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Letter to the Editor: June 9, 2010

Published: Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Updated: Tuesday, June 8, 2010 22:06

Apologizing for, or excusing racism is going too far

The "politically correct" reasoning used by Jordan Bonner in his guilt- ridden, apologetic editorial about "Gringo Masks," is a great example of how people, who should be united in the fight for justice and freedom, have become divided.

These divisions are used by the real power brokers, who have no racial, political or religious allegiances, to "divide and conquer"
populations.

Oh, the term "gringo" isn't really racist, according to Bonner, but the "N-word" is, "which is always derogatory." That's funny, because many young blacks seem to use the N-word as a term of endearment, and it has been
popularized in recorded music for years.

It seems clear to me that it is not the slur, but the intent of the use of the slur, and the hatred with
which it is used that makes it derogatory.

Bonner's position is that, "those that have traditional positions of power and privilege," ("whites" in Bonner's worldview) when subjected to racial slurs, "that don't carry the same historical weight," shouldn't be concerned. Those concerns "amount to so much whining." I disagree.

I was brought up to consider any racial slur, emanating from the loathing and contempt of anyone towards anyone else, is not rational, desirable, or "politically correct."

If Bonner is really that concerned about "supremacy," "subjugation," and "oppression," he should probably
not apologize or excuse anyone's hate based racist expressions.

It is a gross oversimplification to classify one expression as an "always derogatory" racial slur, and another one as "simply a slang term."

Why doesn't he recognize racist dialogue, and the terms conservative and liberal for that matter, for what they are; a divide and conquer tactic for the true elitists.

Call me a "gringo," but do it with love.

Matt Marcus
Junior
Exercise Physiology
 

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9 comments

Hat Tip
Wed Jun 30 2010 13:01
Excellent article.
Anonymous
Fri Jun 11 2010 17:43
Have I been blocked?
Anonymous
Fri Jun 11 2010 14:25
I really hope "Building 7" isn't the former WTC Marriott. If so, you guys are beyond help.
BSME Alumni
Thu Jun 10 2010 13:17
M. - Yes, Mechanical. I think you’re referring to the COMR Building on the Evansdale Campus? No, I don’t have an opinion. This was finished late in my stay at WVU. I do remember talk that the Engineering Sciences Building (#8), adjacent to #7, was slowly creeping down the hillside. But, that was never confirmed by anyone who would actually know. Both would make interesting DA stories. BTW, my engineering education at WVU was top notch. Keep up the great work.
M. Marcus
Wed Jun 9 2010 20:36
Hey BSME Alum.-

Sorry I managed to mangle your moniker:
BSME Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
BSME British Schools of the Middle East (UK)
BSME Bachelor of Science in Music Education (degree)
BSME Breeder Reactor Structural Materials (Irradiation) Experiment
BSME Business Systems Modernization Executive
BSME Bachelor of Science Marine Engineering

I'm guessing you are of the first variety. You probably have an opinion about Building 7 if you are. Most of the people at WVU are of the "building what?" variety. Of course the DA has never mentioned it during my time here.

M. Marcus
Wed Jun 9 2010 15:55
Hey Anonymous History Teacher-

Thanks for the daily lesson. I couldn't help but notice the possible sarcasm in your statement about "Tea Partiers" being "real American heroes." So, people who have the courage to stand up to the establishment, and be against increased taxation aren't American heroes? Who is, Obama? So, you are one of the "rest of us" who already knew the slang definition of teabagger. Does that mean you suck balls? When the "collective snickers" of you oh so smart ballsuckers got "too loud" and it woke up the ignorant activists, were you proud of yourselves? So, if the Tea Partiers are wrong, then is increased taxation right? Are you one of the cowardly but "smart" do nothing sheeple, or are you one of the activists who are actually trying to affect real change...no not just the "change" slogan, but real change?

Hey BMSE Alum-

Thanks. You are not alone!

BSME Alumni
Wed Jun 9 2010 10:55
Uh, regardless of the history of the movement the referenced acronym is not the slur. The gloriously arrogant press delights in the calling “don’t knows” this term. Many Tea Party people and those who don’t like them are unaware of the slur. Keith Olbermann [MSNBC] certainly giggles in delight each time he says it on the air with malice and is not censored.

onlineslangdictionary.com/definition+of/tea+bag

Anonymous
Wed Jun 9 2010 08:42
History lesson for 6/9/2010. The tea party movement started out as the tea bag movement. They were hanging tea bags from their hats and using it as their symbol, because tea no longer comes in barrels. It does come in other forms that bags, but these real American heroes wouldn't know about that fancy elitist stuff. Remember when one enthusiastic "bagger" threw an entire box of tea bags (wal-mart brand, of course) over the White House fence one rainy day?. Early signs, news stories, etc. all featured people without access to Google referring to themselves as teabaggers. It was only when the collective snickers of the rest of us got too loud that the became the T(eabagged) E(nough) A(lready) Party.
BSME Alumni
Wed Jun 9 2010 07:07
Outstanding Letter! Despite your “education” you clearly can think for yourself. So very few get it and even fewer have the courage to voice their position. It’s actually very sad. Some are so naïve that they actually refuse to see the malice in the labels directed at them. For example, most Tea Party activists refuse to believe the nasty origin (and intent) of the derogatory label “Tea Bagger.” Wake up WVU . . . wake up America, your country and what’s left of your culture require no apologies.






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