The Klansman who won't use the n-word

In Jon Ronson’s chapter from Them: Adventures with Extremists, Ronson explains his experience with the Ku Klux Klan and how the Klan has begun to take a new image that is different than the old stereotypical Ku Klux Klan. Throughout the whole chapter Ronson is describing his experience with the Ku Klux Klan and even though we know that he is a Jew, he doesn’t seem to be too offended by their beliefs or actions. At one point he even puts on the Ku Klux Klan uniform, but he does admit that he feels a bit sad for doing it. The general feeling behind this chapter is that the perception of the Ku Klux Klan is changing to a less derogatory one.

                I feel that a “reincarnation” of the Ku Klux Klan is somewhat of a foolish idea and that it shouldn’t be done. Most people that aren’t racists associate the Ku Klux Klan with very radical racists that hate all races except for whites. In the chapter, they said that the Ku Klux Klan doesn’t hate blacks, they just advocate for white supremacy. To me this doesn’t really work because saying “white supremacy” is basically saying that you hate all races except for whites.

Bitch

In Beverly Gross’s “Bitch” Gross talks about the word bitch, and evaluates how the word as changed meaning in different situations and over time. She begins by speak about how the word bitch is conventionally used only by men meant to insult or degrade women. However, the original meaning of the word is a female dog. She then cites multiple definitions from dictionaries all of which differ slightly but have the same general meaning of, a malicious woman. She also talks about how the word bitch also is used when a man feels threatened to his masculinity. Gross then gives various examples of how people have used the word bitch publicly. She cites Barbra Bush, Esquire and other sources and how they used the word bitch.

While reading this I realized that I mostly associated the word bitch with “bitchiness” or incredibly annoying, nagging, or very mean. I've heard the word bitch used in many contexts, including just referring to women in general and not meant to be insulting at all. However the most common way I've heard it used is mainly referring to a women who is mean or ill spirited.    

First Post

First post in nathan's awesome blog