Lo Siento

I read today that Paula Deen was not going to have her contract renewed on the Food Network because she used the N word in the past.

Really?

Having read some remarks from Deen on the matter, it seems the word was uttered many moons ago. Given her age and where she was from, it would probably have been unusual not to use that word from time to time.

I don’t know what the context of her usage was–nothing I read mentioned it. Only that she’s had quite a few miles on her odometer since it happened. She’s already offered what seems to be a very sincere apology–for a sin of the past.

It got me thinking–who hasn’t said something hateful in the past. I’ve used the F word for homosexuals in the past. I don’t think I’ve said the dreaded N word very much at all, except to repeat something someone else said.

What I’ve been thinking about is what gives me or anyone else the right to cast the first stone in regard to Paula Deen? Who hasn’t said something of that nature in some context at some time?

Sure, it’s offensive. And it would have been whenever it was she said it, too. I say let the past be the past, unless you can look me in the eye and tell me you’ve never said anything hateful.

And how sensitive are you if you’re offended by something someone said long ago enough that you’ll fire them for it? That demanding an apology thing? Cracker, please.

Soon it will be at the point where if I say habanero salsa is too darn hot and burns on the way out, then habanero growers will demand I apologize for calling their peppers hot, and my posterior will demand an apology for eating the darn salsa in the first place.

Enough about my posterior.

My point is that we are all entitled to our opinions, and provided they are not deliberately hurtful or slanderous, then I believe the constitution grants me the right to voice them without some over-sensitive drama queen demanding an apology.

No offense to drama, queens, or sensitive people. Just saying.

So if I want to say something like most of the liberal people I know are pompous, self-righteous, condescending toolbags when talking about politics I should be able to say it without calling some radio show to say my remarks were taken out of context and I didn’t mean to offend liberals or toolbags.

People need to get over being so thin-skinned. Because the truth is, when people offer that sort of “apology,” what they’re really saying is “Hi! You’re an a-hole, and I was right the first time.”

It’s like when you make your kids say “sorry,” and then hug it out. Everyone knows statements made under duress aren’t legally binding.

So we have freedom of speech, but we can’t speak our minds for fear of offending someone and having to apologize.

Let me close by saying I didn’t mean it that way if I offended you during the writing of this diatribe. Let’s hug it out.