RE: [Marxism] Re: Adios, Marxmail-niggardly

["David Quarter" <davidquarter@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

From:                   "Mark Lause" <MLause@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

>
> DOQ wrote: "What I'm reading from the internet is that the words
> "nigger" and 'niggardly' have different roots. . . . Neverthless, I find
> it just a tad strange that you'd be so dismissive of significance in the
> similarities of the terms in terms of the effects they may project,
> despite the different orgin of the words?"
>
> It's precisely because I'm not dismissive of the effect it may produce
> that I don't use the word "niggardly" in conversation--and I'm not the
> one who injected it here.
>
> What I have been dismissive of is your introduction of the word as an
> example of how racism is imbedded in language (apparently an example you
> drew from a sociology text).  You now understand the word had an
> independent development and meaning but persist in asserting that my
> having pointed this out makes my position "a tad strange" rather than
> that of the source that misinformed you. >>>>

 I acknowledged that it has an indepdennt **origin** from the word
nigger. I didn't say I was *completely* convinced that there is no
relationship to the current similarities in the spelling of both words.
You went a tad bit further than simply pointing out their different
origin.

>
> I point out the political stupification of academic faddism and the
> subject suddenly becomes me and my motives.
>
> In response to my complaint that liberal academe tends to reduce social
> conflict to word wars, DOQ asked: "Is it politcally 'incorrect' in your
> mind to consider the historical role used by language to
> justify/reinforce political oppression?"  >>>>

IN fact, your words were:

<<<Liberals in academe has spared no effort to reduce social
conflict into
a public relations crusade on behalf of "politically correct"
goodspeak.>>>>

 Perhaps Liveral academics don't stress the class dimension in
social conflict, but to you it becomes "politcal correctness" to point
out the racial meaning of certain words currently in use in the
English language?  At the same time that you say this, you claim
to not resort to the word, niggardly, due to the  "effect it may
produce".

So, with that in mind, at what point do things become, IYHO, PC?

it goes without say that your argument went beyond simply
pointing out that I'm wrong about the relationship between "nigger"
and "niggardly".

  I  assume further that your remark about :"liberals and academe"
was intended as a swipe at me, at least as far me supposedly
following a liberal academic line. I guess I should  plead guilty if I'm
PC to point out the racist origin of words currently in use in our
vocabularly, niggardly aside.

<<<Radicals desperately need to get beyond the superficial and
focus on the
substance of meaning behind words.>>>>

In case this addresses your point -- not that I'm attempting to
prolong this discussion ;-):

(the except from the Soc. textbook I was referring to):

Language is an intergral part of our culture. Languague not only
expresses idea but shapes our thought. Our childhood
socialization involves, in part, the ability to use language. In the
following "Short Play on 'Black' and 'White' Words,", Robert Moore
shows how aspects of our language help unwittingly to reproduce
both negative and positive racial imagery.

Some may blackly (angrily) accuse me of tyring to blacken
(defame) the English language, to give it a black eye (mark of
shame) by writing such black words (hostile). They may denigrate
(to cast aspersions; to darken) me by accusing me of being
blackhearted (malevolent) of having a black outlook (pessimistic,
dismal) on life, of being a blackguard (scoundrel) -- which would
certaintly be a black mark (detrimental fact) against me.  Some
may black-brow (scowl at) me and hope that a black cat crosses in
front of me because of this black deed. I may become a black
sheep (one who causes shame and embarassment because of
deviation from the accepted standards), which will be blackballed
(ostracized) by being placed on a blacklist (a list of undesirables)
in an attempt to blackmail (to force of coerce into a particular
situation) me to retract my words. But attempts to blackjack (to
compel by threat) me will have a chinaman's chance of success,
for I am not a yellow-bellied Indian giver of words, who will
whitewash (cover up or gloss over vices or crimes) a black lie
(harmful, inexcusable). I challenge the purity and innocence
(white) of the English language. I don't see things in black and
white (entirely bad or entirely good) terms, for I am a white man
(marked by upright firmness) if there ever was one. However, it
would be a black day when I would not "call a spade a spade",
even though some will suggest a white man calling the English
language racist is like the pot calling the kettle black. While many
may be niggardly (grudging, scanty) in their support, others will be
honest and decent -- and to them I say, that's very white of you
(honest, decent).

The preceding is of course a white lie (not intended to cause harm),
meant only to illustrate some examples of racist terminology in the
English language.

Source: Robert Moore, "Racism in the English Language", in Paula
Rothernberg, ed. Race Class and Gender in the United States: An
integrated study (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1995), p.377.

DOQ

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