Missouri university board member resigns after gay slur

[ccharles000]

JOPLIN, Mo. | A member of Missouri Southern State University's board of governors has resigned, two days after using a homosexual slur during a meeting.

David Ansley announced his resignation Monday in a long statement apologizing for what he called his "unacceptable comment."

During Saturday's board meeting, Ansley praised a revamped logo adopted two years ago for Missouri Southern athletics. He described the new logo as a "ferocious lion" and used a homosexual slur to describe the lion shown in the previous logo.

Ansley's term on the Missouri Southern board expired last August, but he continued to serve pending appointment of a replacement by Gov. Jay Nixon.

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/02/22/1766434/missouri-university-board-member.html

[Touchdown]

1. Was curious as to what he said.

A poster on the comments section said the word was queer. Yeah, when describing a mascot, that should do it for him.

[DissedByBush]

2. Was this another "niggardly" moment?

The politically correct operating on ignorance of the definition of words?

I heard he said "queer." Here are some definitions:

1 a : worthless, counterfeit <queer money> b : questionable, suspicious
2 a : differing in some odd way from what is usual or normal b (1) : eccentric, unconventional (2) : mildly insane : touched c : absorbed or interested to an extreme or unreasonable degree : obsessed d (1) often disparaging : homosexual (2) sometimes offensive : gay 4b
3 : not quite well

He could have meant any of those definitions. My guess would be "eccentric, unconventional."

But because one group not only thinks he used one, but used it pejoratively, he gets forced out.

We all know that him explaining himself would be useless. He was guilty the moment he said the word.

[GodlessBiker]

3. He admits that he was wrong, "I was thoughtless, insensitive and downright wrong."

And the "one group" you speak of can be rather large: the group that doesn't appreciate the use of slurs against other groups.

My guess is that he used some form of the word "faggot," and in using it he did not mean a bundle of sticks.

[sui generis]

4. it's funny how intolerant we can be -

not speaking for myself of course. I'd rather have an honest mistake admitted to out of ignorance and thoughtlessness than grandstand and demand social justice for a stupid remark.

god knows I spew them out as often as possible, no matter how retarded it sounds. And yes, I am now using that word as a matter of linguistic nonconformity, not intentional insensitivity and I ain't steppin' down.

[GodlessBiker]

5. In general, I would agree. But this man was helping to govern a university, ...

and the fact that he would use such a remark leads to the reasonable conclusion that he would would show less care and consideration toward any concerns of the university's LGBT community. I mean, if he called Jews "kikes," would there be any debate about whether his statement would cause a loss of faith in his ability to represent all segments of the university's community?

[sui generis]

6. don't know what he said. There are degrees.

See, if I was on the board and I said "it looked kinda gay" that would be different than saying "the other one looked like some mincing disco faggot dreamed that one up in a poppers and booty-bump induced hallucination".

You also have to take on balance what he's done. "kinda gay" is relatively ignant, not malicious. A thoughtless phrase in the vernacular by someone not typically exposed to our extraordinarily finely cut PC hairs is forgivable if the body of their work has been otherwise well thought of and enlightened.

We shoot ourselves in the foot every time we act outraged out of proportion to the affront.

[DissedByBush]

8. "Gay" is not good

You would not be using it in an accepted definition outside of referring to gay people, which is usually in a pejorative sense with this usage.

Unless you meant "kinda happy," which I doubt.

[sui generis]

13. read my post again please

I said there are degrees. If you are disagreeing and saying that all use of language that doesn't conform to some schoolmarm's idea of linguistic perfection is equally evil then I am your (collective you) figurative enemy.

Language IS rich. And not every misuse of language is an approximation of malice, so yes, I could more readily forgive someone for using the vernacular "that's so gay" than a real pejorative.

[DissedByBush]

16. I see what you mean n/t

[DissedByBush]

7. Of course he admitted he was "wrong"

You have to do that if you want to save your career even if you did nothing wrong.

Further reading looks like the word was "queer," a word even used by the GLBT crowd themselves.

[FreeState]

9. It all depends how the word was used

he used it as a negative. It was wrong and he admitted so.

[DissedByBush]

10. Don't take admission to mean he meant it wrong

Admission can simply be to save a career in the face of a sure conviction in the court of public opinion regardless of innocence.

[FreeState]

14. So dont believe his apology?

He resigned he does not care what the public thinks - hes no longer a public official. Seems like your jumping through hoops to justify bigotry and lack of respect for his gay constitutes.

[DissedByBush]

15. I might want a like job again

And he won't get it if he's seen as an unrepentant PC blasphemer.

[BR_Parkway]

11. I'm totally ok with queer - and his apology was a helluva lot better

than the standard "i regret that anyone was offended by my comments"

[DissedByBush]

12. I would prefer something like

"You fucking ignorant idiots get a dictionary and then get back with me. Until then, stop looking for the tiniest reasons to be offended. It dilutes the real assholes out there that you should be offended at."

One of these days someone in the public eye is going to have the guts to say this.

Until then, they'll all apologize, guilty or not, in order to keep their careers alive.

[lifeliberty345]

17. :snort:

"You fucking ignorant idiots get a dictionary and then get back with me. Until then, stop looking for the tiniest reasons to be offended. It dilutes the real assholes out there that you should be offended at."

Translation:

""You fucking ignorant sodomite idiots get a dictionary and then get back with me. Until then, stop being offended. I'm a real asshole. You should not be offended."