Re: [Marxism] Shocking words

[Dennis Brasky <dmozart1756@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Mon, May 18, 2009 at 11:30 PM, Michael Smith <mjs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>
>
> Sticks and stones
> May break my bones --
> But words can never hurt me.
>
> Try walking a mile in the shoes of the oppressed segment of society who
have been victimized by those words. Broken bones heal, comrade - words can
scar for life.

Words like cunt, bitch, nigger, spic and faggot are more than words -
they're verbal reflections of power relationships. The power behind racist,
sexist and homophobic terms are rape, battering, murder, lynching, police
brutality, xenophobia, as well as discrimination in jobs, education, housing
and healthcare. These words are cudgels with which the ruling class forcibly
reduces whole groups of people to second class status.

Terms such as prick, honky, cracker and anglo lack the same power because
they apply to segments of the population WITH power - males, whites and
straights.

One would think that this is ABC for US Marxists - or even decent liberals.
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