Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Edited Blog: Nigga vs. Nigger: Who cares who says it?!
I added pictures and font color to this blog and I changed the format. I noticed that it was very difficult to read the blog without the pictures and without a change of format. The pictures help to separate the words and illustrate who and/or what I'm talking about. The colors of the words also help make it easier to decipher the difference of the topic or definition I'm talking about from my actual blog.
What Grinds My Gears...
My periodical, "What Grinds My Gears..." is a way for me to discuss the different discussion topics that come up with my associates and I on a day to day basis. It isn't from any particular website, magazine or newspaper, it's just a way for me to give my honest opinion about different topics after doing research on them. My blogs aren't targeting one group of people, but it's my thoughts on different kinds of people (race, gender, age, etc.), so anyone and everyone can be a victim of my blog. I write this blog because its required for the class and its a good way for me to vent about my opinions on...
What Grinds My Gears...
What Grinds My Gears...
Nigga vs. Nigger: Who cares who says it?!
Do You Know
What Grinds My Gears...
What Grinds My Gears...
Since when is it okay for ANYONE to use the word "nigger" in any way, shape or form? From what I was taught growing up, the word nigger was a racist word that was used to put black people down back in the day. Even though I always knew it was a bad word, I never really knew what the actual word meant, so I decided to look it up.
"The term nigger is now probably the most offensive word in English. Its degree of offensiveness has increased markedly in recent years, although it has been used in a derogatory manner since at least the Revolutionary War. Definitions 1a, 1b, and 2 represent meanings that are deeply disparaging and are used when the speaker deliberately wishes to cause great offense. Definition 1a, however, is sometimes used among African-Americans in a neutral or familiar way. Definition 3 is not normally considered disparaging—as in “The Irish are the niggers of Europe” from Roddy Doyle's The Commitments—but the other uses are considered contemptuous and hostile."
After the brief history lesson of the word, it then gave the following definition:
nigger
1. Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.
a. black person.
b. member of any dark-skinned people.
2. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. a of any race or regarded as contemptible, inferior, ignorant, etc.
3. a victim of similar to that suffered by blacks; a person who is economically, politically, or socially disenfranchised.
The first thing I noticed was in the brief history of the word, it explained each definition of the word. It explains that definitions 1a-2 are the degrading uses (even though African-Americans usually use 1a amongst one another), and 3 is a general term that isn't specifically for black people.
Now, if I'm not mistaken, definition 1a never changed from the first time I read it. It still says that it's an offensive way to say a black person. So, why do black people feel it is acceptable to refer to one another as a nigger? Many black people feel that it's alright to call one another a nigger as long as they use the word "nigga" instead. Dictionary.com's definition of nigga is:
nigga
nigger; Negro. (Streets. Nicca is pronunciation and/or spelling variant. Restricted to black to black use. White to black use is provocative.) : Hey, my nigga!
Now, here's my thing...This definition clearly states that the word nigga is "[r]estricted to black to black use. White to black use is provocative." Even Katt Williams mentioned in one of his jokes in his stand up comedy show Pimp Chronicles Pt. 1:
"White people though, let me say this ya'll need some nigga friends, get you some nigga friends, just don't ever ever call them your nigga friends, don't ever...that'll fuck the relationship up. 'There's my nigga friend.' BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM 'You guys say it all the time what?'"
I agree with the question the white person Katt Williams was joking about. If black people use the word nigga in reference to one another all of the time, how can we expec
t other races of people not to refer to us as a nigga?
Many black people say that they use the word "nigga" and not "nigger" because "nigger" is offensive. HOWEVER, if a white person or a spanish person or an indian person or an asian person walks up to a black person and says, "What's up my niggas?" in the same non-offensive way that the black people use it on a day to day basis, that person is most likely unknowingly risking either getting severely beaten or shot.
If people don't want th
e word nigga to be used by certain people, then they should take it out of their vocabulary completely like rapper Chamillionaire did. He noticed young white boys were the people who were buying is music the most, and they knew his music word for word and they would buy out all of his concert tckets repeating his words. He didn't like white people using the word nigga, so he stopped giving them a reason to use it.
So, I have to say that what grinds my gears is this, if you, as a black person, uses the word nigga and you don't want anyone who isn't black calling you a nigga, then why don't you stop using the word completely? Just like a female wouldn't want a man calling her a bitch or a hoe so she doesn't use it or allow ANYONE to refer to a bitch or a hoe, the use of the word nigga needs to stop.
Now, if I'm not mistaken, definition 1a never changed from the first time I read it. It still says that it's an offensive way to say a black person. So, why do black people feel it is acceptable to refer to one another as a nigger? Many black people feel that it's alright to call one another a nigger as long as they use the word "nigga" instead. Dictionary.com's definition of nigga is:
nigga
nigger; Negro. (Streets. Nicca is pronunciation and/or spelling variant. Restricted to black to black use. White to black use is provocative.) : Hey, my nigga!
Now, here's my thing...This definition clearly states that the word nigga is "[r]estricted to black to black use. White to black use is provocative." Even Katt Williams mentioned in one of his jokes in his stand up comedy show Pimp Chronicles Pt. 1:
"White people though, let me say this ya'll need some nigga friends, get you some nigga friends, just don't ever ever call them your nigga friends, don't ever...that'll fuck the relationship up. 'There's my nigga friend.' BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM 'You guys say it all the time what?'"
I agree with the question the white person Katt Williams was joking about. If black people use the word nigga in reference to one another all of the time, how can we expec
t other races of people not to refer to us as a nigga?Many black people say that they use the word "nigga" and not "nigger" because "nigger" is offensive. HOWEVER, if a white person or a spanish person or an indian person or an asian person walks up to a black person and says, "What's up my niggas?" in the same non-offensive way that the black people use it on a day to day basis, that person is most likely unknowingly risking either getting severely beaten or shot.
If people don't want th
e word nigga to be used by certain people, then they should take it out of their vocabulary completely like rapper Chamillionaire did. He noticed young white boys were the people who were buying is music the most, and they knew his music word for word and they would buy out all of his concert tckets repeating his words. He didn't like white people using the word nigga, so he stopped giving them a reason to use it.So, I have to say that what grinds my gears is this, if you, as a black person, uses the word nigga and you don't want anyone who isn't black calling you a nigga, then why don't you stop using the word completely? Just like a female wouldn't want a man calling her a bitch or a hoe so she doesn't use it or allow ANYONE to refer to a bitch or a hoe, the use of the word nigga needs to stop.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
18 vs. 21
It doesn't make sense to me the differences between the privileges a person gets from the time they turn 18 and the time they turn 21.
Think about it, when a person goes to college, most of the time they are 18 years old. When you turn 18, a lot of things become a available for you. When you turn 18 in the state of Florida you can:
1. stay out as late as you want (no state curfew)
2. gamble (in certain casinos)
3. serve alcoholic beverages (in most places)
4. sign your own permission slips (if you're in high school)
5. purchase cigarettes
6. get a loan (not only academic ones)
7. vote
8. get a credit card/debit card
9. get a permit for a handgun
10. enter a/work at a strip club
11. purchase pornography
12. join the military
and the list gos on and on. But, out off all of the things you do when you turn 18, you STILL have to wait until you're 21 to:
1. purchase alcoholic beverages
2. gamble (everywhere)
3. serve alcoholic beverages (everywhere)
4. enter a lounge
5. go to clubs (everywhere)
6. go to Vegas (and actually do stuff)
7. purchase the handgun (but you can buy a riffle, shotgun or ammunition at 18)
This doesn't make sense to me. At 18 years old, someone can enlist into the military and put their lives on the line for their country, but they aren't allowed to drink some beer. They can purchase porn and even be in it, but they can't go to any club they want to? And the thing that gets me the most is at 18 you an both serve alcoholic beverages and purchase a handgun permit BUT, you can't consume alcohol nor can you purchase an actual handgun but you can purchase a riffle, a shotgun and/or ammunition. None of this makes sense to me.
According to Edgar Snyder & Associates Law Firm's website, in 2008 out of 2,978 car accident deaths, 875 (29%) of those deaths were caused by drunk driving. In the United States, teens (16-20) were the cause of 17% of car accident deaths while under the influence of alcohol in 2008, and young adults from the ages 21-24 caused 34% of car accident deaths while under the influence of alcohol. So, 18 year old young adults can serve 21 year adults alcoholic beverages who then go out and cause more deadly accidents and kill more people while driving impaired than people who drink underage (16-20)? I don't think that's fair.
The Department of Treasury and the Department of Defense wrote a report titled A Report by Gun Crime in the Age Group 18-20 in June 1999, and they reported that 18 year old young adults accounted for 8% of all arrests for murder which makes them the most dangerous of this age group. They then go on to say that, "[a]mong murderers, 18-20 year old [are] more likely to use a firearm than adults 21 and over." However, they never mention any statistics proving this supposed fact. And, if this fact is true, then why are 18 year olds still allowed to purchase a permit for a handgun but they can only buy a riffle or a shotgun? What makes a riffle or a shotgun any different from a handgun?
So, what really grinds my gears is just like people fought for equality between gender and equality between race, someone needs o fight for equality between age. Its not fair that 18 year olds can only receive half or partial privileges, nor is it fair that the privileges that they do receive aren't balanced with the privileges that they will receive only 3 years later. Chose one age for all of the pillages and don't split them up.
Think about it, when a person goes to college, most of the time they are 18 years old. When you turn 18, a lot of things become a available for you. When you turn 18 in the state of Florida you can:
1. stay out as late as you want (no state curfew)
2. gamble (in certain casinos)
3. serve alcoholic beverages (in most places)
4. sign your own permission slips (if you're in high school)
5. purchase cigarettes
6. get a loan (not only academic ones)
7. vote
8. get a credit card/debit card
9. get a permit for a handgun
10. enter a/work at a strip club
11. purchase pornography
12. join the military
and the list gos on and on. But, out off all of the things you do when you turn 18, you STILL have to wait until you're 21 to:
1. purchase alcoholic beverages
2. gamble (everywhere)
3. serve alcoholic beverages (everywhere)
4. enter a lounge
5. go to clubs (everywhere)
6. go to Vegas (and actually do stuff)
7. purchase the handgun (but you can buy a riffle, shotgun or ammunition at 18)
This doesn't make sense to me. At 18 years old, someone can enlist into the military and put their lives on the line for their country, but they aren't allowed to drink some beer. They can purchase porn and even be in it, but they can't go to any club they want to? And the thing that gets me the most is at 18 you an both serve alcoholic beverages and purchase a handgun permit BUT, you can't consume alcohol nor can you purchase an actual handgun but you can purchase a riffle, a shotgun and/or ammunition. None of this makes sense to me.
According to Edgar Snyder & Associates Law Firm's website, in 2008 out of 2,978 car accident deaths, 875 (29%) of those deaths were caused by drunk driving. In the United States, teens (16-20) were the cause of 17% of car accident deaths while under the influence of alcohol in 2008, and young adults from the ages 21-24 caused 34% of car accident deaths while under the influence of alcohol. So, 18 year old young adults can serve 21 year adults alcoholic beverages who then go out and cause more deadly accidents and kill more people while driving impaired than people who drink underage (16-20)? I don't think that's fair.
The Department of Treasury and the Department of Defense wrote a report titled A Report by Gun Crime in the Age Group 18-20 in June 1999, and they reported that 18 year old young adults accounted for 8% of all arrests for murder which makes them the most dangerous of this age group. They then go on to say that, "[a]mong murderers, 18-20 year old [are] more likely to use a firearm than adults 21 and over." However, they never mention any statistics proving this supposed fact. And, if this fact is true, then why are 18 year olds still allowed to purchase a permit for a handgun but they can only buy a riffle or a shotgun? What makes a riffle or a shotgun any different from a handgun?
So, what really grinds my gears is just like people fought for equality between gender and equality between race, someone needs o fight for equality between age. Its not fair that 18 year olds can only receive half or partial privileges, nor is it fair that the privileges that they do receive aren't balanced with the privileges that they will receive only 3 years later. Chose one age for all of the pillages and don't split them up.
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