Hi Fran:

I only make racist jokes about Germans, because they think they know everything. Who do they think they are, anyway? God?

But their foremost philosopher, Nietzsche, said, "God is dead!" Well, maybe they don't know everything.

Your Übermensch,

Arminius

My father always called christmas oranges Jap oranges because they came from Japan - how could I not use this, to illustrate our unconscious racism, and how it comes out in words that we think mean nothing when they do. 

Such an illustration does cause people to reexamine the use of words and their power - in my sermon this past sunday ( below) I talked about how words do oppress and hurt - following Harold Pinter's insights.

We can be too political correct in the UCC and thus allow unconscious thinking to live.  So my answer there are times to be politically incorrect to get across a point.

Haven't talked to YOU in a donkey's age! Fifteen years???? Thanks for the comments - I'd forgotten "Jap oranges"!! I am so used to calling them "mikan", which is the Japanese word.

I come firmly down on the side of *context* being really important - and not getting so caught up in pseudo political correctness.

Hi Fran,

I'm with you on this one. I don't think there's anything offensive about using the actual words to illustrate racism, when the whole point is to educate AGAINST racism.

 I agree with ministers shocking their congregations into thinking more - there's nothing as long as a boring sermon! Although I guess it depends on how you shock them. I remember my Scottish Dad  telling me how as a small boy he was shocked out of his wits by the fire and brimstone Presbyterian minister in his highland village. He then had to hear the same sermon repeated later in the day - this time in Gaelic!!

Arminius, I know it's only January, but already you're leading in this year's most humorous comment. I laughed out loud about German rascist jokes and Nietzsche! Most of the time your head seems to be in the cosmos - sorry kosmos - so it was a treat to catch a glimpse of the individual!!!!

I come from a Celt/Norge heritage and tell many jokes on that basis ... some quite ridiculous that can make others rage. If we could only look at ourselves as maybe creation meant to make the indeterminate God(s) laugh ... I truly wonder if that's not just what we are, a bit of a joke in the cosmos. With that sort of perspective one rather losses the schooled train of fear of death ... it's just too funny! You can lose your body ... emotions never go away ... and if you laugh hard enough can you lose your mind/soul/psyche complex? Perhaps that's the problem with God ... Hur'ims laughed thy'self right into senselessnes ... not a thought in that state of emotion! A break is needed for rest and catching the winds.

Now Newfoundlanders, that I used to do work for, would tell me endless newfy jokes and ask me "what is black and blue and floats in the bay b'y?" It seems it was a mainlander that told Newfy jokes without a proper initiation (it takes a lifetime) just like initiating a soul for the beyond!

Joseph Campbell defended myth as a power ... where an old definition of myth is "beyond". Now one has to wonder beyond what. Is it beyond "me" when we learn that saving the soul means stepping beyond th's elf ... like out of Pan Doers Box ... ain't that a devil of a metaphor in deep space of the mind ... convoluted!

They are just words ... a relational thing in a quantum universe. Perhap it is turned, convoluted on the other side? Sounds like vert-ego to me ... a winger at right angles!

Will we ever stand outside ourselves and look at the anima emptied, or is that naked from the other side of Eumerus? Do you know that funny philosopher on Gods?

Using derogative words as shock is fine in my opinion although you always run the chance as being perceived as someone secretly wanting to say those words. The “N” word is the cause celebre of the day and although I would never use the word “Jap” I forget that it can be hurtful. I am also uncomfortable with “Jew”.....

I think if people were ‘loving wastefully’, they would avoid these epithets altogether.

(Arminius: Was Schopenhauer German. If so, perhaps he was Nietzsche’s philosopher equal?)

Hi Fran keep up the good work