"Hans K0HB" wrote in message
om...
"Kim W5TIT" wrote



The term "******" (excuse me, to anyone who is offended
by that word--me included) isn't derogatory until some
bigoted person uses it against another person, either.
No hazard, at all, in being honest.


Of course it's derogatory, no matter who uses the word.

True story.....

In the winter of 2001/02 K0CKB and I were vacationing in the
southwest. We had parked our RV in the lovely town of Big Spring,
Texas for a couple of days, and I had my truck down at the local
"quick lube" place for an oil change. A local fellow also having his
truck lubed noticed a "Sailors have more fun" bumper sticker on my
truck, and struck up a conversation about his days in the Navy. Like
me, he had spent some time in the brown water Navy running PBR's in
the Mekong, so a lively conversation ensued. In discussing some of
his close calls, he attributed his survival to "his big ******", who
was one of his crewman, apparently a big man who was particularly good
with heavy weapons. He had liberated a 50-calibre from a wrecked
aircraft and mounted it on the bow of the PBR in place of the lighter
'regulation' mount, and was extremely adept at using the gun. The
fellow cited this the single most important reason his craft had
survived Now in the context of the conversation it was apparent to
everyone present that he held this crewman in VERY high regard. Yet
the term was patently as derogatory as if he had called the man a
mo----f---er, a c--ks---ker, or any other demeaning name. Two
bystanders (not minorities) took the guy to task for his choice of
words, and he apologized.

73, de Hans, K0HB


Hans, unfortunately, that term is freely used down here. I've heard it from
perfect strangers if I happen to be with the common friend of another and
they just chat for a few minutes, to a close gathering of all friends who
freely express that form of hatred, regardless of how they know I feel about
it. I have dropped three, what I thought was, very good friends in the last
two years over this issue. Not only the "term" but the emotion of bigotry
*and* racism that goes along with it, is alive and well down here.

I freely express disdain at the emotion of bigotry and racism and have often
been chastised for it. Now, among my black friends I am called that
name--and, I admit, it still throws me when they use--but I am told over and
over again that the use of that word "among them" is an expression of
kindred spirit. I still tell them I don't like it. I tell them to call me
by the affectionate name one of my girlfriends calls me, "Boo."

I have also met blacks (and people from other ethnic groups) who are bigots
and racists and I have just as much disdain for them.

Kim W5TIT