Paula Deen and the "N" Word

So let me understand this.  Paula Deen is accused by a white employee for sexual harassment and racial discrimination.  Translate: a disgruntled employee.  Then, in a deposition, she is asked if she ever used a racial slur, specifically the “n” word.  She answers truthfully and says yes, years ago...to her husband.  She then admits that some of her kitchen staff may tell off color jokes and make racial comments in her kitchen which she has apparently “tolerated.”  Then, in answer to the accuser's claim that that accuser "overheard" a conversation where Ms. Deen wanted to a "plantation wedding with little "n...'s" dressed up and serving , she says she “considered” doing a wedding based on a recent restaurant she visited where all of the servers were middle aged black men dressed in tuxedos (think Youngstown Club).  It never happened because she also said it would be innapropriate in today's world. 

The race baiters went wild.  Paula Deen is a racist screamed the headlines.  The Food Network, that paragon of gluttony, indignantly decided not to renew her contract at the end of June and pulled her television shows from its lineup.  Smithfield Ham, now owned by a state controlled Chinese corporation, dropped her like a hot potato.  So did Sears, QVC, and her publisher. 

What did she do?  She said the "n" word to her husband 30 years ago.  She is my age.  She is from the south.  I would be surprised if she didn'd say the "n" word 30 years ago to her husband. 

Enough of this self righteous indignation about race!  It’s time America grows up.  Put on any urban radio station playing hip hop and you can hear rappers calling women whores and bitches and African Americans niggers in just about every song played on the radio.  I don’t think I would be wrong in surmising the use of words “honkie” and “cracker” is used by many members of the black community.

Add to that the testimony in the Trayvon Martin trial in Sanford, Florida, where the prosecution's lead witness spouted racial hatred like running water...or Alec Baldwin calling a reporter he didn't like a "queen".  That one even got Anderson Cooper fired up. 

To me, words are words.  If I had a nickel for every hateful deed let alone words directed at me, I’d be a rich man.  Should they be used? Probably not.  But at the end of the day, it’s not words but actions that determine a racist.  I never judge a person by the color of his/her skin or ethnicity.  I always believe in giving everyone a fair shot.  I believe that everyone is entitled to a fair shot.  I appreciate folks for who they are.  I respect our cultural differences because, after all, that’s what makes life interesting.  Be they black or white or native American or Asian or blue with pink polka dots…we are all human underneath…alleged racism and all.

So did Paula Deen use racial slurs?  Yes she did, and probably most everyone in the United States at some time or another, and if you deny it, I will call you a liar.  She didn’t kill anyone.  She didn’t assault anyone.  She didn’t rape or sexually harass a minor.  She didn’t steal.  She told the truth under oath.  She is a self starter who has worked hard through difficult circumstances to get to where she is.  And used the “n” word a long time ago.  

Maybe the Food Network should pull out the polygraph machines to see who else may have used the “n” word sometime in their lives, or told an off color joke, or made a sexual remark.  Hypocrisy is the worst sin, and the self righteous hypocrites walk among us.  Let he who is not guilty cast the first stone.  I don’t think the officials at the Food Network should be throwing any stones at all.