Is Stockwell Day being Racist or just stupid? From his column in yesterday's Penticton Western News:
Aaaaanyway, it appears that local libs now send bits and pieces of my local columns to their favourite spear-chuckers down east who are quick to unleash a volley of indignation, which makes for good fodder back here at home.
The most natural way to read this, given the standard definition of "spear-chucker", is that Stockwell is claiming local liberals are sending bits from his columns to the dumb black males we've got living in some of our Eastern cities.
Either that or he has given a private meaning to the term "spear-chucker", which I frankly can't fathom at the moment.
(Big H/T to Bob The Red)
2005 War in the Woods;
ReplyDeleteforest professional vs. mountain pine beetle:
''Spear chuckers enter into a debate. and throw spears at the process. This results. in friction and difficulty finding a successfull resolution''
So he is comparing Easterners to savage Indians rather than blacks, is that what you're arguing? Or is he insulting both races at once, kind of like a trick shot in pool?
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be used from time to time to describe a person who is consumed by, or owes his livelihood to, his partisan ties.
ReplyDeleteFor instance, from Slate in 2004: "The most obvious expression of Bush's choice of ignorance is that, at the age of 57, he knows nothing about policy or history. After years of working as his dad's spear-chucker in Washington, he didn't understand the difference between Medicare and Medicaid, the second- and third-largest federal programs."
http://www.slate.com/id/2100064/
In fact, Slate seems to have no problem with the term at all. Jack Shafer, their media critic, used it in this context in an interview this year, meaning someone who just shills the company line: "PRWeek: In other words, you don't talk to spokespeople.
Shafer: You know, the spokespeople that I do end up talking to, I'd much prefer talking to somebody who's in the decision-making capacity and is not the spear-chucker for the person in the decision-making capacity. I will default to quoting the spokesman if that's all I can talk to, in the interest of fairness. But I don't consider it any great coup when some spokesman presents some obfuscation as some sort of corporate apology."
http://www.clickmt.com/public/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=fulldetails&newsuid=b9bd8106-ae86-489f-bb40-6aec9c49fcf9
Or, from Michael Barone's blog on usnews.com: "Committee Chairman Pete Hoekstra last week suspended and denied classified information to the unnamed staffer. According to Republican Rep. Ray LaHood, the staffer requested a copy of the April NIE three days before part of its contents appeared in the New York Times. LaHood, by the way, is not necessarily a partisan spear chucker; he is close to Speaker Dennis Hastert, but he is one of those members often chosen to preside over divisive debates on important issues because he is perceived to be fair and impartial."
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/opinion/baroneblog/archives/061020/that_nie_leak_l_1.htm
Maybe he is refering to javelin throwers in the Olympics. Cause the Olympics were Greek and the Greeks were gay.
ReplyDeleteAnon,
ReplyDeleteMichael Barone is a U.S. Conservative commentator
who would probably be tempted to racial slurs, or might not even know the origon of the term.
As to Mr.Shafer, I've never heard of him and have no idea what bearing he's supposed to have on this issue.
Forgive me for not taking the highly-respected Urban Dictionary as the authoritative source for the definition, as you seem to have done.
ReplyDeleteYou said that Day seems to have given the term a private meaning all its own; I've pointed out that while it certainly can be and often is construed as a slur, another definition apparently does exist that is used from time to time in political and other types of commentary. What's more, it looks like it can easily be directed at the US President without fear of repercussion (but Stockwell Day, or a "US Conservative commentator" like Barone must just be either racist or stupid).
Anon,you're saying I should have been enraged when some online magazine used the term of the leader of a foreign land, what, three years ago? That's a bit rich.
ReplyDeleteAnd whatever the "intent" of the term, its historical meaning was derogatory, and if Stockwell Day maybe knew the meaning of more words, he would not have used it.
Remember, I am arguing he is either racist or stupid. You seem like you would choose door B.
That depends on what u mean by stupid?
ReplyDeletestupid :
can be used to amplify positive words, also can be used in conjuction with 'mad' or 'hella'
Dude, that hot dog was stupid good!
I'm not saying you should be enraged about things said three years ago by anyone, bigcitylib, and you probably shouldn't be enraged about this (for reasons I'll explain). I'm just pointing out that there are people on various sides of the political spectrum who have used the term in a way that is clearly not meant as a slur.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty clear that there was no racial motivation behind Day's use of the term, because it wouldn't even make any sense. And unless Day has some sort of political death wish, I think we can be confident that he wouldn't have used the term if he was aware of its racial connotations. You can argue that he SHOULD know, but it's an astounding stretch to argue that he's a racist for NOT knowing. I don't think any politician who wants to keep his job would proactively put something he actually knows is a racial slur in his local paper. In that respect, you're right -- if he had known the derogatory historical connotation of the term, he wouldn't have used it.
So you can't seriously be claiming he's racist; that's just spin. I guess calling him stupid is closer to the mark, albeit a tad over the top and lacking originality. It's more likely that he just made the same mistake in using this term that others have, with no real ill will intended, racial or otherwise. But where's the fun in that?
Who thinks he was making a racist comment? Come on. Suggestions like that just corrode all political dialogue. It's just so cheap.
ReplyDeleteWho thinks he was making a racist comment? Come on. Suggestions like that just corrode all political dialogue. It's just so cheap.
ReplyDeleteTell that to the CRAP'ers.
ReplyDeleteAs you sow, so shall you reap.
Ti-Guy,
ReplyDeleteYou are so sexxxy when you get all biblical.
That's from the Bible? I read it on one of the packets of Burpee seeds I was selling when I was 12.
ReplyDeleteFuck, I'm such a bad Christian.
However the dumbass of low vocabulary meant it, the term "spear-chucker" connotates a primitive person. I'm sure he meant it in the way of Adam and Eve after dinosaurs 6,000 years ago. Give the poor thing a break, eh? He's likely been home schooled...
ReplyDeleteThis latest 'bon mot' from Day confirms my belief that he is merely very, very stupid. How else could he keep on saying things which other, equally racist or otherwise prejudiced, conservative mp's have learned to suppress. It's no wonder Harper tries to keep his mp's away from the press. I wonder why he is keeping such a loose cannon.
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ReplyDelete