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.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Why isn't Marijuana legal in the United States??
Do You Know What Really Grinds My Gears?!...
Marijuana
Marijuana1. the cannabis plant
2. a preparation made from the dried flower clusters and leaves of the cannabis plant, usually smoked or eaten to educe euphoria
-The American Heritage Medical Dictionary
2. a preparation made from the dried flower clusters and leaves of the cannabis plant, usually smoked or eaten to educe euphoria
-The American Heritage Medical Dictionary
With all of the problems and stresses going on in the world, people are trying to find more and more ways to relax. It seems like sleeping, watching a movie, reading a book or listening to music just isn't doing the trick, anymore. It is because of this that people find themselves participating in activities such as social drinking or smoking. But, the problem which is the safest route to go...
...Here is where my issue come into play...why do we have dangerous "drugs" such as alcohol legalized in the United States, but Marijuana isn't?? I mean, I just can't wrap my head around this issue. Lets look at the side effects alcohol, tobacco and marijuana have on the human body.
Alcohol's Effects on the Human
Body:--Hangovers (headaches, nausea, vomiting)
--Weight Gain
--High Blood Pressure
--Cancer (2-4% of all cancer cases are due to alcohol)
--Liver Disease (can cause fatty liver, hepatitis, cirrhosis, and cancer of the liver)
--Alcohol Poisoning (breathing slow and skin gets cold and turns blue)
--Heart or Respiratory Failure (can lead to death)
Tobacco's Effects on the Human Body:
--Mouth and Lung Cancer
--Bronchitis
--Asthma
--Pneumonia
--Coronary Artery Disease
--Smaller Lungs
--Respiratory Illness
--Decreased Physical Fitness
--Unfavorable Lip Profile
--Potential Retardation in the level of Maximum Lung Function
--Death
Marijuana's Effects on the Huma
n Body:--Problems with Memory and Learning
--Distorted Perception (Sights, Sounds, Time, Touch)
--Trouble with Thinking and Problem Solving
--Loss of Coordination
--Increased Heart Rate
When it comes to alcohol and tobacco, there are many serious health problems that you risk experiencing such as multiple forms of cancer in various parts of the body, issues with the lungs and death. So, here's my problem...we have drugs that are legal to cause us serious bodily harm and even kill us, but we can't have drugs that are legal to help us chill and relax.
Now, I know what most of you are thinking...marijuana also has some side effects. Comedian Katt Williams jokes when he says that the only side effects of smoking marijuana are being, "hungry, happy, sleepy." The thing is, you'd either have to smoke an excessive amount of marijuana a day, you'd have to mix the marijuana with stronger drugs (i.e.--cocaine), or you'd have to drink while smoking excessive amounts of marijuana to experience these side effects. Also, these side effects - if they occur - usually only occur during the time period in which you're smoking.
Deaths due to Impairment:
--Alcohol: 30% of all accidents during the week (and 52% on the weekend) are due to drunk driving accidents; there are also records of hundreds of alcohol overdoses each year
--Tobacco: most causes of lung cancer death (men: 90%, women: 80%) are caused by cigarette smoke
--Marijuana: none reported
So, what grinds my gears is marijuana is the least harmful drug and it isn't legalized in the United States. Why do we have drugs such as alcohol and tobacco - which has been proven to kill - legalized in the United States and not marijuana which hasn't killed anyone or even harmed them?? Does anyone have an opinion or any possible answers??
Discrimination of Gays vs Lesbians
Do You Know What Really Grinds My Gears?!...
Homosexuality
1: the quality or state of being homosexual
2: erotic activity with another from the same sex
1: the quality or state of being homosexual
2: erotic activity with another from the same sex
-Merriam-Webster Dictionary
What is the difference between gays and lesbians? I just don't get it. I mean, maybe its just me, but when I see two dudes holding hands and kissing, it has the same effect on me as if I were to see two females holding hands and kissing.
---
Many men I know claim to be homophobic, but I truly believe they don't know what it means to be homophobic. So, let me break it down to help ya'll out a little bit:
Homophobia
irrational fear of, aversion to,or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals
-Merriam-Webster Dictionary
The first thing I'd like to point out is that the definition clearly states that you have a "fear" of homosexuals. So, if you're saying you're homophobic just because you don't like homosexuals, you're using the word out of context. Second, the definition doesn't discriminate against any gender. The word "homosexuality" includes both gay men as well as lesbian females. So, if you're saying you're homophobic because you don't like gay men or because you don't like lesbian women, you need to find another word.
irrational fear of, aversion to,or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals
-Merriam-Webster Dictionary
The first thing I'd like to point out is that the definition clearly states that you have a "fear" of homosexuals. So, if you're saying you're homophobic just because you don't like homosexuals, you're using the word out of context. Second, the definition doesn't discriminate against any gender. The word "homosexuality" includes both gay men as well as lesbian females. So, if you're saying you're homophobic because you don't like gay men or because you don't like lesbian women, you need to find another word.
---
Now to get on my ladies for a minute...Now, I know everybody has one or two of those friends in their circle that we like to categorize as a "hater." For those of you who don't know what a hater is, let me break it down:
Hater
(as a noun)
4: intense dislike; extreme aversion or hostility
5: the object of extreme aversion or hostility
-dictionary.com
(as a noun)
4: intense dislike; extreme aversion or hostility
5: the object of extreme aversion or hostility
-dictionary.com
If you still don't get it, let me give you an example...you're walking around the mall with your friends and you see this REALLY good looking guy walking out of the store. He has a lot of bags in his hands, he dresses real nice, he has a nice smile...when all of a sudden you see another dude walk out of the same store and grab his hand. They do that high school "interlacing fingers" hand holding as they walk throughout the mall. Now, you don't see anything wrong with it, but your friend looks at you with an extremely disappointed look on her face. She stands there in silence as she waits to see if you're going to say something. After about half a minute of silence, she says in her loudest of talking voices, "I KNOW I didn't just see what I thought I saw. I can't believe dat fine brotha is a FRUIT!!" Completely embarrassed, you look back at the couple to see if they heard your friend, hoping to God they didn't. Unfortunately, you make eye contact with one of them which confirms they heard your friend. All you can do is continue to walk in the opposite direction and continue on with your day.
First things first, I know "haters make the world go round," but not when it comes to situations dealing with discrimination. Everyone has feelings and everyone's feelings can get hurt. We all need to watch what we say. Second, be considerate. Every gender, race, religion, social class, clique...group of people have been and still are being discriminated against throughout history up until today. Discrimination will continue until the end of time and maybe even beyond then. We don't need to put our two cents into that pot of hatred...
First things first, I know "haters make the world go round," but not when it comes to situations dealing with discrimination. Everyone has feelings and everyone's feelings can get hurt. We all need to watch what we say. Second, be considerate. Every gender, race, religion, social class, clique...group of people have been and still are being discriminated against throughout history up until today. Discrimination will continue until the end of time and maybe even beyond then. We don't need to put our two cents into that pot of hatred...
---
--May 2007, two 16 year old girls in Illinois were charged with committing hate crimes against homosexuals by passing out fliers with pictures of two boys kissing and negative remarks about homosexuals.
--On October 6, 1998, Matthew Shepherd - a University of Wyoming student - was pistol whipped, tied to a fence and left to die in freezing cold weather conditions. Arthur Henderson and James McKinney were charged with attempted murder, kidnapping and aggravated robbery.
What really grinds my gears is not too long ago Jews were going through concentration camps and being separated from their family and friends and killed off for being Jewish. Not too long ago black people were being lynched, raped, beaten and hung from trees...not even being considered human beings or citizens of the united states. Not too long ago Muslims were being called terrorists and murderers just because they had physical characteristics that are similar to that of an Afghan man or woman. Not too long ago Haitians and Jamaicans were fighting one another for no real reason at all...
The fact of the matter is everyone is different...even when we have the same face (i.e.--identical twins). There is too much hat in this world to fight and kill each other because of our differences.
--On October 6, 1998, Matthew Shepherd - a University of Wyoming student - was pistol whipped, tied to a fence and left to die in freezing cold weather conditions. Arthur Henderson and James McKinney were charged with attempted murder, kidnapping and aggravated robbery.
What really grinds my gears is not too long ago Jews were going through concentration camps and being separated from their family and friends and killed off for being Jewish. Not too long ago black people were being lynched, raped, beaten and hung from trees...not even being considered human beings or citizens of the united states. Not too long ago Muslims were being called terrorists and murderers just because they had physical characteristics that are similar to that of an Afghan man or woman. Not too long ago Haitians and Jamaicans were fighting one another for no real reason at all...
The fact of the matter is everyone is different...even when we have the same face (i.e.--identical twins). There is too much hat in this world to fight and kill each other because of our differences.
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