Aging & Attitude
New Thought on Words
Raucous describes the commotion occurring around Paula Deen’s admission that she used the N-word. Lisa Jackson is suing Dean and her brother, Bubba Hiers, for racial discrimination and sexual harassment. Jackson, a former manager of one of their restaurants, is white and has stated; Deen never used a racial slur in her presence. However, during the deposition, when asked if she had ever used the N-word, Deen replied “Yes.”
The Food Network immediately cancelled her contract. Supporters protested the television’s show knee jerk reaction.
Deen initially a no-show for an interview with Matt Lauder appeared on Wednesday’s, (June26th) show and that is when she shot herself in the foot.
Matt Lauer repeatedly asked about Deen’s motivation for appearing on the show and pressed her to say it was to stop the “financial bleeding”. Deen stuck to her message; she wanted to dispel the lies and tell people, she is not a racist.
Lauer persisted and demanded to know, “How could anyone use the N-word and not be a racist?” Since Deen admits to using the word, she is a racist. Lauer’s omnipotent view reflects today’s faulty thinking, implying that racism can be defined by the use of a single word.
Dean continued ranting about how she was raised and what her daddy said about lying. The theatrics ending with her saying, “If there is anyone who hasn’t said something they regret, to throw a stone at my head and kill me.” It was a meltdown moment and there is speculation about a daytime Emmy.
Most contracts have been cancelled, and many affiliations severed with the celebrity during the past few days, over her truthfulness. Think of all the people who are now out of work.
It is reminiscent of the Fairy Tale, “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” in which a lone boy unknowingly speaks the truth that the king is in his underwear.
There is a race divide in the United States and more in some states than others.
We moved to Florida six years ago and labeled Northerners. When the following incident occurred I came to understand why.
Robert, a hired landscaper, was working on his own in our yard when it started to rain, big rain, a sudden heavy downpour. Robert was a husky African-American in his mid twenties with a good sense of humor. I called him Robert, he always called me Miss Claudia. I assumed it was due to our age difference. I saw him standing under a tree for protection, went to the garage to press the remote door opener and called, “Robert go in the garage.” He did so reluctantly and stood looking scared, barely inside the door dripping wet. I grabbed a towel, tossed it to him and suggested he dry himself off. His sad eyes were hesitant as he replied, “You sure, Miss Claudia.”
When the rain stopped our conversation became awkward as he said, “I’ll take this home to launder and bring back my next time.” My response was, “Don’t be silly,” and took the towel back. I was from the North but Robert had been born and raised in the South.
We have all been standing on the sideline letting the Emperor think he looks good in his new outfit and now we are throwing stones at the little boy who spoke the truth.
….just saying
Related articles
- Woman Suing Paula Deen Reveals Former Food Network Star Never Made Racial Slurs In Her Presence (radaronline.com)
- The Lynching of Paula Deen (cuttothe-chase.com)
claudiajustsaying 
Thought provoking as always. Your perspective is always inspiring. Good writing and great thinking 🙂
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Hey girlfriend, glad you enjoyed.
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talk about an over reaction…well, she certainly didn’t have all her eggs in one basket…Hope she has a few baskets left
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Rowan,
Good observation. She’s smart enough to be financial protected, it’s not about the money, but about all the people who are now unemployed…just saying
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I absolutely agree with you regarding Paula Deen. Some will say “I think thou dost protest too much” but I feel that we need to stop clinging to “adjectives” that mean nothing today. Tell me about the substance of the person, their way of life, their smile. But we humans for some reason, have a need to label or categorize or pigeon-hole. I recall a Star Trek episode where Abraham Lincoln was on the deck of the Starship Enterprise and he turned to Lt. Uhura and said:
Abraham Lincoln: “What a charming negress. Oh, forgive me, my dear. I know that in my time some use that term as a description of property.”
Uhura: But why should I object to that term, sir? You see, in our century, we’ve learned not to fear words.”
–taken from The Savage Curtain (#3.22) 1969.
Isn’t that what its all about?
( Comment sent to me in an email from a reader)
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Isn’t it sad we have lost sight of being able to forgive anyones mistakes, especially after a lifetime of working with people and caring about them we nail them for past comments. What happened to free speech, even if we find it not to our liking. I guess since she is not a rapper then she should lose every thing????
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Mary, You raise another missed point. Freedom of speech, we have become hesitant to express our views.
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I’m Southern. I have heard this word all my life and I don’t like it. I don’t like it being used by anyone. I don’t know all the details on Paula’s case. I have actually tried to stay away from it. But I find it completely ridiculous that someone who has never heard her say it in her presence can do this to someone else. That is hearsay. Have I ever cussed? Have you ever heard the words come from my mouth? No. Why? You don’t know me. Therefore, you can’t completely say I have. I am not saying the word used by Paula was good or right. As I stated, I despise it! But I also have to look at how she is in the present. I have to view that person as opposed to someone 20 years ago. I am not the same person 20 years ago. I said things 20 years ago I shouldn’t have. I have changed and grown and know better.
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Amy, Thanks for sharing your thoughts, ridiculous, another R word that says it well. Claudia
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Thanks. I did like your thoughts as well. I just wish we, as a society, weren’t so quick to judge. I wonder how well that person who cast a stone would stand up to the scrutiny that has ensued. I wonder if she has ever said or done anything she wishes she hadn’t. I am betting the answer is yes.
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This whole scenario is way out of control. There isn’t a person on this earth who hasn’t said something they regret. I think her sponsors should have waited to see what transpired and given her the benefit of the doubt. It all comes down to the bottom line – dollars- and all her sponsors are afraid they would have lost some by keeping her. How sad!
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Nancy, You are so right, I’m always lamenting my “big mouth”.
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Very thoughtful viewpoint. Anthropologically speaking – Americans love a pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps story and she certainly gave us one: “My husband left me and two little boys so I made sandwiches in my kitchen selling them out of my car to make ends meet”. And we all felt good about ourselves giving that poor woman a chance. But then, in Southern vernacular, she got “too big for her britches” so we over reacted to something said out of fear 30 years ago in order to “take her down a notch or two”. She will most likely lose it all (as may her sons) only to rise from the ashes regaining at least some of her former fame. Once again we can all feel good about ourselves because there’s nothing American’s love more than a good come-back story! A fall from grace seems to be a part of the American Dream these days.
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“A fall from grace, etc.” you are so right. I’m sure Paula Deen will land on her feet. I just wonder why Deen and not Alec Baldwin?
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Oh that’s easy! She’s a woman, of course!
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