IS PAULA DEEN A RACIST?

IS PAULA DEEN A RACIST?

 

A Cranky opinion for cranky opinion Saturday

The following is the opinion of a cranky old man.  Opposing opinions are welcome (wrong, but welcome) please, no name calling, and that means you, you big stupid-head!

What is the hubbub?  Paula Deen admitted using the n-word thirty years ago in a deposition during a discrimination law suit.  There is some evidence of inappropriate behavior in the discrimination case, but the main issue seems to be that Ms. Deen admitted she once used the n-word. 

First of all, when will we grow up?  She said nigger.  It is an ugly word, but not so ugly that it can never be printed and we have to dance around like 4 year olds. “Ooh you said the n-word.” Who among us has never said nigger?  I’ve said it.  When? I don’t know, but I’m sure I’ve said it many times.

Actually, as a child before I even knew what "nigger" meant, it is what we caught by the toe after eemie, meenie, miny, moe.  

I’ve never said “I hate niggers.” I’ve never called anyone a nigger, I don’t believe I’ve ever referred to a person as a nigger, but I’m sure I’ve used the word.  I’ve used the words kike, wop, Pollack, mick, spick, wasp, fag, honky and towel head. 

Sometimes I’ve used these words in jokes. Sometimes I’ve used them because other people were using them.  I am not proud of it, but I will own up to it.  They are all mean words, and words can hurt.  A gay man once casually referred to me as a “breeder” and it bothered me as it was so demeaning. 

Hurtful words are not always an indication of what is in a person’s heart.  Some words are like bullets, dangerous, but only if aimed directly at someone.

Paula Deen used the n-word (nigger) 30 years ago following a traumatic incident in which an African-American man held Deen at gunpoint inside a bank where she was working as a teller. She said she believed she used the n-word when telling her husband about the incident.

I guess she should have told her husband that, “An African-American gentleman stuck a gun in my face today and wanted money.  I did not like this person, but not because of his complexion…pretty much it was the gun.”

Paula Deen’s problem is that she is a southerner.  She says “y’all” a lot.  She sounds like a racist.  That southern twang sounds racist.  Paula Deen is a southerner, she is famous and she once said nigger.  She is now poison, and sponsors are dropping her like a hot potato.

I am not a big Paula Deen fan.  I always thought she was an entertaining cook show host, but I will not really miss her shows or her endorsements.

She may be a racist, where there is smoke there is usually fire, but she should not be judged solely because she once used a word.

If that is the basis for a person to be branded a racist, then burn a big R on my A-word.  It is not in my heart, but I guess I am guilty, but I am guilty with a lot of people. 

Probably 99 percent of people in this country are also guilty though  half of them would say, “I’ve never said nigger…oops.”

The preceding has been the opinion of a cranky old man and not necessarily that of management…Mrs. Cranky.