|
Obviously the race issue is very complicated, and therefore I do not have the time or space to give it its due here, so I want to stick with the practical problem of the game situaion.
As a white man I do not understand why 2 black people can call each other the N-word and no offense is taken, but I accept that that is the situation, and personally I have no problem with two blacks using that word among one another. I do however see a problem allowing a double standard on the football field.
If in the huddle of a team of all black players, one says to the other "hey go out there and hit that N--" referring to the other team's black running back, I could be inclined to do nothing. What happens though if few plays later a white player on the second team says "lets go get those N--'s." If I don't penalize the first situation how do I explain the flag on the second? "Well, you have to understand the culture differences between you and the other team. If you did, you would know that it is acceptable for one black to use that term towards another black, but it is unacceptable for you to use it." No matter how well intentioned it may be, the double standard will create a world of problems.
Furthermore, there are many whites who have been "accepted" into the black culture and can refer to black friends and team mates as N--'s. If a white player uses the N word, am I supposed to ask his teammates if he is one of the players "allowed" to use the word, or do I just automatically penalize him because the standard for white players is they are never allowed to use the word?
I know it sounds like I am taking the easy way out of this, but under the situation of a football game, it is not practical to be able to consider the cultural aspects of the actions and words being used. In the context of a football game, I find it a bit ridiculous to use the rule "it's OK for blacks to use the word, but penalize any white players who use it." Understanding and applying all the aspects of a players culture to the football game are difficult, and I admit it is oversimplifying the issue to say "it's a penalty for anyone who uses the N-word," but it is no more of a simplification than saying "only black players can use that word." Unfortunately neither situation provides a satisfactory answer, so I believe the best course of action is to use one standard for every player.
|