<minor hijack>
Only because I don’t want to start a new thread to ask this question…
I thought “nigger” was a slang form of niggard which means cheap. As in cheap slave labour. Which, IMO, makes it a more disgusting word than a mispronouciation of black in Spanish.
Is this thought at all accurate, or is it another example of FordPrefect’s Inaccurate Memory Facts TM ?
</minor hijack>
O’Reilly is an ass.
Actually, that urban legend was originated by none other than Michael Moore, on the Daily Show. He based it apparently on some statements published in the New York Times, September 30, 2001. The actual flight took place about five days after the time frame you mention.
So Bill Reilly didn’t exactly “make shit up”, but the New York Times did. And Michael Moore would be the fuckwit in question.
Regards,
Shodan
There is no etymological connection between “niggard” and “nigger.”
It doesn’t matter who made it up. To insist, over and over and over that it happened in the 48 hours afterwards, and not even consider that you might be wrong, makes you a fuckwit.
As for Michael Moore, I liked Roger and Me. Other than that, I can’t claim any respect for the man.
I guess O’Reilly should have called them “salsa eating immigrate monkeys” and then we all could have laughed it off.
I keep holding out hope that somewhere, somewhere there is a pundit or a talking head that isn’t an ignorant idiot.
Still holding …
Go rentCanadian Bacon, it’s really quite funny.
It does, however, make fun of Canadians* in a stereotypical way.
*Or poutine-eating puck-monkeys as I like to call 'em.
Here in Texas, Hispanic Americans use the term “wetback” to refer to illegal aliens all the time. They know that it’s not an all-encompassing slur on a race, but a derogatory term for a specific group of people.
At least they recognize it as derogatory. From what I hear about race relations in Texas, that’s a step forward.
How about calling 'em “los mojados”? (It means the same thing, but it sounds better in Spanish)
Pendejo in this case could be translated as idiot, dumb fuck, dumb shit etc.
*No seas pendejo! * is a common way to tell someone to not be stupid.
Maricon is a derogatory slang term for male homosexual.
thanks Diogenes the Cynic
I should have looked up the Master’s teachings first.
The John Candy movie? He was in that? Well, add one other thing I like about Michael Moore, then, because that movie is pure gold.
I don’t think Mr. Moore was in it, unless it was some Hitchcock like walk on. But he wrote most of it, produced it, and I believe directed it, so its pretty much his rubber ducky. May the Good Lord bless him and keep him all the days of his life, and profer on him the grace of knowing when to shut the fuck UP!!
Sigh.
Cheech said it meant “My very good friend”
I assume that’s the same word. Chong made it sound like Bendeckos.
I saw that show. Didn’t he say “wetbacks or coyotes or whatever you call them”? I could alsmost swear that he said coyotes. And isn’t “coyote” the slang term for the guys who help move illegals over the border, usually at a great price? (I’m not sure, I am asking for confirmation.)
I was only half paying attention to that segment of O’Reilly (I watch out of habit more than any devotion to O’Reilly) and yes, my eyes widened at the use of the term “wetback”. But my initial reaction (having only half-listened) was that he was trying to dredge up the right term for those unscrupulous guys who help the illegals across the border. First he said “wetbacks” and then quickly corrected it with “coyotes”.
I’ve heard O’Reilly speak of them before—he has no respect for the “coyotes” and talks of how they vicimize the illegals—taking all their money, cramming them in vans with no ventilation, sometimes raping the women (I thought I remember hearing some story about this).
Can anyone confirm that he said “coyotes”? I am SO almost positive he said that. And could someone confirm the definition of “coyotes”? This all may put a whole new wrinkle on his comment.
Coyotes (aka “polleros”) are the immigrant smugglers.
It could well be that O’Reilly used “wetback” to refer only to illegal immigrants; but the word is a still general slur in a lot of places.
True, “wetback” is a slur, no denying that. But my question is, did he use the term “wetback” because he had a brain fart, and was searching for the correct term (“coyotes”)? It seemed like that to me. He meant to say “coyotes”, but “wetback” was the first term that came to mind. He quickly ammended it to “coyotes” a few seconds later. He should have corrected himself and said “I know coyote and wetback are mean two different things and I am sorry I mixed them up and had a lapse there”. Maybe he’ll do that tonight.
This is how I saw it. Of course, I was half-paying attention to the context of what he was saying. I think we should try to find a transcript, to correct any confusion. But, I am almost 100% positive he said “coyotes”. Because that’s the only reason I did not get more indignant with him. I figured he had a brain fart. Had he said “mules” (or some other term that is not familiar to me) my reaction would have been different.
Was the term once acceptible? Here is an example of Cesar Chavez and his interviewer using it rather nonchalantly in a 1969 interview.
<slight hijack>
How odd. . .
I know the word “guappo” to mean handsome, though in spanish. I also seem to recall hearing it used in that sense in Italy many times. IMHO, word detective.com missed it on this one.
I can dig the wop -> guappo connection, but unless there is some clever connection between guappo-handsome and guappo-useless person, I’d say they need to dig a little deeper.