A couple weeks ago, out of boredom, I surfed Hulu for something to watch. I didn't really want to commit to a new series so I picked a pilot. Louie starring Louis C.K. I recognized the protagonist was played by the cop from Parks and Rec so I gave it a shot. The series follows his real life as a comedian and recently divorced father. I was surprisingly satisfied. The only thing that threw me off was vocabulary in one of his stand-up scenes. He used the word "faggot." I rarely hear this word outside of high school anymore so I was a bit addled. Also, it weirded me out because the show is set in New York, and I didn't know NY audiences still laughed at that word. Anyways, next week, I noticed a 2nd episode was posted. The very first scene depicted a poker game among comics. Amidst a sea of beer and witty/crude banter, the show completely addressed my feelings about the first episode. They addressed the history of hate associated with the word. When a hate word is used, it carries the weight of that history regardless of the intention or context. When a person hears that word, he also hears the humiliation, the beatings, the abandonment, the injustice of that word. I hate hate speech. Not only because it is hurtful, but because it is uncreative and lazy. Hate words are too succinct. "That's gay" and "that's retarded" are too simple, too succinct, to express my hate. My hate for crocs is far too expansive to be expressed in a simple and lazy word. I'd prefer to elaborate on my disdain, thank you very much.
The next time you use a hate word, remember that the world is sending that hate right back at you in the form of a judgmental stink eye from me. Educate yourself. Evolve.
Cited works:
sometimes i screw up and say stupid things like the ones you've brought up in this post.
ReplyDeleteand i feel horrible bc i dont have a better filter. but i'm trying!!! i am.
sometimes i'm afraid of how ignorant i am.