Words of Wisdom

Around campus as of late, there has been quite a bit of a dispute between students at Muskingum. Preferably taking place on the weekends at different locations and the disagreements has led to violence.

Not all, but some of the violence on campus pertaining to physical fist fights has been caused due to the lack of respect that our fellow Muskies have shown for one another.

What is going on here at Muskingum University is that, the Caucasian students feel that it is okay to call the African American students the "N" word. We all know what that word is and the offense it brings to students of that race.

The "N" word was used by Caucasian slave masters for years. Used in a way to try and tear the slaves down, and make them feel as though they weren't worth anything. African Americans turned this term around and used it in a way that would disregard the way Caucasians used it and make it a term that they could enjoy to use, all in a way to be spiteful towards the Caucasians.

Years and years later, African Americans still use this word. Whenever they are greeting, or just casually talking to a friend. It is in no form a way to embarrass and make a fool out of someone though, like the way it was back during slavery time.

Now you have Caucasian students at Muskingum that say the word in a hostile manner. It's used to upset and try to hurt the African American students here and I just don't understand why.

I will never understand why they would want to deliberately hurt someone like that. Why call someone a name that you know is going to offend and cause emotional harm to a person.

And the Caucasian students' argument is always; well they say it all the time. Or that they constantly hear it in rap music.

Here's my counter argument towards that, I don't care how many of us say it, you know it's something you don't want us to hear you say, so don't say it.

I hear Caucasian students call each other trailer trash repeatedly.

Don't you think they would be offended if an African American student called them that?

I believe so.

I hear women call each other out their names, not in a disrespectful way, but in a fun way to just greet and talk to their friends. I think we all know those terms they use as well, one starts with an "H" and the other one is the "B" word.

If a guy was to say it to a female, she would be angry and ready to retaliate. If I was trying to make an argument, I would say, why would a woman get mad if she's called that, women call each other out their name all the time, why can't men do it?

Doesn't sound so good does it?

I feel like everyone is different. Everyone has their own way of showing love and humor towards one another. It may not always be the best thing to say or do but that's just how it is.

And I just feel like you have to respect it. I don't care if you hear it in rap music or if you hear a bunch of black students say it 100 hundred times straight, while you're walking through the quad for two minutes, it's just not right to get mad and use this term to try and hurt us.

I hope this article can change the minds of those who were okay with using the "N" word and I hope that this issue of violence stops as well.

The next time someone thinks to say the word to purposely hurt someone, I want them to think to themselves, about how hurtful it is for African American students to hear Caucasians call us that.

We are all humans and we should have the common courtesy to respect everyone we come in contact with here at Muskingum University.