I found your response in the debate about the word nigger most helpful. I am an 82 year old from UK now living in Lanzarote. I have had many black friends, Jewish friends and others from minority groups in their local environment. As I understand your point of view, you point out that black people use the word without offence among each other but it is used with venom or divisively by white people. This brings me back to my own school days when labels like fatty or swot were used to separate the minorities and reinforce the tribal identity of the gang.
If civilization is defined by the decline of tribal identities and working together for the common good in a national and international context then it is under threat in many countries. A return to its basic roots is desperately needed.
