In a message dated 4/18/2007 4:41:43 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: Perhaps Livy did not object (and we don't know that she didn't) to its usage not because she accepted or approved the word but because she realized its dramatic and realistic neccessity in HF. John H. Davis, Ph.D. I fear at some point the world passes us by, or at least what one might consider "proper" becomes antiquated. To use the term "nigger" today is tantamount to being a racist; and, you're right, John, it was not always so. We were not always so blind or stupid. Use of the word does not imply approval, but the world has passed us by to the point where use of the word brings the cry of "racist!" Black kids today use "nigga" as a friendly acceptable form. Whacko, ain't it? A wise woman once told me, "There are no bad words, only bad intentions." I recall a few years ago some teacher even getting in hot water for using the term "niggardly." Ludicrous. I often reflect on race-relations and wish for a mandate that all marriages for the next 200 years would be "mixed" so we might end this nonsense. We could all be "niggers," then. I believe Sam Clemens once said something to the effect that we are all "50th cousins, at least," and to him to be said to be "human" was the worst thing said anyway. But perhaps that's the post 1900-Clemens talking. This country has had such a guilt-fear complex about black folks since the race riots and Civil rights uproar of the 1960's, that today PC-ness bends common sense into a pretzel-like disconnect. Hard to believe that the same universities that championed free-speech movements gave birth to PC insanity. Today we stand on our heads in fear of "offending" someone or some group. How long will this country convulse over racial matters? Perhaps as long as the law favors one race over another, or even mentions it at all. I understand from my biology pals that there is no such thing as "race"; that the concept is flawed. But differences remain, & there will always be differences which divide people, rightly or wrongly. Diversity is secretly feared, not only "celebrated." Believing some races are superior or inferior--well, that's plain ignorance, yet we don't pass laws against stupidity--there aren't jails enough. Diversity is fine--we do have a common language, common political and social ideals; we're a country of *legal* immigrants from every stripe--the American tent allows even democrats! But as to Livy--she certainly argued against language far tamer than repeated use of "nigger," so it may be that Sam simply overruled her, as he sometimes did. Perhaps she might have argued for "darky" or "Negroes" or some-such. I doubt that the term "coloreds" was in play then, though maybe. Black people themselves have changed what they want to be called several times--I know one or two who won't have anything to do with "African-American." They feel no connection to Africa and/or hate being hyphenated. The thing with PC-ness is, it only has power if we all go along with it. I need to repair this old soap-box. David H Fears