I am not. For several reasons.
A. She is KNOWN to be this way.
B. The caller should have known better than to call up there with that damm question...
C. The 'offending' word. She had a point. Regardless as to whether she is racist or not. People will shoot the messenger because of their beliefs. People love to straddle that line. Especially US. Yes, I said US. I am one of 'US'. Don't come getting all offended now because we aren't talking about the 'Jersey Shore' and being happy it isn't 'us' on TV. Don't run away from it now. @ 'us'.
Look, I DEFINITELY know when the word is being used in an offensive manner. Thing is, it doesn't bother me like that anymore. It did at one time. I used to get all in a huff over it. Get ready to fight. Get emotional. Not anymore. I have been on a mission to not let that word evoke the reactions that it was intended to invoke. (Just like I have resolved to do so with the words/phrases/mottos my OWN FUCKING COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO TRY TO SHOVE DOWN MY THROAT.) At worse, I will call you the equivalent back and KEEP IT MOVING. As long as you don't touch or harm me, I am good. At my best, I will look at you like you have four heads and with a Chris Rock "They still make you?" look on my face. People sound like relics to me running up on me with that mess. Some of you need to do the same. Particularly of the latter, which is what I am hoping will be my permanent response to it eventually. It is almost like a "Thank you for letting me know you are racist, I will keep note' kinda thing with me. @ when it happens.
Here is her apology, which I am not overly impressed with either..
These are my opening comments from my radio program today:
I talk every day about doing the right thing. And yesterday, I did the wrong thing.
I didn’t intend to hurt people, but I did. And that makes it the wrong thing to have done.
I was attempting to make a philosophical point, and I articulated the “n” word all the way out - more than one time. And that was wrong. I’ll say it again - that was wrong.
I ended up, I’m sure, with many of you losing the point I was trying to make, because you were shocked by the fact that I said the word. I, myself, realized I had made a horrible mistake, and was so upset I could not finish the show. I pulled myself off the air at the end of the hour. I had to finish the hour, because 20 minutes of dead air doesn’t work. I am very sorry. And it just won’t happen again.
I received some letters, and what touched me is that, even though many of you were upset, you still showed friendship for all the years we’ve been together on the air, and for that, trust me, I am very grateful. Here’s an example:
I’d like to thank this woman for sending me this letter. I was so very touched, and truthfully, it helped me make it through the night. So I’m going to read this letter:
Dear Dr. Laura:
I have been a listener for at least 20 years. I have bought and read several of your books. I have always held you in high regard, and have encouraged others to listen to you as well. I have to say, after today’s call with the African-American woman with the Caucasian husband who called seeking how to handle “racist” comments, I am a bit dismayed. I believe that African-Americans using the n-word is disdainful, as well as Caucasians or any other race for that matter. I agree that the argument some African-Americans use that it is ok for them to use it and not others, is ridiculous. But, I have to say, when I heard you saying the word repeatedly, it struck a negative chord with me.
I don’t believe you are a racist, and I don’t believe, as an African-American woman, that I am hypersensitive. I have to say after the call, I found it difficult to continue to listen to the rest of the show. I have not made the decision to stop listening to your show, but I felt compelled to respond because I found it offensive.
Sincerely {and she gives her name}
One last note -
The caller in question (her name is Jade), called for help from me, and didn’t get it, because we got embroiled in the “n” word, and I’m really sorry about that, because I’m here for only one reason and that’s to be helpful, so I hope Jade or somebody who knows her is listening, and hope she will call me back and I will try my best to be helpful, which is what she wanted from me in the first place and what she did not get.
0 comments:
Post a Comment