NEGRA MODELO AND " CREEPY-ASS CRACKERS"

Recently, on the way to New Mexico, a stop was made in Austin to see family members.  Our visit was made more than a little memorable, owing to the mercury on that day topping 108 degrees; but, happily, I was met at the door by my attorney step-son, who almost immediately placed a cold Mexican beer, a Negra Modelo, in my hand.

RACHEL JEANTEL

As I lustily poured the chilled libation down my parched gullet, I began to praise the Negra Modelo brand in no uncertain terms.  Very quickly, the young attorney shushed me, letting me know that there was a teen birthday party in process on the premises, and my voice, which has been known to carry over long distances, might cause discomfort  for the African-American youngsters in attendance.  Although making light of my step-son's comment by recommending that he undertake legal action to remove the offending "Negra" from Negra Modelo,  I began to lament that political correctness has taken us to such an extreme that, as Americans, we are now so conditioned to racial and ethnic labels of one type or another, that we in effect have imposed a divisive type of multicultural apartheid upon ourselves.  And, to a degree previously unknown, there is such self-awareness that even the most inoffensive language is capable of giving offense.

In recent coverage of the George Zimmerman trial,  it came to light that star witness Rachel Jeantel had used the term "creepy-ass cracker" to describe defendant Zimmerman.  When pressed by the defense attorney to confirm if she recognized her colorful descriptor as a racial epithet, Ms. Jeantel at first appeared dumbfounded, but  eventually stated she saw no racial slur in her language.

Incredibly, our society in the year 2013 appears so immature that name-calling is becoming an all-too-frequent occurrence.  More and more, one hears certain  individuals referred to as "apples," meaning that they are red on the outside but white on the inside.  Then, there are "coconuts," who are are brown on the outside and white on the inside. "Oreo" has been outdone by verbiage that is now so common that its usage  will undoubtedly see it gaining acceptance in what now passes for English. In the meantime, our sensitivity to the most innocent use of language is growing by leaps and bounds.

If it is true that we define ourselves by our language, we might want to consider the direction in which the utilization of various  terms seems to be taking us.  Will we be a strong, united Republic, or will we become simply a collection of quarreling and name-calling tribes, intent on our own narrow interests and following our  separate and selfish roads to ruin and despair?  From this vantage point, it would appear that the day of reckoning has arrived.  And, perhaps, the hour of decision is now upon us.