Pretending that a slur is not a slur doesn't help people "get over it."

[yardwork]

If I referred to African Americans using the "n" word on DU, I doubt that many people would pretend that I didn't mean it as a slur. The same applies to other slurs as well.

I don't hold it against Hillary that my own state's governor used a homophobic slur during his speech endorsing Hillary. My governor is known to be a big jerk. His comment didn't surprise me. I also think that it's relevant that he's working against a Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate who happens to be openly gay. Easley knows what he said, and he knows what he meant by it, and he knows that it's red meat for some of the bigots in this state who will eat it up. None of this is Hillary's fault or involves her.

However, it does Hillary's campaign no good at all to have her supporters claim that "pansy" wasn't being used as a gay slur in the context of the speech. So knock it off. You're just making yourselves look silly.

Furthermore, if you're not gay, then please don't tell gay people like myself what is and isn't a gay slur. That's for us to decide.

[Jed Dilligan]

1. K and R

If one Obama supporter on DU used the word, there would be people claiming it as proof that Obama is a homophobe.

[Window]

2. K/R.

:kick:

[islandmkl]

3. decide? hell, you KNOW it the second you hear it...

people hide behind words they use freely then claim to be 'misinterpreted'...

achieving the exact effect they desired....Easley is just another 'phobe selling the plan to the masses of people in his state who have ALWAYS been manipulated about the BIG THREE: race, sex and 'opportunity'...

the "_____________________" want to take your job, your daughter, your land, etc...

[yardwork]

8. Exactly.

[waiting for hope]

4. Easley can be an ass -

But, he's on his way out. While you are at it, why don't you post some good stuff about Jim Neal? Here's a start:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3075660

Seven generations after his working family joined others to help shape North Carolina, Jim Neal’s energy, economic expertise, and middle-class values make him uniquely qualified to help shape the next generation.

The grandson of a carpenter, public school teacher and two mill workers, Neal was born in Greensboro in 1956. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1978. Following graduation he joined Goldman Sachs as a financial analyst. He returned to school at the University of Chicago where he earned an MBA and worked a series of part-time jobs to pay his way through school. As an investment banker at Salomon Brothers he earned a reputation for leadership and innovative strategies while advising Fortune 500 companies on how to play successful roles in a changing global economy.

Neal worked as a senior investment banker with E.F Hutton and Bear Stearns, serving clients that ranged from Bank of America and American Express to Lincoln National Corporation and Transamerica.

For the past two decades, Neal has focused his career on information technology and healthcare companies, including serving as chief executive officer of RxMarketplace.com, a start-up firm that helped pharmacists offer patients prescription drugs at more affordable prices. Since 2000, Neal has led several private companies prior to founding The Agema Group, a financial advisory firm based in Chapel Hill.

Neal has continued his active involvement in nonprofit groups and political initiatives. A member of the Board of Governors of the New School from 2002 to 2006, he also served as a national finance committee member for Wes Clark for President and the Kerry-Edwards campaigns, as well as acting as a national fundraiser for U.S. Senate candidate Erskine Bowles in 2004.

Neal has served his community as an overnight volunteer at a homeless shelter, a lay minister to mentally ill residents of an assisted-care facility, and a sponsor of a post-war Vietnamese refugee family in alliance with the International Rescue Committee.

Neal lives in Chapel Hill with the younger of his two sons, Winston. The older, James, is currently working in New York City.

http://jimnealforsenate.com/

I meet Jim Neal a couple of weeks ago, and from what I gathered, I think he would prefer talking about the issues.

[yardwork]

6. Thanks. Good idea.

[DevonRex]

5. I served with quite a few gays in the military. They were in the

closet, of course. Partly because this was even before don't ask don't tell, but especially because they were in military intelligence. Even having a rumor going around that a person is gay is a sure-fire security clearance killer.

Anyway, gays are every bit as tough, every bit as patriotic, every bit as talented as straight people. To have that governor use offensive language like that is just SO WRONG. The word pansy in that context only reinforces the incorrect notion that gays are weak.

When I was at the Defense Language Institute, there were quite a few gays who had to leave the military because their sexual orientation was discovered. That kind of thing still happens and it's shameful.

[yardwork]

7. Thank you for your post and support, Jennifer.