More "eenie, meenie, minie, moe" controversy: Why?

http://blogs.kansascity.com/unfettered_letters/2006/07/boulevard_billb.html

What is the purpose of Montgomery's letter?

My LTE:

Boulevard Brewing (home of my absolute favorite! Porter!) is a public entity, because of its markets. It speaks to more than just the likes of Michael R. Montgomery, who apparently is not a racist because he would never use the n-word when he says “Eenie Meenie (or is that Mean - ie??) Minie Moe. Catch a . . . by the toe." Many Others to whom Boulevard Brewing does also speak, Mr. Montgovery, *would* use the n-word, because it is part of their Culture (or would that be Kulture?).

Because Boulevard is using social media to communicate, a social behavior, the effect of said communication on a group, a social entity, is Relevant. If this principle is not valid, then neither is there is a such thing as Pornography. And nothing Means anything.

think I ever heard the word 'nigger' more than once or twice.

And there were other places around that time that had incidents.

My Dad was a farm-boy from Arkansas by way of Oklahoma.

He spoke to us very sternly about racism, because he and his brothers knew of it in the farm counties they grew up in.

My maternal uncle was a racist, as well as a few people who married into our big family.

I learned "nigger" in the context of "eenie, meenie . . . ". Then my Dad spoke and worked against racism at our dinner table and in his Union, and the nuns told us that Negro Americans were Martyrs. Why do you supposed they'd do that? Are you suggesting that because you don't or didn't, no one does or did?

People like Timothy McVeigh are out there.

Have you read any Howard Zinn?

heard that phrase.

DO NOT make the foolish assumption that I don't understand what racism is and what its impact has been on this country. Do not be so arrogant as to assume that I haven't seen it first hand and haven't read extensively on the subject.

That one phrase cannot be blamed for all the racist policies and actions of white supremecists in this country. Any more than Little Black Sambo is a reflection of how all whites see black people.

It would bode some of the people on this board who think they know it all to not pop off so fast. Because you know what, sometimes the ignorance or mean spirited or racist or mysoginistic or whatever motives you assign to people are just figments of your imagination.

Of course, you notice that what you said goes both ways.

great piece of advice. Before you go running off at the keyboard, first make sure that you haven't read more into a post than is really there. And second, make sure that you're smarter than the person you're giving the lecture to and that you have something to contribute to their life experience or learning. Otherwise the truth is you are wasting your time and the other persons time as well.