“It was part of his everyday speech.”
By on Oct 8th, 2006 at 11:30 am
“It was part of his everyday speech.”
Two new sources come forward to report that they heard Sen. George Allen (R-VA) use the N-word repeatedly when they played in poker games together. One of the sources said, “[W]henever [Allen would] get a black card that he didn’t like, he would refer to it as a ‘nig— card’ he needed to get rid of.”
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When the Dems win in Nov. it’s the “I” word they’ll fear the most :
October 8th, 2006 at 11:40 amimpeachment.
IF true, it’s a disgrace that a man like that could hold office.
October 8th, 2006 at 11:52 amThis is a case where the Repugnicans were right, there is no such thing as evolution for some.
I lived in rural south Texas for 4 years, I tell everone, that if they want to time travel, go to the south, they’re 100 years behind the rest of the world.
October 8th, 2006 at 11:54 amThat also explains IRI.
October 8th, 2006 at 11:57 amAgree with #3 LCMike to a certain extent. Down here in San Antonio, I have a number of friends amongst the locals for whom N-word features prominently in their vocabulary, particular when we play cards. This despite the fact that several of our acquaintances are African-American. But I hear similar epithets being used by my kinfolk whenever I return to visit up in the supposedly enlightened land of Massachusetts, so it’s definitely not geographically restricted. What an ugly word.
October 8th, 2006 at 12:06 pmThis may actually increase his popularity in ol’Virginny
October 8th, 2006 at 12:17 pmIn the Belly of the Beast , You are absoulutely correct. I also have heard it in rural Snohomish County Washington. But in the south it is a way of life for a majority of the native people. People need to get over the hump. We are all born as equals…we have nothing when we enter this world and nothing when we leave this world. The things we do here is what makes us. It is not physical possessions and family lineage that makes us who we are. None of us has a choice into which family in the workd we are born. Until we get over that and the mindless thinking of some we will still have these morons in our communities and unforutunately some make it in to higher office
October 8th, 2006 at 12:18 pmI lived in rural south Texas for 4 years, I tell everone, that if they want to time travel, go to the south, they’re 100 years behind the rest of the world.
Comment by Left Coast Mike — October 8, 2006 @ 11:54 am
I mostly grew up in rural Georgia in the late 70’s when everyone was white, Christian, American-born, and Republican. I left after high school graduation, and just recently returned to make a career change.
Although things have changed a bit, it is still relatively the 1950’s mentality that doesn’t understand that people do not control their skin color, gender or nationality – but rather their attitude, level of ignorance and actions.
I genuinely feel out of place here and am not sure how long I will be able to tolerate this exclusive and divisive mentality that thrives on willful segregation and red-neck culture. Yet, on the other hand, I am teaching their children tolerance, the beauty of diversity, and an awareness of the world and its cultures.
October 8th, 2006 at 12:22 pmLCM – When I lived in Ernie’s Grove behind Mt Si, it was regularly used by all my hillbilly neighbors.
October 8th, 2006 at 12:25 pmNow in Mill Creek/Bothell, a tad more civilized, but racism seems to lurk just below the veneer of civilized discourse.
Awe go easy on good ol’ George. In light of all the evidence, do we really know for sure he’s racist? Doesn’t he have any wiggle room left?
October 8th, 2006 at 12:26 pmThere’s a Russian saying that goes something like:
He who dies with the most things, still dies.
It’s definitely about the quality and not quantity of life.
October 8th, 2006 at 12:26 pmI grew up in the Northeast, with hippie parents. For a few years I thought racism was a thing of the past.
October 8th, 2006 at 12:29 pmExcellent unbelievable, I love and respect teachers. I know it is an uphill battle, but until people are educated to the real world issues and not what Mom and Dad have drilled into them for years things won’t change. I really beleive it could be another 100 years until there is a major break through in the redneck mindset.
October 8th, 2006 at 12:32 pmRUCerious, I agree, but not as outright blatant as in the south. Unfortunately it taks time to change some peoples minds and the fact that people have come to this area from all over the country brings their thoughts and teachings with them. I was raised on Whidbey Island, there was no racism there. My family didn’t experience it until we move to Texas in the 70’s. It was a huge shock.
FYI
October 8th, 2006 at 12:39 pmWe must be close, I am just east of Costco by Silver Lake.
I had a teacher in high school who proposed the following permanent solution for racism.
October 8th, 2006 at 12:41 pmA law that forbids same race marriage.
Sounded crazy, but you know, it would work.
LCM – Wow! My elderly parents are in the Senior housing cottages on your block!
October 8th, 2006 at 12:42 pmIt’s definitely about the quality and not quantity of life.
Comment by unbelievable
Yes, and here is another little saying to go with that:
First our pleasures die—-and then
October 8th, 2006 at 12:43 pmOur hopes, and then our fears—-and when
These are dead, the debt is due,
Dust claims dust, and we die too.
—SHELLEY, Death
LCM, if you are in Costco and see an 85 year old partially blind guy with a Navy anchor tattoo on his left forearm, ask him how much he despises GW. Then be ready to listen for an hour or so! Pop is pretty opinionated!
October 8th, 2006 at 12:44 pmI really beleive it could be another 100 years until there is a major break through in the redneck mindset.
Comment by Left Coast Mike — October 8, 2006 @ 12:32 pm
It’s funny, but most of the kids want to question what they’ve been taught – they are just too afraid. I guess at some point, they just give up and play the part. I’m trying to subversively give them the support to do so. It seems to be working. Most of them want to go to Europe. When I ask where – many say France. Yep. :)
There are two boys in one of my classes who are black. They’ve said that they think our black Vice Principal is racists against black people. It really can be that bad here, that some blacks, to get ahead, have to act like white Republicans.
I’d love to live in Seattle. When I’ve had enough here, that is exactly where I’ll be heading. How long have you been there?
October 8th, 2006 at 12:47 pmI had a teacher in high school who proposed the following permanent solution for racism.
A law that forbids same race marriage.
Sounded crazy, but you know, it would work.
Comment by RUCerious — October 8, 2006 @ 12:41 pm
How was that received in the classroom? Community?
I keep expecting the mob to show up at my house with pitchforks and torches because I am so honest with my students about the real world.
October 8th, 2006 at 12:49 pm#19 unbelievable,
All of my life with the exception of a few years in Chicago and four in Texas. Is a great place to raise kids and the weather is not as bad as everyone thinks. Maybe I just like rain, but a clear winter day in Washington is like paradise. We had one of the driest summers on record this year, so hot I actually had central air conditioning put in. I prefer 65-75 degrees. We would welcome you with open arm, we need more teachers. My niece is a principal in Vancouver, WA. You cn’t go wrong anywhere on the northern west coast.
October 8th, 2006 at 1:00 pmSounds like Allen is the “black card” (n…) that Virginia needs to get rid of.
October 8th, 2006 at 1:05 pmSounds like the Republicans are the “black cards” that the U.S. needs to get rid of.
I want to begin this by writing that I do not care what the color of a person’s skin is, racism is WRONG and using the N word send shivers up and down my spine.
Here is my problem. High school kids use it in everyday conversation with each other. The vast majority is between African American males speaking to each other. They say it is not derogatory because the use an “a” at the end instead of an “er.” I ask them if it would be OK for a white person to call them that and they say no it would not. I then tell them they are giving permission to racists to use that word on them by using it on each other because they are desensitizing people to the word. I cannot get through to them. I write up every student I hear use it but that is not stopping it. Any ideas?
October 8th, 2006 at 1:05 pmun -
October 8th, 2006 at 1:08 pmHonestly, I couldn’t discuss it with my parents. My Dad at that time was a very Conservative Democrat. I though Mr Foxworth was a really brave individual. We were at a Catholic high school, with a very eclectic staff of teachers, priests and nuns.
un ~ Come on down! Our children deserve principled, honest teachers!
October 8th, 2006 at 1:10 pmThe pay sucks, but the environment is wonderful!
Jules ~
October 8th, 2006 at 1:12 pmAny teachers/administrators of color there that could intervene?
My experience has been that black students respond to them better…
We should rememmber, though, that Allen is NOT some hick from th’ holler. He’s a child of privilege, son of a world-famous football coachand grew up in Southern California and Chicago.He went to UCLA. He’s about as southern as the Beach Boys.
October 8th, 2006 at 1:19 pmHe doesn’t even come by his bigotry honestly.
RU – I ask them what their parents think of them using this word and many of them tell me their parents use it also. Now, I also have to consider the source. I always tell parents, “I won’t believe half of what they tell me goes on at home if you don’t believe half of what they tell you goes on at school.”
They won’t listen to the administrators as they see them as the “enemy” out to ruin an chance of enjoyment they could possibly have. Many of them, especially the seniors, understand my reasoning and seem to appreciate that I care about them. This does not stop it though.
I tell the the history of the word. I explain to them how many people have fought and died in this country for them. This does not stop it.
October 8th, 2006 at 1:19 pmYou cn’t go wrong anywhere on the northern west coast.
Comment by Left Coast Mike — October 8, 2006 @ 1:00 pm
Aside from the neo-Nazis, I liked Boise. But I didn’t like living in San Francisco, even though I love the city itself. For me, the people weren’t very friendly there. I hear Seattle is extremely friendly. That’s important. It’s also liberal and has the second highest rate of non-religious folks in the country. The Bible-beaters here are driving me nuts. They really don’t get that some people just don’t want to hear about Jesus.
I haven’t been to Seattle itself, but have been to Olympic National Park. Like you, I love the weather. I guess I like the rain as well. Was showing some of my Oregon and Washington slides to the kids last week. Made me miss it. I have a friend there. He’s lived all over the world and likes Seattle the best. It’s too damn hot here. We were just able to turn off the air. In October. You’re fortunate to live somewhere you love :). However did you wind up in Texas?
Well, I consider moving there a short-term goal : ).
October 8th, 2006 at 1:25 pmBy denying his Jewish heritage,Allen dissed Jewish people as well:
Then he ordered a ham sandwich.
VOTE JAMES WEBB FOR U.S. SENATE–VA.
October 8th, 2006 at 1:29 pmjules – seems to me that the only control you have in your situation is that of YOUR classroom… keep up telling them your rules and using “write-ups” when those rules are disobeyed – consequences…
October 8th, 2006 at 1:32 pmalways be consistent and follow through…
We were at a Catholic high school, with a very eclectic staff of teachers, priests and nuns.
Comment by RUCerious — October 8, 2006 @ 1:08 pm
Ugh! Zero room for dissent there. Their beliefs are facts to those people and you couldn’t dare question them.
My childhood was the same way. My father was a conservative Republican. To him, you don’t question your parents. Period. What an asinine philosophy!
I often feel that the kids tell me things they would never say to their parents, because I let them – and without judgment. While they don’t know that I’m an Atheist, they know I’m not religious because I refer to “The Christian god” when I talk about the architecture of basilicas and cathedrals. Therefore, it let’s them say that they are curious, or that they don’t like the hypocrisy from religions. As long as they are respectful, it is fair game for discussion. My principal even knows I let them do it, and is supportive (well, as long as there is no fall-out, I think). I keep waiting for it to bite me… And eventually, it probably will when I get one who is a little intolerant Nazi.
un ~ Come on down! Our children deserve principled, honest teachers!
The pay sucks, but the environment is wonderful!
Comment by RUCerious — October 8, 2006 @ 1:10 pm
Thanks! It’s definitely a short-term goal. I have at least another year here before I start looking.
October 8th, 2006 at 1:36 pmunbelievable, The late 70’s this was a very depressed place, no work to be had anywhere. The Houston area was booming so we followed the work. I had two kids to raise. That’s it.
October 8th, 2006 at 1:39 pmJules, this is the way my best friend in the world, a graphics genius and a man of great insight and imagination explained it to me.
“You good hearted white folks get upset over the word n—, because you honestly believe that we aren’t n—s anymore. That’s how much you know. You want to bury the term, because, like ‘Ms.’ and ‘differently abled’, you think you can change the world by changing its name. Sure, we call each other that, and part of it’s a joke. But the other part is a reminder that there’s row after row of white folks who look at us and see n—s. They treat us like n—-s. We see it every day of our god-damned lives.”
“We’ll stop calling each other n— when we stop being n—-s. And that hasn’t happened yet, not by a long shot.”
(I cleaned it up so that it’d get past the filters. )
October 8th, 2006 at 1:40 pmJules,
Habits are hard to break, you know. But I had a brilliant English teacher in high school who would give and deduct grade points if you caught someone using, or were caught using poor grammar. Could you do something similar in your class? Not just with the n word, but a host of slang that hurts their credibility?
I’ve been doing something similar here with their use of the word ‘gay’.
My grammar, as well as my siblings because you can’t stop doing it at home, improved my senior year in high school as a result of the game we played in English class. It worked. It seems to still work. Just a thought.
October 8th, 2006 at 1:41 pmMike,
I understand. I lived in Sacramento for 18 months for a similar reason in 2002. You go where the work is. And, in retrospect, I suppose the stories you get to tell are somewhat worth the experiences :).
Wow, it’s getting late here. Gotta do some stuff around the house…
As always, great talking with you guys! The reality is that without you, I do know who I could talk to about this stuff…
October 8th, 2006 at 1:44 pmI made this comment earlier but it didn’t get by the “N” word filter. The fact that the comment simply spelled out the word makes the point of the comment which was to show that the use of the word is not a racist slur per se, but the context of the use and the mind-set of the user determines the nature of the word. I shall repeat the comment here with “Hero” substituted for the forbidden word.
We, my immediate and extended family, have had and still have many friends of African-American origin. Leroy described himself as an ‘edurecated Hero.” Leroy worked for us in our family-run business. One Saturday Leroy brought his fiance to meet the “family.” I was at a table working when they came in. Leroy walked over to me, kissed me on the cheek, and said to his girl “See Honey, I told you there were White “Heroes.” We all had a good laugh and have repeated the story many times over the years. Allen using “Hero” in a card game, regardless of the race of the players may or may not have been a racial slur. Only Allen would know. But for Allen to say he has NEVER uttered the forbidden word is, in and of itself, an admission of bigotry and hypocrisy. The defamation is in the character of the man, not his words.
October 8th, 2006 at 1:48 pmpbg – I am a strong, outspoken, agressive woman. Many people see this as being a bitch. Just because narrow minded idiots think of me this way I should use this adjective to describe myself? I do not think so.
As I am not an African American, maybe my outrage is hollow. It just “feels” wrong to me. Just as it would if the females in the room called each other bitches.
October 8th, 2006 at 1:59 pmI’d rather be called the N word rather than the (R) word!
October 8th, 2006 at 4:07 pmJules, the problem is this: there are a great many African Americans who don’t believe that its just a bunch of idiots who consider them n—-s. They are very powerful people who run a hell of a lot of America–icluding all three branches of the government these days.
October 8th, 2006 at 9:30 pmAnd that’s hard to argue with.
As a good-hearted pasty white guy, I want to believe we’ve made more progress than that as a nation. I do think it’s worked with most of the kids.
That’s just a hope though.
And there’s that right wing talking point that there’s no racism in America anymore because hey! Do you here those supposed ‘racists’ using the N word? Well! That proves it!