Daughter attacked on school bus

[Bamberfish]

You're just being argumentative. Surely you aren't going to try to tell us that "fat" or "bitch" are racial epithets, even as you implicitly admit that calling somebody white is not a racial epithet. .

If debating you on facts is what you consider argumentative, then yes, I'm being argumentative. Are you not used to people rebutting you with facts? It appears you are not.

"Fat" is not a racial epithet. "Bitch" is not a racial epethet. "White" can be a racial epethet when used in conjunction with other derogatory words which are brought together in insult aimed at a person of caucasian heritage, because it insult's one's race. Of course, in this instance, my child wasn't called Fat or even Fat Bitch. She was called a "fat white bitch". It hasn't escaped my notice that you keep conveniently discussing the use of the words separately, avoiding putting them together as they were used against my daughter. Sorry...you aren't fooling anyone.

"White" is not a bad word. Neither is "trash." But I wager that if you got into the face of a large caucasian man and called his wife "white trash"...you'd find yourself with a problem on your hands.

"Hate speech is a controversial term for speech intended to degrade, intimidate, or incite violence or prejudicial action against a person or group of people based on their race, gender, age, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, language ability, moral or political views, socioeconomic class, occupation and appearance (such as height and weight). The term covers written as well as oral communication and some forms of behaviors in a public setting. It is also sometimes called antilocution and is the first point on Allport's scale which measures prejudice in a society."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_speech

Based on the above, the kid who used a racial slur against my daughter just about had all bases covered, didn't he...appearance (weight), race and gender.

You want somebody to tell you that your daughter is pure as the driven snow, all of this is somebody else's fault, everybody but her is lying? Then talk to your daughter, as she's about the only other person who's going to see it that way

No, I don't. I want fairness and truth in the handling of this incident by the school. That means I want:

• Recognition by the school of the racial slurs made against my daughter, just as they recognized the one she made.
  
• The school to follow their own board policy instead of lying and stating my daughter was allowed due process, when no such thing even remotely occured.
  
• The school to recognize that the continued racial intimidation and bullying perpetrated by these black children in a school where they are the majority population, is a problem and needs to be addressed. Racism is about power, and the majority population in any specific setting has the power. When members of this majority population use derogatory racial comments to intimidate children of other races, they are being racist.

My child was punished for using the word she did, and believe me, she is suffering her own punishment for using it.

Given all due respect to your emotional attachment to your daughter, I need hip waders to get through the crap you're spewing.

Given all due respect to your racial blinders, I choose not to wade through your rancid river of selective bigotry.

[Bamberfish]

What state did this happen in??

- Carl

Hi Carl...it occured in North Carolina.

[Mr. Knowitall]

If you are approaching everybody in this same over-the-top, rude, out-of-control, self-righteous, "damn the facts" tone, I can see why you're not getting anywhere.

[elorei]

Bamber, keep in mind that very few communities are white minority, so your views may differ from many of the posters here. With that said, your tone is very confrontational, which I understand, but it won't further your cause if you can't keep a level head.

As to what you are saying, I agree. "Fat white bitch" to me is just as much a racial slur as "nigger" is. Both are meant to hurt, make angry, or degrade the target, using their race as part of it. I fail to see a difference, but I also live in an area where whites are a minority, so that may make my perception different than others in "whiter" communities. (Atlanta became black majority in 1972, and as of the 2000 census, whites made up for less than one third of the population. Southern atlanta, where i live, has less than a 15% white population.)

I would talk to whoever would listen about your story. I would start with documenting the damage done to your daughter, and consult a lawyer or the police. Your daughter may very well be held responsible for her part in it (she should), but maybe the other parties would be held responsible for theirs, too. It is ridculous that your daughter received these damages, and is punished for them, while the other children are not, just because of one little word.

Why do we give a tiny little 6 letter word so much power?

[aaron]

Calling somebody "white" is roughly analogous to calling somebody "black". It's silly to pretend that it could be an ethnic slur on par with the "N-word".

[calebb]

"Fat" is not a racial epithet. "Bitch" is not a racial epethet. "White" can be a racial epethet when used in conjunction with other derogatory words which are brought together in insult aimed at a person of caucasian heritage, because it insult's one's race....

"White" is not a bad word. Neither is "trash." But I wager that if you got into the face of a large caucasian man and called his wife "white trash"...you'd find yourself with a problem on your hands.

Based on the above, the kid who used a racial slur against my daughter just about had all bases covered, didn't he...appearance (weight), race and gender.

My child was punished for using the word she did, and believe me, she is suffering her own punishment for using it.

Given all due respect to your racial blinders, I choose not to wade through your rancid river of selective bigotry.

I think that you may be overlooking is the deep historical significance of the n-word. It's easy to forget how far our country has come in escaping the roots of racism we once held.

Here's a quote from a commentary I read:

The reason for my discomfort? Words like n*****, and hate speech, in general, have an added dimension of meaning, a historical intent to cause harm, communicate a threat or symbolize a power dynamic... The word n***** ...connotes a subhuman, inferior species worthy of scorn and death...

This profound historical significance is what gives the n-word such a unique place in both the eyes of society and the eyes of the law.

There are a lot of things going on in this case - I strongly believe you should talk to an attorney, your daughters principal, the school superintendent regarding the other events that occurred.

I wrote this post to specifically address your daughter's choice of words. I hope it will help you (and your daughter) become aware of the reasons why using the n-word is such an egregious insult, especially in the context of a heated fight/argument.

(as a side-note - do they even cover this topic in high school US history anymore?)

[elorei]

Calling somebody "white" is roughly analogous to calling somebody "black". It's silly to pretend that it could be an ethnic slur on par with the "N-word".

I will buy that, but, and this is a big but: If she had said "ignorant black asshole" she would still be labeled a racist.

The other students did not call her "white". They called her "fat white bitch".

[cdwjava]

And all of this is moot as it appears that no one has been charged with a crime yet.

- Carl

[BlueCrystal]

All this non-sense and in the middle of Black History Month. This is shameful and I find this whole thread offensive.

[cdwjava]

I find most crimes to be offensive.

- Carl