I really appreciated your article… thus the repost. I just read this article (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h88sYPwyr_nXjvWrDPYQmUZu5yvgD91GEVU00) seems Imus has stepped in it again. I mention that because what we say or don’t say is not the issue. If we focus on politically correct language and it’s usage we miss the deeper understanding of the issues that surround racial justice and racial healing that enable us to move the ball. Surface talk about ‘is it ok to say nigger or not’ or ‘who is allowed to say it’ does not get us anywhere. I appreciate your systemic analysis and the courage to look deeper into why we use this language in the first place and the role it serves.

My late grandfather… the son of tenant farmers from Romania, who immigrated to Canada for a better life and to escape systemic poverty, had a dog when I was a young kid. A black dog. You guessed it; his name was nigger. The meaning of that makes me cringe. But it’s real… it’s true. And the only way through is to ask… wtf was that about. really…

Thanks for the post. I really appreciate your voice.

To highlight some of these similarities, it’s convenient to refer to a common list of traits:

* Isolation from everyone or everything outside the group or it’s control
* Us versus Them mentality
* Everything outside the group is evil
* Compulsively talking about the group, it’s leaders, and it’s doctrine
* Repeatedly quoting certain scriptures emphasized by the group.
* Refusing to engage in conversation that may question the group and its leaders.
* Almost complete or total domination of the participant’s time by the group.
* Attending Bible study, crusades, revivals, prayer meetings, services, or other group activities constantly. Little if any time is left for family, old friends, or other interests.
* The group discourages questions concerning its leaders or doctrines. Expressing doubt is equated to an attack, and the doubter is publicly ostracized.
* Compulsively and constantly witnessing their beliefs to everyone, in every medium, often in a confrontational or extreme manner.

http://nurzratchetz.wordpress.com/2008/06/26/youtubecult/

Fix the justice system and legal process or scrap the death penalty; because if it’s truly an eye for an eye, what consequence does the government face (outside of monetary) for unjustly killing the wrong person? Who will be held responsible and have to pay the price for their murder?