exposed.
Now, just for you since you're having troulble understanding, I'll repeat with reversing terms: "Black people have a problem with white people holding anything against them, no matter what blacks do to us to us." and "But that is not how black society behaves when whites victimize black people. No, they are vengeful and they will make an example of you. "
Having said this, the bigger issue is profiling and/or grouping. This should not be allowed from anyone and I am very surprised so many of you are endorsing and supporting it. You know very well comments like these should be considered racist. I'm old enough to remember some commentators have been fired for saying much less, i.e. Jimmie the Greek. Also, wasn't profiling an issue with the new AZ illegal immigration law?
And you have the b-lls to call me ignorant? What a joke.
You really should try reading about America's history... and I don't mean Glenn Dreck revisionist-to-the-point-of-pure-fantasy type history. I mean, why drink mud when you can pour yourself a nice glass of pure water? Try Howard Zinn, for instance. You might just find the reality of America's undeniable contradictions to be quite eye-opening and mind expanding.
Otherwise, you're just going to continue on through life as an arrogant and childlike putz.
Using the MLK quote to say the issue of racism should never be brought up because it focuses on the color of skin ? Pretty 2005.
Substituting "white" for "black" to completely ignore history ? Wow, oldie but a goodie.
Again, I'm very disappointed in the quality of the trolls around here lately. There used to be a couple who, at least, made you think for a second before putting the clown shoes on them.
BTW, it is because of you people the playing of your race card has little, if any, effect any longer. Clear thinking Americans are sick and tired of you racists.
Very effective job by the right wing media, in comforting chumps like mentalgnat. They've actually convinced these " clear-thinking Americans" that any time somebody notices their confusion and bigotry, it's some sort of gimmick.
What sort of mis-wired, malleable brain can be talked into believing that the more times their malfunctions are pointed out, the less evidence there is of the problem ?
So my posts are not intended to chamge any of your feeble minds. This is impossible because you people have mental issues. I post to aggrivate you - and it really is effective. In fact, the more logical my posts are the more it bugs you! Proof is the racist statements made by mano that started this whole string of posts which you lefties have twisted into me being the racist. If a white person had said what he said about any "group" they would rightfully be accused of racism. No matter how you try to spin it, his post was a bigoted, racist statement.
Nonetheless, all 50 or so of you MMFA readers have a great weekend!
We may laugh at you for not being able to spell "aggravate", but I don't think anybody's really bothered by your delusions regarding logic.
Anybody who visits this site is aware of the dumbing down of our country, as reflected in the mainstream conservative media, and people like you who are subservient to it.
You may take some pride in being in the bottom 80% of the country, but I don't think you'd be too happy with the results if your numbers continue to grow.
If you haven't seen the movie Idiocracy, I'd highly recommend it.
Have a great weekend, and try not to stick anything sharp in your eye.
www.blackelectorate.com/articles.asp?ID=337
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FIBJt-c2o0
www.thenewamerican.com/.../3994-lets-be-hones-about-sen-robert-byrd
With you it's always same sh$t, different day. Get a life.
Good old Addison "Joe" "YOU LIE" Graves Wilson.
Imagine that.
All of this was reported in South Carolina's largest newspaper, The State.
I doubt most people here were alive when he used it in any derogatory context. Why don't you and mentalgnat go find a doctor that will sew your brains together, and donate the result to a chimp who's tired of thinking too much ?
That's what's interesting about it. I'm a white guy, and I was just floored when I first heard this knothead and her arrogant and ignorant freakout.
The type of people who listen to Dr. Laura and the rest of wingnut radio have been so well-conditioned with "reverse racism" and "the race card" that they don't see this as anything but reasonable.
And I don't know how much racism is really simmering in Dr. Laura, this may have been a very misguided attempt at some "tough love", that amplified a smaller degree of racism in her.
But the reactions by her defenders tell a lot about how the racism apologists have been training their followers. I've seen at least a couple of posters at this site who insist they don't see any racism in Shlessinger's remarks.
And the bar has just been raised ( or lowered) a bit, to the point where they won't see it when the next right wing host kicks it up another notch. They're like the frog in the gradually boiling water.
Well looky here, I am in complete agreement with at least one comment from liberal AK! As I said in a prior post above, I've always considered Dr. Laura to be a quack.
Other then this, AK is indeed a typical liberal with twisted logic, such as considering the group with an 80% majority to be in the "bottom part of the country".
You have missed the point completely, your comments were offensive yes, I personally don't even like the sound of your voice. But your apology is a complete blunder, thats shows your delusions of grandeur, and inability to see past your own nose. You should be apologizing to the caller that you maligned demeaned and ignored while She was graciously trying to save you from your self.
You are horrible!
this "Dr" simply belongs on the ever growing list of those that exemplify all that's wrong in America..