In short, Mr. Dyson, in order to be a fair American and fair human being will have to support Latinos or Indios using the n-word and demanding the same right to use it in places, like the Caribbean and South American countries, where blacks outnumber whites. Once that happens, why should a white or pink rapper or debater be black-balled.
The reason for refraining from using particular language are many-fold: (1) You might offend. (2) You might offend unintended peoples. (3) You promote others misappropriating your intentions. (4) You begin to argue against any universal rights and define some rights the domain of certain races-hogwash! Etc.
Moreover, in-your-face exploited Asians or rich Arab musicians might appropriate the word and use it-and use it in your face, Mr. Dyson,--in ways that are not polite nor aiding the cause of developing a better planet either!
So, get back to common sense and encourage discipline in language usage and abusage.
Let's call a spade a spade.
Americans are doing bad enough diplomatically at representing ourselves and our belief systems to others around the globes these days without great speakers, like Professor Michael Eric Dyson, telling us on Democracy Now that black people in America have appropriated the n-word for their own usage only-and no one else, especially whites (whether racist or not), have that same equal right!
Come on!
In the competitive global economy and society we live in--with all its pressures--who is going to be able to tell another race, Brother,-of whatever color-that one race can abuse a word, language or culture while another race cannot.?
Such abusive expressions of n-words, b-words, and mf-words not only senselessly hurt ears around the planet as the result of commendable child-rearing & religious and humanitarian beliefs about how to communicate to one's fellow man or woman--,these same words are misrepresenting much of our American culture, too.
Please, Voice of America Radio! Go out and find some more marginalized voices, like women rappers and other varieties of singers-besides these Big Rich Rappers-to teach the rest of the world about what America is about!
That is, please stop running roughshod over listeners around the globe with abusive language. Learn to respect the local cultures in both the USA and around the world-all or most of whom wish America to have a better future, i.e. one world where bad and abusive words are not shouted at us while we try to listen to and appreciate different voices in American culture.
There are 1000s of alternatives to listening to or playing on the radio some of the variety of pop music we are being spoon-fed these days by BIG BUSINESS MUZAK AMERIKA. Put those better alternatives forward on the global stage, VOA!
Likewise, Professor Michael Eric Dyson, call a spade a spade
and promote disuse of abusive language-and not its use!Gracias, Danke, Swhukran, Domo arigato, Grazi, Merci, Thanks! Etc.
p.s. Writers on 0p-Ed news should also keep their Headlines more restrained. Calling Cindy Sheehan a "bitch" in the headlines as one writer did last month get the progressive movement and Op-Ed a bad name.
