Proposal would ban 'n-word' in New York

[Terri]

By UPI Staff
United Press International
February 26, 2007

NEW YORK (UPI) -- A New York City councilman is proposing a ban the "n-word" in the city, and lawmakers are expected to vote on the ordinance this week.

The New York Times says Councilman Leroy G. Comrie Jr. came up with the idea for the ban just days after actor Michael Richards was caught on tape in a racist tirade at a California comedy club. Comrie told the Times it upsets him that so many young blacks use the "n-word" -- albeit with the "a" opposed to the "er" ending -- as a form of camaraderie.

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[Amawalk John]

Although I find the "N word" offensive and am delighted at the prospect of making illegal a meaningful percentage of the average rap "musician's" working vocabulary, I'm not persuaded that that such a ban would be worth the damage it would do to the first amendment to the Constitution.

While I realize that the enormous amount of constitutional legal research that Councilman Leroy G. Comrie Jr. has conducted has kept him from bringing this idea forward until now, the last week of Black History Month, I'd recommend he pursue political actions less likely to be overturned in the courts, like organizing boycotts against popular music, radio stations, and other media that use this vulgar word.

Perhaps he could follow the fine example of Reverend Sharpton -- who announced this past weekend that Senator Strom Thurmond's ancestors were slave owners to Sharpton's ancestors -- and spend his research efforts tracing his own ancestry back to centuries old master/slave relationships. Perhaps another relationship with a modern day politician will be revealed, perhaps a Democrat this time.

[Charie]

Some critics cite rapper Mos Def in a 1999 interview, in which the rapper commented on the modern use of the "n-word," saying blacks have taken "a word that has been historically used by whites to degrade and oppress us, a word that has so many negative connotations, and turned it into something beautiful, something we can call our own."

I'm simply elated over this whole thing, but as an aside, hope you don't mind if I use my own "b-word" that indicates a big pile of taurine feces.

I suggest that Councilman Comrie earn his stipend in a more traditional way........... sleeping during council meetings.

[STEELMAN]

It does't make much difference what laws are passed or not passed concerning our freedom of speech. I can guarantee you as long as human beings have the ole sin nature, and we all have one, you will continue to hear undesireable, vulgar idioms when we lose control of our "Cool"... as the youngers put it.

Especially when you've just mangaged to mash your finger with a hammer or bump your head on an open overhead storage door in the kitchen. Of course you wouldn't dare say those kind words in front of your family or in a social setting...but by yourself all alone...well you get the picture.

[rangerrebew]

I want the council to ban words that are offensive to me too. Such as democrat, liberal, Clinton, Schumer, Albore, etc.

[Bigdog]

NEW YORK (UPI) -- A New York City councilman is proposing a ban the "n-word" in the city, and lawmakers are expected to vote on the ordinance this week.

And what will he do if the 'word' should illeagaly sneak into the city?

This seems to be the all-time greatest political "Hey look at me, I did something" ploy.