I may be preaching to the choir here, as I have never read any kind of language on this forum or read anything that was hurtful to anyone in any way, but something happened today that I cannot apologize for, and there is no way to correct the wrong. *The only thing I can do is to try to remind people to think before they speak, even if I am preaching to those who don't need it.

At work today a fellow co-worker and I were discussing the questionable actions of Jessie Jackson. *The guy I was talking to, in no uncertain terms, referred to Jackson as a nigger. *Now I do not approve of the use of such words, but unfortunatley, was unable to voice my displeasure before damage was done. *A fine young woman who was inspecting the conveyor behind us had walked up, unheard, and she overheard his comment. *I saw her about the same time the comment was made. *She is black. *The look on her face was as if she had been slapped, and I am sure her opinion of "electicians" was not enhanced in any way. *I doubt that she heard any of our conversation except the one word, and she had no idea who it was being directed toward, as if that would have mattered anyway.
* *The situation reminded me of a poem, author unknow, that I read many years ago that has always stuck with me. *I hope I am recalling it correctly, but the message is the same regardless.

When I was only eight years old
Heart filled, head filled with glee,
I saw the whole of Baltimore
Stretched out in front of me.
Now I was young and very small,
And he was no whit bigger.
I smiled at him,
He stuck out his tongue and called me nigger.
I saw the whole of Baltimore
from May until December.
Of all the things that happened there,
That's all that I remember.

So, the next time one feels like casting a slur on someone, think before you speak. *Words are harder to call back than a bullet, and hurt just as much.




(Edited by Big Bore at 86 am on Mar. 3, 2001)

well said!  

Words still have the ability to do more damage than bullets, to people.  Sometimes there are those that raise themselves up by putting others down.  It goes beyond stupid and enters the relm of evil.  All the "electician" did was condemn himself.  Wheras you, Big Bore, have demonstrated what's in your heart.  Well done!!!!  

God bless...............  Bill M

I have done more then my share of showing one and all what a fool with big mouth can do. But to use racial slurs in intelligent converstion is stupid, even more so in public, and doing it work sounds like a good excuse for a trip to the unemployment office.
How ever I've also learned that there are plenty of folks looking to get over on others by playing the race card or the sexual discrimination card. So anytime I hear those terms bandied about I tend to get a bit sceptical.
Jim