teh Forum

Has anyone else heard about this guy? He is a teacher at Cleveland high in Seattle. Here's how the Seattle Times described what happened:

During class on May 2, Emanuels said he was offended by a student's use of the term "gay" to describe an assignment. The teacher said he responded by referring to the African-American student with a slur referring to black people, asking him how he liked being called that name. He said he did so to make a comparison he thought the class could relate to. Emanuels is white.

http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.c ... n+Emanuels

-Now, the NAACP is all up in arms demanding this guy's job on a plate. I think it brings up some interesting points personally. I don't think that it's fair to assume that black people are the only ones who have the right to get offended about the derogatory names assigned to them, and that has been kind of the tone of some of the folks taking the NAACP stance. On the other hand, it wasn't a good plan for the teacher to use that word-knowing full well how some people are still holding a grudge. But was the student right in calling his assignment "GAY"? I don't think so-it's so funny that gay has become such a widely accepted slang word to denote something that is less than satisfactory-almost like nigger if you think about it. Nigger is a word that is used on almost every rap record like a glue to hold the rest of the verse together, and it's ok when a black person uses that word, but as soon as whitey uses it, it's harrassment! It's also funny how homosexuals use terms like "fag hag" to describe their girl friends like it's a term of endearment, and then turn around and get offended when someone calls their homework "gay". These double standards, I foresee, will continue to divide "groups" when there isn't such a thing! Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the human genome project confirm that there are no real "differences" between people of different races?

Don't get me wrong-I think that both people involved the the Seattle school incident were wrong, but what does this tell us about where our world is heading? Every group of people have stereotypes that were at one point derived out of fact. The old myths that Asian people can't drive, and that white people can't dance (or jump) and all the other stereotypes came about because of what was noticed about that "group". Not that this is true, but to quote Chris Rock: "There is a difference between a black person and a nigger". I feel like this is true, just as there is a difference between a "fag" and a gay person-or between a white trash honky and a white person or between a gook and an asian. Unfortunately, we are stuck with the divisions that men have put on our society, and perhaps even more unfortunately, people prove every day why stereotypes are in place by living up to the very thing they decry.

I'm kinda playing devil's advocate and I'm trying to be as objective as I can-personally I think that people just need to realize that everyone is technically the same, and the separations that we see have been put in place by our forefathers to blind us from the truths.

your turn.....

While I have been planning to respond to this issue, it has not been an easy one for me to chew through in my head. I think the Emanuels situation is interesting, but the broader issue of terminology in our everyday lives confuses me.

There are a few issues here. First The Emanuels situation is surely overblown. If the media has picked it up it is a rule. Emanuels may have used poor judgment, but in his mind he was taking a risk to demonstrate a very important point. He was likely not being derogatory out of anger, ignorance or ill feeling. Unfortunately, this sort of lesson doesn't work so well with minors or in a public school. The country is bursting at the seam with overly sensitive people, especially in this new post 9-11 era we live in today. But Emanuels is human, and therefore not flawless. He may lose his job, but this is not the end of the world for him. Soon the 15 minutes will be up and he will be forgotten like soon the reality TV craze will be.

Second, it is painfully obvious for me to see the American attitude of self righteousness. I live in a community where I am a huge minority. I am not just talking about Japan. My community of friends here is made up of Japanese, English, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, Chinese, and more aside from Americans. We spend a surprisingly large amount of time talking about our differences, from language (slang, accents, terminology) to cultural differences to foreign policy. Since my political days at the UW I have considered myself removed from the general American consensus. I am not personally offended when someone insults American foreign policy, or anything about America for that matter. Chances are I agree with them.

The prevailing attitude about Americans by non-Americans is that while they have met a lot of cool people (and always some losers, which I am sure is the case with anywhere) most Americans are blind to the world outside their shores. All focus is on America. Sports, business, entertainment, outdoor activity, government, you name it; America has the best of it all. Sure, you may say, well I drive a German car and it is far superior to the American car I used to have. But that is a conscious decision to go against the grain. What I am saying is that this attitude isn't a learned sense of pride. It is a strong cultural trait that is part of who we are as Americans. It is not a decision we have made over years of checking it all out, it is our default natural attitude. I have seen almost a slight cockiness in the way Americans just assume they are correct because they are Americans.

So when people pass judgment that what this teacher did was wrong, they become so sure of their standpoint they fail to keep an open mind about the broader implications of such policies and messages. "It was improper, insensitive, and he must be punished." I don't mean to say the Americans have the market cornered on this sort of behavior, just that I see it across many different platforms in the media today. I also do not mean to imply that use of derogatory terms should be simply brushed away as oversensitivity, but I don't think that is the case with this particular topic.

So let's talk about the use of derogatory terms on a wider scale. This is where the issue gets much more complicated.

Erik, I remember some of my times spent with you were probably the least sensitive I have ever been toward this issue. Have your feelings changed since then? When I was young I was sensitive to use of derogatory terminology, littering, doing what I considered right, etc. But there was a period of a few years in my mid teens where I became much less sensitive. The attitude of "it is fine to throw the can out the car window...littering creates jobs" was an easy one to follow. Maybe this has to do with where we were in our development (rebellious stage). But I remember you particularly, while always being the most open minded and culturally aware person I knew, had no qualms with use of a derogatory, sexist, or racial terms. Stereotypes were used as comedy devices, almost purely to shock people. I remember one day around my 18th year making a conscious decision to not participate in that anymore. I was not being true to myself and I wanted to make it clear that I wasn't comfortable with that sort of behavior going on around me (do you remember this). Mainly I was just comfortable enough with our group of friends to make statement like this. I knew I wouldn't be permanently labeled a "fag." I do not by any means mean to call you out on any of this stuff. It was all years ago and we have grown enormous amounts since those days. But reading your comments brought back memories and I am curious as to your opinion on these issues.

I realize I haven't directly addressed the issue of the using stereotypes and derogatory terminology in everyday life. I guess I don't understand the ramifications fully and don't feel I can intelligently comment. Like I said it is a huge issue. I do know that I try to avoid all forms of that behavior and it is not difficult. I am not comfortable with it being used around me and I will at time make a comment if I think it is being used to the point of extreme discomfort. I remember when I was 7 years old I called something gay. It was just a word in my vocabulary to express uncoolness (and still is in many peoples). My mom told me not to use it because it was "derogatory" (a new word for my vocabulary at the time). I couldn't possibly fully understand what she meant at the time, but it stuck with me until I did understand and was able to make that kind of decision for myself.

I was hoping this thread would continue...guess it has to be my turn...from my perspective it takes experience (dues...the blues?) to see the pain we can cause other people. Perhaps pain is just one part, another being actions causing reactions. Put something out and that is the energy reacted to. Words are often so limited, or so relative to who we are, often not able to express what we mean......the point being, MAYBE it was this ADULTS responsibility (especially because he was a "teacher") to give this kid a wider perspective! Perhaps education should be about planting DIFFERENT views in ones brain so we have something to plug new ideas into. Resulting in our being more OPEN and less fearful when we meet with differences.......?
I don't see this a a cultural thing, but as a kid and and an adult interacting...as a person who is aware and wants this kid to become someone who will be a positive contribution to the world, or simply a happy person, the teacher tried to get the point across...... and maybe he tried to speek his language...as we grow up we learn self censorship IF SOMEONE gives us choices, if we pay some dues, see somes blues.......
It is a hugh issue........................................sleep

I remember those and so many other days Rygar......days of being on top of the world and letting everyone else know that we were.......then I grew up.....I always thought that using "derogatory" names for people and things was funny considering how antiquated those terms really are. I never gave any credence to my false racism-I still bought records made by people of all nationalities, I didn't refuse to hang out with anyone because of their skin tone or sexual preferences.......I love the mechanics of language, and there are some pretty funny things that can be said using terms that really aren't relavent in our society. My littering came to an abrupt and complete standstill after the boy came along, as well as any sort of verbalized racism.....(he's too young to get a joke, and I want the best for him.....)

I agree that the issues that I brought up are of too huge a scope-but I feel that there are a lot of these issues that people are just too afraid to tackle because they're too big. Like drug legalization, foreign and domestic policy, money, the list goes on.....

I work with people of every different sort all day long now, just like a lot of other Americans, and I for one I feel fortunate that my co workers (for the most part) are very agreeable and cool. I still would like very much to be an expat at some point, maybe that would further open my eyes.....