Racial Slurs and Whores

So today as I was leaving my apartment to go to Coldstone's were I sadly did not get a dance for my tip, I passed my neighbor who was listening to annoyingly loud rap music. Normally I just drown it out for the most part, but today I took in the lyrics.

For one thing, I don't like rap music...well, it all depends on the song. Songs are pretty awesome and I like them. But for the most part, I don't like rap.

So, as I listened to this song, I heard the "N-word" thrown into the song carelessly. I only heard like 10-15 seconds of the song and that word was used at least six times. My neighbor who was listening to the song happens to be African-American.

Excuse me..but last time I checked, isn't the "N-Word" supposed to be a bad word? I mean, if I threw it around I promise you I would end up getting a beat down by someone -___-. I started to think, why is it okay for a rapper to use such a degrading term? Not only do I hear it in songs, but I also hear it when I'm out and about. I hear people call their friends these words, like:

Dude 1: What up my N----
Dude 2: Not much, just got high...

Okay, so maybe I don't quite hear that, but I do hear the first line. It's like a cool thing to call friends these names. After so many years of that word being a complete insult, why is it okay today to use that word? Is this something we want to teach our children?

If I saw a little three year old running around saying this word I'd glare at the parents angrily and wonder what they're teaching their children...regardless of their race.

So it's okay for one black person to call another black friend this N-word, but if a white person or Latino or Asian (well...I don't really hear Asians saying it...), the black person gets all offended and it suddenly becomes racist. I mean, pick a side! It's either a bad word or not!

Personally, I think it's a bad word, and by using it in songs or in a means of greeting, it's like....I don't know...saying it's okay to be racist. It's also taking away from the severity of the word. I mean, that could be a good thing, but neeh.

Also another term I hate.

Whore.
Slut.
Bitch.

Those kinds of words. Sometimes a friend will say that to me...not anymore, mind you, but they used to. It's be like:

Friend: Hey, ho (or hey bitch, or hey whore)
Me:.....*annoyed*...hi....what's up?

Of course I've never yelled at a friend for using this term, but it obviously doesn't make me very happy. I don't like being called these words. It's offensive, rude, low-class, and incorrect.

Maybe I am being a bit hypocritical. I mean, I do say things like "oohhh, yeah you're definitely a whore"...but I mean it as a joke. I would NEVER greet a friend with a "hey slut!!", not even as a joke...that takes it waaay past the line. I have been known to use these words to describe a person or two, but...neh. They are DEFINITELY not words to call friends.

In society today, we've taken words that are offensive and we're turning them into greeting calls and giving the words less power. Sure, it is a good thing to have power over words, but is it really a good thing to give a word less power?

Instead of exercising freedom of speech by using these terms to refer to those close to us, come up with something new. Something respectful.

I mean, friends are to be respected no matter what. Would you greet your mother or father with these words? Mmm, how about a teacher or a coach or a pastor or someone?

I think not.


Uggggghhhh...rant done. (: