Read Webster's Dictionary. "Niggling" originated from the year 1599. Please tell
me when the first African kidnapped from his home was shipped to the United
States to help build your country.. If "nigger" originates from "niggling", you
have an arithmetic problem. Perhaps you have worked in the computer programming
business in the past?
Folks, when stupidity (sorry to any Stuart's out there) like this comes down
the pike (sorry fish) it is time to foster a polite rage against it. To the
language police out there, find a cause of consequence.Your politely
condescending nonsense is just that.
To think someone using the word niggardly, or niggling, could be continuing the
pain of black people is more a symbol of a society that cannot come to grips
with a mistake in its past, and to just get on with it. How many of the language
police out there with your fine tooth language combs are prepared to move back
into inner city America that your parents and grandparents abandoned and
integrate your rhetoric with some real action to solve the social problems that
your pontifications do not touch? Somehow, I think I would be listened to more
than you.
Please don't tell anyone in Canada that one of us could be this impolite. I
could get into real trouble. We have this thing called the Politeness Police....
but that is another story.
Gary Elliott
Sylvan Organic Farm
Parkhill, Ontario, Canada.
Mongoose@gn.apc.org wrote:
> At 01:27 PM 1/28/99 -0500, Gary Elliott wrote:
> >Jane,
> >I thank you for your correction of my language. I meant to say "niggling",
> which
> >means petty, or small and of little importance. It was late at night. How
> you could
> >even comtemplate that "niggardly" is offensive is beyond me. What is the
> association
> >to "nigger", other than the first four letters? If the language is there,
> we use it.
>
> Origin of words/language is interesting. The origin of the word 'niggling'
> may well be from nigger. From your definition it would fit (with the rascist
> slang word). If this is true, it just continues the pain for black people.
>
> For example would you use the phrase 'get down to the nitty gritty?'
>
> It originates from slaving ships. The crew used that term when they wanted
> to rape the girls/women below decks.
>
> Would you still use that phrase?
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