I think she should lose her job. Immediately.

Read about it and listen to the exchange at the link.

Here is a link that might be useful: ABC news

Since I rarely watch TV, I hadn't heard about this. A quick search on YouTube for "Dr. Laura Schlesinger N-Word" let me find it...several times! I'm white and I get offended at the use of that word..I hate it! I think she should lose her job instantly! If she'd honestly felt she was wrong..she would have apologized immediately!!

First of all, I hate the word....can't even stand to read it in a novel. That being said, I agree with Laura................ Black comics should just stop using it. It isn't funny yet a black audience will laugh their heads off at the comic. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Frankly, I get quite annoyed at black activist such as Al Sharpton who cannot wait to jump on the band wagon. The black community would be better served if Sharpton appealed to the comics to stop using this word. Even Oprah thinks it's a disservice for comedians to be throwing it around. Laura was not using it calling someone a name, she was asking why the double standard. The only thing she did wrong was to infer that if black people can use it even in an affectionate way, white people should be able to use it in the same way. What she should have said is the word should not be used at all not by blacks, and not by whites. It has too much negative history.

I agree almost completely with georgysmom. If Laura had been calling someone a name, the situation would have been different. However, for people to get so riled up over the mere mention of a word is carrying political correctness a little too far. It is a word and can only carry as much weight as people allow it to carry.

Georgysmom said exactly what I thought. now I am NOT a fan of L.S, but in this I agree. IT SHOULDN'T BE USED BY ANYONE. But African Americans shouldn't call foul, if someone uses the word, then think it is OK for them to toss it around. JMO

I absolutely agree with georgysmom, pauline, and dotmom. I would, no way, call someone that name, and there's no way I think that Dr. L was doing that. I don't think she should apologize nor do I think she should lose her job.

"Dr" Laura was nasty to the woman who called in. She did not in anyway address the woman's problem, which was her white husband's white friends were disrespectful to her in a racist way. Instead, Laura went on a rant & used the n-word for its shock value. After Laura hung up on the woman she said, "If you're that hypersensitive about color and don't have a sense of humor, don't marry outside of your race."

I personally thought Laura sounded very racist herself in her rant. When she came back the next day to apologize she said that she was so upset that she hadn't even been able to do the 2nd hour of her show. I think she is pretty much an a$$ & she realized that she had "crossed the line" with her diatribe & she was sorry for the line crossing from the angle that she knew she would pay a price ($$$) for having lost control of her mouth. I expect that her "stock" has taken a plunge, as it should, imho.

IT SHOULDN'T BE USED BY ANYONE. But African Americans shouldn't call foul, if someone uses the word, then think it is OK for them to toss it around.

I think that African Americans SHOULD call foul, AND should stop using it. But certainly not ALL AA's use the term. I think most don't.

I agree completely with georgysmom.
That is a deragatory, cut down, and sterio-typical word that can only be used in ways that hurt others. It should never be used by anyone! And by anyone, that includes everyone.

For that matter saying "the N word" is really the same as using the actual word that is represented. It's like what is refered to, in some religeous groups, as a minsed oath. That is using some other word (like as if it is OK) in place of the nasty word. That includes darn in place of da m, and Jeez in place of the name of the SON. They are all the same and are just as disrespectful, nasty or hurtful. In a civilized society there should be no need for the use of such words. Unfortunately our society is no longer civilized!

I know that is stepping on some toes, but just think about the things you are really saying, and that goes also for the people who use slang terms for whites as well as blacks, reds, yellows, greens or purples!

OK, I got it off my chest!!!

I also agree with georgysmom, pauline, dotmom adn suzieque.

Pauline said it best. The intent behind using a word is what counts. We have diluted our language with all this silly PC nonsense where we no longer have the words to describe certain behaviors.

I had a very good black friend in the sixties.His nickname was N Johnnie. We all called him that because that was what he wanted to be called. We all wanted to be colorblind back then. We all knew the difference between a word used as a word and a real slur.

Dr. Laura sounded angry because like me she is disgusted with all this PC BS. Words don't make someone a racist. Intent and/or actions are what make someone a racist.

I'm old enough to have figured it out finally. People hide their racism and uncertainty of their true feelings behind politically correct speech. Those who are comfortable with themselves and truly inclusive don't have to and find it annoying.

Hello, where is the outrage? This is political. We can not talk about these things here. If we can why don't we have a conversation on Harry Reids' comments on Reps and Hispanics?

What in the world would make this po lit i cal!!!!

LOL at Ron. Plus Dr. Laura is Jewish. Oy vey.

Oh I see, this is where we pass the peanut butter.

I am curious, Wildchild....
For all the "silly PC nonsense" and your comfort with yourself that you don't have to hide behind politically correct speech, and yet.... surprisingly ....you, yourself did not spell it all out ... the full name you used for your good friend Johnnie. Why did you use just the letter N? How would Johnnie take to being called the "full" moniker some 40-50 years later? Do you & your friends continue to refer to him as you did those many years ago? Or, have you too bowed to the silly PC nonsense?

'

Beeohio - I didn't spell it out because it would have been immediately pulled. I'm not stupid. LOL But if I were speaking about this subject I am fine with saying the word. Actually I can't think of any word that I would never/ever say out loud.

I also can't think of any word you could call me that would bother me. Might be ticked off at the intent behind it but not the word.

I don't make it a practice to call people names and I use basic politeness and manners with people. But the trend to rewriting history,novels and taking removing certain words out of the English language is more offensive to my viewpoint than any word.

Dr. Laura did not say anything derogatory. She stated her opinion. That is what she is paid to do.

Assigning initials to words we don't like is silly. it's like assigning stupid PC terms to other things.

My DMIL was crippled by arthritis. She always used the term cripple. Then along came the PC police and changed it to handicapped. Then it was disabled. Used to make her laugh and shake her head in amazement. "What's the difference what they call it?" she would say. "I'm still crippled".

Amd here I always thought the word "Geez" was a contraction of the words Gee Wiz. At least that's always been MY intent.

I think African-American may be out in some circles too. Not all people of very dark pigmentation have African roots. What do you call a light skinned person from Africa?

I can't keep up with this stuff. I don't walk up to people with darker skin than my own and poll them on what they find acceptable. I just ask them their name.

I tried to post with my opinions and beliefs with the word spelled out. Gardenweb won't let it get past the preview stage. I grew up in 1970 and can remember my grandfather always referring to black people as nggers. That ngger boy or this ngger couple that lives down the street. Things like that. So I always associated the word with clarifying skin color. Nothing else derogatory. I would never call a black person a ngger to his face because I know he would be offended even though that is now what I mean. So I call them black people. I have many black friends and customers. I pick and choose people I associate with by their character, not their skin color. There are good and bad people of all races. Is calling a white person white trash going to become a racist issue. Maybe fine if a white person says it, but now a black person? Dr. Laura is right. The black people can't have it both ways. The blacks can't say the word line after line and get offended when someone else says it. I agree with a poster above that said it is just a word. It can only have as much negativity as you will allow it. For me, I don't get riled up when I see it in print or hear someone say it. I grew up associating it with skin color not on a persons worth. If you put the word in google, a very interesting page from wikipedia comes up talking about how the word has been used in the past. It is only the last 50-60 hundred years that the PC silliness has increased.

Laura is a person I would not listen to if she were the only voice on the radio. She's not on around here but before she was pulled, I got a taste of her and could not stomach her. >I totally agree that black comics and ghetto talk use the word but it's vile. Our culture has changed. When I was a little kid we used to say eeny meeny miny mo, catch a N by his toe, if he hollers let him go eeny meeny miny mo...and thought nothing of it. If my grandson even knew this song existed, he would be shocked. Al Sharpton should get on the comics that use it. BUT Laura was way outta line using it 11 times. She sounded nuts and should be fined big time. She's a shrill angry woman.

Laura Schlessinger is a stupid woman. Sometimes she gets it right, but sometimes her conservative twist on things just gets over done. I remember one call years ago that took the cake in my book. A Canadian man called to say he was out of work, and that because he had some Indian ancestors, the Canadian government was going to pay the full cost for him to go to medical school and become a doctor. The problem was that the medical school was in another city, and he and his pregnant wife would have to move. She did not want to leave her mother by moving with her husband so he could become a doctor.

Laura said he should turn down the 100% scholarship, that he would be a lousy father as a physician because he would be too busy, and a pregnant woman needs her mom. She said this to a man who had no job or career. She is incredibly stupid!

My parents both grew up in Chicago, one on the south side (which is now predominantly black) and one on the north side. My mom taught school in the black area. Let's just say that word was spoken often in our house growing up. I must have been around 4 years old once, out playing in the mud by our house. I slathered mud all over my body and went to the neighbors and said "I'm a N", not having any idea what I was saying or that it was wrong. This would have been in the early 60's. I still remember how shocked the neighbors reacted, so even back then based on their reactions, some white people were against that word. Not my family though. When my kids were little I had to teach my Mom not to speak that way in front of them. Still, it slipped out and both the kids understand that it's wrong.

If you want to read a perspective on racial relations, read The Help. I am not done with it, but it is about the maids of southern women in the sixties.

Sheilajoyce, why do you think Schlessinger's answer was stupid? If the man's question was "What's the best thing for ME?" the answer would be for him to go to medical school. If his question was "What's the best thing for ME AND MY FAMILY?" the answer would be for him to get a job right now.

According to what you wrote, the caller's wife was pregnant at the time. Medical school would take at least 8 years (if, by chance, he already had a pre-med undergraduate degree) and more likely 12 years from start to finish. Because of this, the caller's wife would be raising the child on her own for much of the first 12 years. The medical school was in another city so the wife's mother wouldn't be close by to help her daughter after they moved. Medical school would require hours of classwork every day plus countless hours of research and studying on top of that. If the wife was ok with the moving and years of sacrifices they'd have to endure, that's one thing, but if not, the husband needed to face the reality of not placing his needs before his entire familys' needs. It's one thing to begin the 12 years of school when you're single, but a totally different story when you've chosen to marry and begin a family and THEN decide to follow your dreams.

I used to catch the Dr. Laura program from time to time in the car but gave up on her when a young woman called in with a devastating problem. She said her husband had cheated on her by sleeping with her best friend. Dr. Laura basically told her she should have been a better wife. Now here's a girl whose whole world has just crashed down around her. Not only did her husband cheat on her, but now she's got NO ONE whom she can trust, since her best friend completely betrayed her. She calls Schlessinger in tears and is told that she should have tried harder.....as though HER actions could have somehow determined the choices of her husband and best friend.

I think Laura Schlessinger is mean sometimes for effect. More often than not she is shockingly rude to callers. I've come to expect it of her. However, often times I agree with her advice. I don't listen to her very often though because she does grate on me. However, about the N word, I agree with Wildchild and the others. No one should use it, and I do understand the point LS was trying to make.

I don't agree with the use of the N word for any purpose. Let's quit this discussion or move it over to Hot Topics.

Oh, here we go again. It's a discussion! People sharing their opinions. Can't we have reasonably intelligent conversations about reasonably substantive things, without being chastised?

If Dr Laura was fired for what she said, wouldn't that a violation of the 1st and 14th Amendments of the American Constitution?

And wouldn't her dismissal be considered reverse discrimination since other groups can and do say it freely without the fear of repercussion?

I'm not a Dr Laura fan either, but she has made a living from "shock value" comments.

BJ

"Not all people of very dark pigmentation have African roots. What do you call a light skinned person from Africa?"

An Arab.

Usually.

The entire northern continent of Africa has historically has been inhabited by Arabs. In fact, most living in that region do not identify with a nationality but rather refer to themselves as Arabs. Hence a citizen of Egypt would first say "Arab" before saying "Egyptian". National borders were not put down in Africa until the mid to last part of the 20th century.

That being said........Africa has had a lot of settlers to the continent throughout history, and a lot of those countries are inhabited almost entirely from their descendants who never mixed with the indigenous people.

*I get so tired of hearing people say "Cleopatra was Black". We were even taught this in grade school. She was an Arab and her lineage was Greek.

--------------

"If Dr Laura was fired for what she said, wouldn't that a violation of the 1st and 14th Amendments of the American Constitution? "

No. Absolutely not. A lot of people get confused by this. The Constitution prevents the government from censoring the populace. That is what is spelled out. It does not address workplace rules. Nor does it address FCC rules for OTA communications. (Which I don't believe Laura broke.) Besides in some states the law is "at will employment" meaning that an employer can fire a person for any reason or no reason. This probably does not apply to Laura since she most likely either signed an employment contract OR she owns her own show and sells it under contract.

Here is a link that might be useful: FCC Ruling

I agree with suzieque it's just a harmless discussion. If you don't want to participate, move on to another topic. If someone's opinion is a little controversial, ignore. We're all adults. We should be able to handle an intelligent conversation.

I can't think of a reason or an excuse for using a term that is well-known to be offensive to a whole bunch of people.

no excuse.

sylvia - did you listen to the clip?

I listened to the entire clip and I thought she was out of line. There were other things she said that were racist, in my opinion. That's my opinion, and it's not PC BS, that's just what I think.

I think that Dr. Laura's ratings have been slipping and she needed some publicity.

Sorry, must step in to say that Egyptians absolutely do not identify themselves as Arabs, no way, not unless they are being viewed by some outsider as part of the Middle East. There is probably no ethnic group in Africa or the Middle East which is more proud of its national identity and culture than Egyptians. If ever there was a group that is completely aware of its 5,000 year history as a nation, it is the nation of Egypt - identified as such in the Bible. Egypt has retained its name and boundaries for thousands of years, except for the far western and southern borders. DH lived and studied in Cairo for a year and I spent time with him there; we then completed graduate degrees in the field of Middle East history and language and taught and are still working in the field; we have known, socialized with and worked with scores of Egyptians. If you want to insult an Egyptian, call him an Arab; he will smile politely but mark you as an ignorant person.

The only people who can truly be called Arabs are those from the Arabian Peninsula, even though people from Morocco to Iraq are united as the Muslim "ummah" by the Arabic language. The people of North Africa are Moroccan, Tunisian, Egyptian, and tribal, and hold tightly to their individual clan and tribal names.

What has listening to a tape got to do with finding that word offensive?

yes, I listened, & "Dr Laura" not only said it, she repeated it something like 11 times.

reminds me of a song my neighbor's son used to turn up loud (he did finally grow up, thank goodness).

The lyrics were "f*** you".
over & over & over.

When someone repeats objectionable words over & over & over, they're enjoying it .

& I do *not* think there's one reason to use a word that you know someone finds offensive.

Dr. Laura does all kinds of outrageous interviews. I saw her wearing a biker babe outfit, looking hot years ago. When things get boring she reves it up a little to stay on the air. A girls gotta make a living. I agree that words are just words and it's the intent to harm behind them that makes any one word offensive. I did not see the intent behind the N word. So I'm not offended. I'm old enough to remember when the word gay meant you were happy. The meaning of words change. The intent is what makes things ugly...