Fall From Grace

Southern  chef Paula Deen used the 'n' word.  She admitted to it - in a deposition. What is the price to be paid for uttering what is arguably the most offensive word in the English speaking world?  According to talk show host Wendy Williams she is 'done' with Deen.  In fact Williams, it seems, would like nothing better than to see Deen's empire crumble around her. Yes, that would be a fitting price to pay.

I struggled with how to approach this subject. I wondered about which words to use so that I do not offend anyone. You see, it seems so easy to offend these days.  When did we become so sensitive to words, giving words the power to destroy ourselves and others ? Now don't get me wrong,  I think the 'n' word is highly offensive .  And of course I make this disclaimer up front because I certainly don't want to be accused of being racist.  You step on very thin ice with this subject.    I have heard that word used on many occasions. Just turn on the radio. I've sung along to 'Forget You' by Cee Lo Green. Love that song. The 'n' word is liberally used in that song. Is it OK for Cee Lo to use that word because he is black? If a word is offensive surely it is offensive no matter who uses it? Why are we not outraged by this? Why is Wendy Williams not appearing on national TV asking for Green and all the radio stations that have ever aired his song to be pulled?  Don't mean to single out Green, he is not the  only singer to have used that word.  The 'n' word is used and used regularly  so it seems acceptable in some circumstances - how can that be? Apparently society deems it more offensive when it is used by whites because..well...it was a derogatory term used by whites towards slaves. But here's the rub, in this country there are no slave owners and there are no slaves.  There are just Americans. So this word, this offensive word, is offensive no matter who utters it. No one living today has the right to use this word. Why do we give this word any power at all? Why is this word allowed to define anyone? This is just a word, you can choose to let it offend you or not. It is almost as if the more outraged we become the more power attaches itself to the word.  I don't really know what the approach should be or how we strike that word from our vocabulary but I do know that there are double standards in play here.

Now getting back to Deen.  Apparently she said 'that' word many years ago. She also stated in the deposition that she finds the word offensive and does not use it now.  So the woman was under oath and told the truth, even though it was not pretty.  Hook anyone of us, black or white, to a lie detector and ask us the same question. If you have never ever in your entire life used a word to denigrate or make a joke at the expense of any other race or orientation I suggest that you are a rare breed indeed. If you have ever listened to someone else tell a joke at the expense of others and said nothing, you are just as guilty.

If we express absolute outrage at the sin Deen has committed perhaps we can somewhat lessen our own sins.  Paula Deen is being held up as the sacrificial lamb to atone for the rest of us, black and white, who are guilty of the same or worse.   Yes, we must make an example of this woman, humiliate her and punish her for in doing so we deflect any suspicion that we have ever done the same or accepted others that have.

Since writing this earlier today Paula Deen appeared on video and apologized to all those who she may have offended and disappointed.  I believe she was sincere.  However the villagers with the pitchforks were not done - The Food Network terminated her contract.