Interesting discussion around the N word. At first, when that covered the news a few weeks ago, I was offended by black people using the word and saying I couldn’t use it (I am white). Then, I asked a few Polish folks (including my wife) about Polish jokes and if there were a difference in Polish people making fun of themselves vs others making fun of them.

She was very clear this was a sensitive issue. I asked a Mormon the same question and he said the same thing. It was educational to me and I learned some valuable things about ragging on other folks’ race/ethnicity – don’t do it. That is my own advice for me, though.

To each their own, but like you said, no one should get offended by me calling them out on it.

And it’s the same reason why you and I (I’m assuming you’re white, Joe) can’t drop the N-bomb and get away with it. Even if you don’t mean anything offensive by what you say, your words actions don’t exist in a vacuum. They have a whole history, in some cases a history of 9 year olds singing “Me Chinese, me play joke…” I mean, these things have a meaning that is specific to a time an place. And so, while we can’t call Al Jolson a rascist for performing in blackface (it was culturally acceptable and encouraged for Jazz performers), we’d be outraged when and if Miley Cyrus were to do it.

It’s not that I’m terribly politically correct. But it’s ludicrous to suggest that your words and actions shouldn’t have consequences, or that whoever is listening to you should be on your exact wavelength so that they know exactly what you’re saying at all times. It’s not the listener’s fault if what you were saying isn’t clear to them.

Look, I respect Spain’s right to do something that makes them look like immature, obnoxious, Eurotrash d-bags. But they can’t complain, then, when I call them immature, obnoxious, Eurotrash d-bags. And somebody on that team needed to step up and say, “Hey guys, um, we’re going to be hanging out with a BILLION of these people in a few weeks. Maybe it’s a bad idea to make fun of the way they look.”

I apologize for the essay here, Kevin. I’ll try not to let it happen again.

Thanks for the comments.

I am a huge fan of being less sensitive and I agree with you. But if you don’t know the backstory like what you just mentioned, it is VERY easy to get offended – especially if you are Asian. Not to mention, the country is in the running for a future Olympics – bad karma…

Swimsuits – not an expert, but love to watch. The experts say it helps a lot (which is why everyone is wearing them, of course). As a fan, I loved watching every other ball go over the fence during the steroid era as much I love watching every single race fall to a new record. If I’m Spitz, though, I’m probably saying to myself…man, come on…I even did mine with the classic 70’s porno mustache…

Regarding the new swimsuits…. For men, I don’t see the huge difference between wearing the lower half versus the whole thing. The way I understand these things to work, they squeeze certain parts of your body to make you more streamlined in the water. Thighs, buttocks, and breasts. That’s why I don’t see the difference between the half- and full-suits for men. What is the upper half going to streamline?

Seriously, the twins needed to be there this year. “Don’t have a pool per se”…classic.

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The Spain picture is ridiculous. And I can’t understand how they could not see that as offensive. I mean, sure political correctness can get out of control, but you’re essentially making fun of the way billions of people look. I mean, what if I made myself up to look like soft-bodied Eurotrash? Wouldn’t they be offended?

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