# Were the Dixie Chicks wrong? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 18, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-dixie-chicks-wrong/162157 "2003-03-18T00:40:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-dixie-chicks-wrong/162157/61 "2003-03-18T17:31:59Z")
> [@](#): > > She was wrong because she said something that 99.99% of her American fanbase vehemently disagrees with The Dixie Chicks played at Lilith fair a fewyear back and stole the show. A real hotbed of pro-Bush militarism, that. > [@](#): > > * * * > > Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic > Did any of these sister raping hillbillies ever protest anyone who criticized Clinton. > > * * * > > They weren’t fans of Clinton. Why would they? In order to avoid being hypocrites, that’s why. > [@](#): > > It minimizes the effort that our soldiers are making. Our soldiers are putting their lives on the line for a cause, and you’re saying that their risks and sacrifices are for nothing. The President and his supporters should not hide behind the troops in order to deflect criticism of his descision to send them there in the first place. (Besides, the war hasn’t started yet. “This is no time to say we shouldn’t go to war; we’re about to go to war!”) p.s. I support the war but the low-level fascism emanating from the Right is disturbing. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-dixie-chicks-wrong/162157/62 "2003-03-18T18:18:25Z")
Quite frankly I don’t give a damn what the Dixie Chicks think about international politics. They’re wrong because they totally ruined a perfectly good Fleetwood Mac song. Bitches! Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-dixie-chicks-wrong/162157/63 "2003-03-18T18:19:06Z")
> [@](#): > > They weren’t fans of Clinton. Why would they? So you admit they’re hypocritical. Their problem isn’t criticism of the president, it’s criticism of _this_ president. You admit that all this handwringing about 'the troops" is disinginenuous, grandstanding crap. It’s not about the troops, they just can’t stand for anyone to challenge their narrow little world view. > [@](#): > > Oh, but not you though, right? Go back to page one of this thread and read the post where I talk about all the artists who disagree with me, whose art I enjoy, nonetheless. I am quite capable of tolerating other opinions and even liking the people who express them. I would never destroy CD’s or burn books under any circumstances. > [@](#): > > The POTUS is well liked by her fans. Her actions were cowardly and stupid. She wouldn’t have said the same thing in Texas. Even she realizes this, and has apologized. How can you not see it? How do you know she wouldn’t have said it in Texas? And if her fans can’t take it, then her fans are the ones who are cowardly and stupid. > [@](#): > > This board is becomming more like the Democratic Underground every day. A conservative like december can’t make a single slip without being pitted by 20 people. Meanwhile you can go ahead and say whatever you like without being challenged. I have never pitted **december** or any other doper. I rarely even flame other dopers. And if you think I don’t get “challenged” for my posts, then you just haven’t been paying attention. What are _you_ doing for Cripe’s sake? > [@](#): > > Wait. Aren’t you the one usually complaining about being labelled un-american because of your views? The people trashing the CD’s are exercising their right to free speech. This doesn’t make them ignorant, pig-eyed, or un-american. > > If you can’t tell the difference between this and book burning then there is little hope for you. What, exactly, _is_ the difference between this and book burning. It’s _exactly_ the same, it’s just a different medium. How about books on tape. Is running over books on tape the same as book burning? > [@](#): > > This is just sad. Can’t have a debate about the Dixie Chicks without making wild accusations that the POTUS is a murderer. Well, It’s no different than accusing those who oppose the war of being against the troops. I think this invasion is truly an amoral act by Bush, and that it will needlessly kill innoocent people. I’m not just going to bark and bang my flippers together out of some misguided notion that I must support my country no matter what. I want the troops to come home before they get gassed. I think that Bush is doing something truly unwarranted and indefensible, and that he’s hiding behind “the troops” to avoid personal criticism. > [@](#): > > Oh, really. Would you do something so black as to start a riot? Or so hispanic as to steal? I didn’t say it was a _white_ thing to do, I said it was a white _trash_ thing to do. It 's their _actions_ that make them trash, not their color. > [@](#): > > **AQA** said: > It minimizes the effort that our soldiers are making. Our soldiers are putting their lives on the line for a cause, and you’re saying that their risks and sacrifices are for nothing. At the very least, that hurts troop morale. Saying that there is no reason for the soldiers to be in Iraq also casts you as blind to opposing arguments. I’m in favor of the war in Iraq, but at least I can admit that there are valid arguments on the other side. Can you not do the same? I disagree that they’re over there for a “cause.” They’re doing their jobs and their duty. They’re doing what they signed up to do, and their own motives are pure. having said that, I really _do_ think that they’re risking their lives for nothing, but that’s _Bush’s_ fault, not theirs. Iraq is not a threat to the US. Bush is not justified in putting the troops in harm’s way. He is abusing his power as CiC. I’m not blind to opposing arguments, I’m unconvinced by them. I believe that Hussein is an evil person. I believe that he hurts his own people. That is not a good enough reason to invade another country. Aggression against another sovereign nation is only justified, under international law, for self-defense or if it can be shown that another country poses an imminent and unambiguous threat to the invading country. Neither of these criteria has been met. We are not justified, under the letter of existing international law, in invading another country. It is not necessary for the security of the US, and, in fact, will probably increase the threat of terrorism as well as guarantee that whatever chemical or biological weapons Hussein has left will be used on US troops. War talk aside, though, the comment made by the singer was not made with any specific reference to the war. There are plenty of other reasons to be ashamed of GWB besides the invasion of Iraq. Not the least of which is that he was a deserter during wartime. > [@](#): > > Yes, yes, and yes (and yes and yes and yes). In fact, I was pretty vocal about it (although I wasn’t on these Boards yet). Not everyone is blinded by their hatred of a particular president. And frankly, because you seem intelligent, I’m disappointed that your posts on political subjects always seem to descend into childish name-calling. Well, at least you’re consistent. I commend you for it, you’re not a hypocrite. As for the “childish name calling,” I plead guilty to it, I guess. I’m still right, though. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-dixie-chicks-wrong/162157/64 "2003-03-18T18:20:08Z")
—The President and his supporters should not hide behind the troops in order to deflect criticism of his descision to send them there in the first place. (Besides, the war hasn’t started yet. “This is no time to say we shouldn’t go to war; we’re about to go to war!”)— I agree. AQA, you are quickly joining DtC in being completely over-the-top about this issue. There is nothing impolite to the military about criticizing a President’s political choices, especially when you feel that he is putting the military in harm’s way unecessarily in the first place. At this point, outrage on things like this seems utterly manufactured. It’s exactly the kind of non-story that people on conservative shows are paid to scan the news for and then work people up about… and so people get worked up about it. So it goes. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-dixie-chicks-wrong/162157/65 "2003-03-18T18:34:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mtgman \* > \*\*Quite frankly I don’t give a damn what the Dixie Chicks think about international politics. They’re wrong because they totally ruined a perfectly good Fleetwood Mac song. Bitches! > > Enjoy, > Steven \*\* You have an excellent point, I must admit. ---
**Author:** ![FranticMad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c68b51/32.png) [@FranticMad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FranticMad)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-dixie-chicks-wrong/162157/66 "2003-03-18T19:42:19Z")
As long as they don’t change their name from the “Dixie Chicks” to the “Jingo Belles” ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-dixie-chicks-wrong/162157/67 "2003-03-18T19:51:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > So you admit they’re hypocritical. You got me. I admit it. All the fans of the Dixie Chicks are big fat hypocrits. :rolleyes: > [@](#): > > I am quite capable of tolerating other opinions and even liking the people who express them. I would never destroy CD’s or burn books **under any circumstances.** Bolding mine. So, if I gave you a “Screwdriver” (Neo Nazi music) CD you would add it to your collection, or you would toss it away? How about if I sent you a book filled with child porn? > [@](#): > > How do you know she wouldn’t have said it in Texas? Because she hasn’t, and she didn’t. She said it in London. > [@](#): > > And if her fans can’t take it, then her fans are the ones who are cowardly and stupid. OK. In addition to being hypocritical, all the fans of the Dixie Chicks are now both cowardly and stupid. I am running out of these :rolleyes: :rolleyes: What makes them cowardly, stupid, and hypocritical more? Being Dixie Chicks fans, being from the south, or just being conservative? > [@](#): > > I have never pitted **december** or any other doper. I rarely even flame other dopers. And if you think I don’t get “challenged” for my posts, then you just haven’t been paying attention. What are _you_ doing for Cripe’s sake? You aren’t challenged enough. The only thing I can think of to explain this is that no one even wants to bother because of how twisted your views are. Either that or the SDMB really is becomming the Democratic Underground. > [@](#): > > What, exactly, _is_ the difference between this and book burning. It’s _exactly_ the same, it’s just a different medium. How about books on tape. Is running over books on tape the same as book burning? Burning books is destroying knowledge. The obvious implication when somebody mentions “book burning” is a facist government burning books which they disagree with. You comparing this to fans of the Dixie Chicks making a statement about thier disagreement with the band is foolish and silly. > [@](#): > > _debaser said_ > Can’t have a debate about the Dixie Chicks without making wild accusations that the POTUS is a murderer. > [@](#): > > _Diogenes responded_ > Well, It’s no different than accusing those who oppose the war of being against the troops. Huh? You calling Bush a murderer for no reason during a Dixie Chicks debate != accusing anti-war folks of being anti-troops. Even if it did, so what? Two wrongs make a right? Some on the right are guilty of something so you have open season to do the same thing? > [@](#): > > I want the troops to come home before they get gassed. How can that happen if Saddam doesn’t have any weapons of mass destruction? Are you conceding that such weapons do exist, and that he has been hiding them from the inspectors all along? > [@](#): > > I didn’t say it was a _white_ thing to do, I said it was a white _trash_ thing to do. It 's their _actions_ that make them trash, not their color. Oh, I’ve got it now. Stealing isn’t a _black_ thing to do. It’s a _nigger_ thing to do. It’s their _actions_ that make them niggers, not their color. Thats much less offensive. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-dixie-chicks-wrong/162157/68 "2003-03-18T20:04:20Z")
“White trash” is not the same as “nigger.” That’s a bullshit analogy. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-dixie-chicks-wrong/162157/69 "2003-03-18T20:28:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Age Quod Agis \* > \*\* > Country folk tend to be pretty big on manners and respect, so they’re not too likely to kinder to such. \*\* HA HA HA! Take a gander at those respectful, full of manners wackos out there aburnin’ those CD’s and getting bent out of shape because a singer dared disagree with “the 'Merican Way”…AKA, “their” way. In case you haven’t heard their message, unless you are 100% behind Bush, you are considered an Anti-American godless, commie pig. I saw those bigoted dickheads ranting the same thing back in the 60’s and I see they done a good job bringin’ up their kids. “Manners and respect” my ass. They are the same rabid bullies spewing hatred while wrapped in the American flag they think they own. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-dixie-chicks-wrong/162157/70 "2003-03-18T20:30:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\*It’s not anti-American to whine about it, but it _is_ anti-American (IMO) to destroy CD’s. \*\* Would you support _FLAG_ burning? Or is it Anti-American in your view? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-dixie-chicks-wrong/162157/71 "2003-03-18T20:41:52Z")
Flag burning is legal free speech. It doesn’t bother me, but I can see how others might think it was anti-American. I never said that CD burning should be banned, just that it’s stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Age\_Quod\_Agis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d07c76/32.png) [@Age\_Quod\_Agis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Age_Quod_Agis)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-dixie-chicks-wrong/162157/72 "2003-03-18T20:46:40Z")
> [@](#): > > _Diogenes the Cynic:_ > War talk aside, though, the comment made by the singer was not made with any specific reference to the war. There are plenty of other reasons to be ashamed of GWB besides the invasion of Iraq. Not the least of which is that he was a deserter during wartime. I don’t think that’s what she was talking about. In fact, given the environment of her statement and the tenor of her apology, I think we’re safe in assuming that she was talking about the war in Iraq. > [@](#): > > _Apos:_ > AQA, you are quickly joining DtC in being completely over-the-top about this issue. There is nothing impolite to the military about criticizing a President’s political choices, especially when you feel that he is putting the military in harm’s way unecessarily in the first place. I promise, I’m not _trying_ to be over the top. In fact, I think I’m being utterly reasonable. And I’ve got evidence of my reasonableness – Democrats have been lining up left and right to mute their criticism of the President to provide support for our troops. For example, John Kerry used to be one of Bush’s staunchest critics on the Iraq front, but now he’s told the press that he’ll be backing off that criticism while we’re at war in order to show his support for the troops. I, for one, think that’s perfectly reasonable. > [@](#): > > _Apos:_ > It’s exactly the kind of non-story that people on conservative shows are paid to scan the news for and then work people up about… and so people get worked up about it. I think it’s interesting that you said “conservative shows.” Does this not take place on liberal shows? Sorry, **DMark** , this isn’t the Pit, so I’m not going to touch your message. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-dixie-chicks-wrong/162157/73 "2003-03-18T21:02:23Z")
> [@](#): > > I think it’s interesting that you said “conservative shows.” Does this not take place on liberal shows? Can you _name_ a liberal show? ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-dixie-chicks-wrong/162157/74 "2003-03-18T21:04:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Age Quod Agis \* > \*\* > Sorry, **DMark** , this isn’t the Pit, so I’m not going to touch your message. \*\* There is nothing “pit” in my message. A singer disagreed with her “fans” who are supposedly “mannered and respectful” simple folk. I merely pointed out that those genteel fans turned on her like a pitbull on a sick three-legged kitten. I further suggested there is a pattern to this kind of behavior and that there might be more books in German libraries if ancestors of said fans had left their bics at home. By no means was I suggesting you are one of them. I think you have made that quite clear. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-dixie-chicks-wrong/162157/75 "2003-03-18T21:20:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\*“White trash” is not the same as “nigger.” That’s a bullshit analogy. \*\* They only need to be similar for my analogy to have merit, which they are. So, calling someone “white trash” is ok, but calling someone “nigger” is not? Why? ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-dixie-chicks-wrong/162157/76 "2003-03-18T21:35:53Z")
—Democrats have been lining up left and right to mute their criticism of the President to provide support for our troops. For example, John Kerry used to be one of Bush’s staunchest critics on the Iraq front, but now he’s told the press that he’ll be backing off that criticism while we’re at war in order to show his support for the troops. I, for one, think that’s perfectly reasonable.— Ah, so politicians jockying to avoid getting any bad spin on them are now to be our guides on what is to be truly polite and principled Americans? I _don’t_ think it’s perfectly reasonable. Indeed, as I outlined, I struggle to understand the reason, since it doesn’t seem to include the usual connections between one thought and another that characterize the application of reason. The President is a civilian leader that commands the troops. How can criticizing him translate into a lack of respect for the troops, much less cause them danger, especially when the war has yet to start and part of the POINT of the criticism seems to be that “we should not be putting them in danger?” We are not trying to live up to the standard set by reflexively placating the image of the Chinese government. We are trying to stand up to the standard set by the American ideal wherein we don’t mistake political leaders for gods, or accept them as proxies for the country. We are not only free to criticize our political leaders: it is the lifeblood of our democracy (in contrast to, say, the democracy of Iraq), and is probably more so, not less so, in times of conflict. —I think it’s interesting that you said “conservative shows.” Does this not take place on liberal shows?— Uh, not in this instance, no, given that this particular case was a chance for conservatives, not liberals, to score valuable “outrage” points. So it’s not “interesting” in the way you are politely implying. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-dixie-chicks-wrong/162157/77 "2003-03-18T21:43:16Z")
> [@](#): > > So, calling someone “white trash” is ok, but calling someone “nigger” is not? > > Why? I think there is a fundamental difference in how the terms are used and why. “Nigger” was a word used by one group of people to help opress and dehumanize another group of people. White people have never been oppressed by anybody, and the term “white trash” was invented and is mostly used by whites, themselves. It was specifically invented by white southerners, so if you have an issue with the word, take it up with them. “Nigger” applies to all black people, “white trash” just applies to a specific group of white people. I suppose it could be argued that “white trash” has a classist connotation since it originally was applied to people who were poor, unsophisticated and uneducated. The way it’s used now, though, (in my own experience of the deep south) is that it refers to a kind of backwards, bigoted and willfully ignorant mentality. It doesn’t have to mean poor and uneducated. Jesse Helms, for instance, is inveterate white trash. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-dixie-chicks-wrong/162157/78 "2003-03-18T21:59:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > I think there is a fundamental difference in how the terms are used and why. They are both offensive to a group of people. They are both based on race. They are both used as an insult. > [@](#): > > White people have never been oppressed by anybody, The nerve. So, fuck them, right! > [@](#): > > and the term “white trash” was invented and is mostly used by whites, themselves. The term “nigger” is used mostly by blacks, themselves. > [@](#): > > It was specifically invented by white southerners, Cite? I am curious to know the “inventor” of the term white trash. What’s his name again? > [@](#): > > “Nigger” applies to all black people, “white trash” just applies to a specific group of white people. Ahh, that makes it ok then? How about if someone says “Ghetto Nigger”. That only applies to a certain group of black people. That makes it ok with you? These terms seem to have more in common then they do different. In any case, my analogy stands, because as I said earlier, the two only have to be similar for it to be valid. Which they most certainly are. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-dixie-chicks-wrong/162157/79 "2003-03-18T22:13:52Z")
Amid all the sidetracks and attacks here (for which neither side is blameless), I’m surprised how little attention is being paid to the partisan double standard noted by Diogenes (and myself). _The Ditzy Chick was criticizing President Bush – not the military!!!_ If her comments hurt the troops overseas, why didn’t anyone burn Ted Nugent’s CDs for his attacks on President Clinton? (I don’t have cites, because the ones I remember were on his radio show, and on ‘PI with Bill Maher’). And to anyone who says that was OK because we weren’t at war then, I’ll let you debate that with several friends of mine who got called up to Kosovo. It’s a cheap, dishonest debating tactic to claim that every criticism of a President you _like_ is an attack on our brave fighting forces. To then turn around and defend attacking a President you _don’t_ like is rank hypocrisy. Personally think Ms. Maines comments were inappropriate. I voted for Bush, I support the war, and even if I didn’t, I would support our troops. But let’s keep things in perspective. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-dixie-chicks-wrong/162157/80 "2003-03-18T22:33:25Z")
> [@](#): > > **Debaser** said: > They are both offensive to a group of people. They are both based on race. They are both used as an insult. They are _not_ both based on race. The "n’ word is based on race. “White trash” was originally based on economic status, and is now used to describe a certain attitude. > [@](#): > > The nerve. So, fuck them, right! The point is that the term “white trash” does not carry the freight of racial opression that the “n” word does. > [@](#): > > The term “nigger” is used mostly by blacks, themselves. Cite? Also, black people didn’t _invent_ the term, and I would WAG that most black people don’t use it. > [@](#): > > Cite? I am curious to know the “inventor” of the term white trash. What’s his name again? You don’t like the word “invent?” How about originate? The term _originated_ in the ante-bellum south. > [@](#): > > Ahh, that makes it ok then? How about if someone says “Ghetto Nigger”. That only applies to a certain group of black people. That makes it ok with you? > > These terms seem to have more in common then they do different. In any case, my analogy stands, because as I said earlier, the two only have to be similar for it to be valid. Which they most certainly are. I disagree. “nigger” is derogatory and racist while “white trash” is merely derogatory. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-dixie-chicks-wrong/162157.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-dixie-chicks-wrong/162157.md?page=5)