What do you think of the reaction to the "n- in the woodpile" remark by Tory peer Lord Dixon-Smith?

Question

However, I think some of the reaction to it seems either hastily pre-judged or betraying muddled thinking.

For instance, Keith Vaz said "I regard this remark as racist, because it is deeply offensive", which is a non sequitur. For something to be 'racist' it has to arise out of prejudice, which you could argue may well have been true in this case, but it does not follow merely from Mr Vaz, or black people or anyone else being offended by it.

When I discussed this word with a black friend, he said "I don't like the word 'n-'" (which he said in full). Does this mean that if a black person overheard and was offended, that my friend was being racist?

Also another black friend of mine says he is not offended by racist remarks because, as he says "If I allow myself to be offended, then they've won".

You must distinguish between criticism of inappropriate language and accusations of racism

Answer 1

I am fed up with this PC sshhite. This has been a saying in the English language for donkies years, why should we change it for a bunch of very annoying do-gooders. Bring back the Black and White Minsrel Show, we never used to miss it each Sunday.

Answer 2

my grandfather enlightened me to this saying, many many years ago.  I never found a use for it.  The fact that this stupid Tory Peer said it is shame on him.

" A n ( I'm not typing, it's a nasty word ) in the wood pile ".

it's another way of saying there's a bad apple in there somewhere, well as near as d**n it.

I think if we need to modify ourselves or we'll never, ever put racism to bed.

it's the 21st century, we need to move on.

we can all live without one silly old saying if it offends.

no loss.

bad apple will do, won't it?

Answer 3

Old know all is right...it was a common expression when I was a lad and many older people still use it....nothing to do with racism.

Answer 4

I always thought it was very rude and offensive - I'm old enough to remember when the phrase was used (along with Agatha Christie's - 10 Little ...... boys'), but have not used the word in any context for years and years.  How incredibly out of touch this Tory peer must be.

Answer 5

No I dont think it was racist. I would say the remark was inappropriate and he did apologise for the remark made. End of.

He comes from a generation when this sort of saying was common place like it or not and it just slipped out not with meaningful intent, but without thought.

All a storm in a teacup and Keith Vaz is just trying to make political capital out of it.

Your black friend is completely right, wise man!!

Answer 6

Keith Vaz is a proven crooked politician so anything he says should be viewed with the contempt it deserves.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopi...

Answer 7

Old Know All you do not obviously know all. The N word in the American south was generated by blacks. In the Old South blacks were referred to by whites as Afrikans.........

Answer 8

This is an bad example of the English not understanding their own language.  We are expected to stop using a perfectly good English expression because it is rude in American.

*** is an old English word for split - as in timber.  A nìgger is a piece of wood with a tendency to split.  The original expression was to place a nìgger in the woodpile meaning to sabotage someone else's work by putting a piece of poor quality timber in their supply.  That expression makes sense.  Why would a person of Afro-Caribbean origins be in a woodpile?

The American word is far more recent and comes from the Spanish word for black.  It only became a term of abuse because rednecks use it as a put down for black people.  That has nothing at all to do with the English expression.

Keith Vaz and the Labour peers who made all the fuss should be carted off to re-education camps to learn more about the English language.  Lord Dixon-Smith was right to apologise.  Not because he used a word that is offensive to Americans, but because he used the wrong expression.  What he meant was "a fly in the ointment" - or would that be offensive to flies?

Answer 9

That is a very common saying and when used in a context involving ones own race, how could it possibly be considered racist?

As for Kieth Vaz, he has all of the morality of an ally cat!