Somebody got in trouble <1>
with the other N-word, about which my MS-Office Bookshelf
says "Middle English nigard, perhaps from
nig, stingy person, of Scandinavian origin."
Ya gotta wonder about anyone using the word in
public. I wrote a whole bunch about this yesterday and tossed
it; today's "Slate" sums things up so much better:
The spins: 1) This is political correctness run amok. 2) It's about sensitivity, not intent. 3) It's about black paranoia. (A leading black lawyer asked, "Do we really know where the Norwegians got the word?") 4) It's political correctness gridlock, because Howard is gay, and gay activists are now pressuring [D.C. Mayor Anthony] Williams to rehire him. 5) Williams shamefully caved. 6) Williams had to cave because he lacks credibility with blacks, because he's "not black enough."That's from Slate's "The Week / The Spin" section... this story's David Howard reminds me Ruth Sherman of the Nappy Hair incident last year.
Sudden memory this morning of my very early shame at the
amusement park - my mother took my older brother H and I
onto the Tilt-a-Whirl and I found the it so terrifying
that I screamed to stop - and they did. I was removed
(from the middle position on the seat, which I found
precarious) and the ride was re-started. It was the kind
of situation where you wanted to try the thing, but
once the thing was in motion you didn't like it at
all. I wanted to try it again, but they wouldn't let
me - not until the next year. Then I would've yelled
with pleasure, not fear; but as I recall it was many
years before I got another chance to ride a
"Tilt-A-Whirl".