In her response to the tragedy in Arizona on Saturday January 8, 2011, Sarah Palin said her critics used “blood libel” in their retorts. For a quick history lesson in the true meaning of the term, I encourage you to check out this post by a fellow Scholar, Anthony Fatta.

I will be upfront in saying that I was deeply saddened by her choice of words. As a rhetorician, I take great pride in the words I choose and therefore think others should do so accordingly. It has noting to do with being pompous, or my self-destructive need to be right, it is about respect. I did not know how much I cared about word choice until Resident Advisor (RA) training before my junior year of college.

While waiting for one of our sessions to start, one of my fellow RA’s used the term “CP time” do designate, why another RA was late. After this RA used the term my Residence Director (RD) promptly asked, “do you know what that means?”.

The RA responded, “yes, colored-people time.”

“Do you know where that term comes from?” My RD then probed further. 

“Uh. . . no”

Our RD then when on to explain that during the time of Jim Crow Laws, many places not only designated black and white sections of their establishments, but specific times for blacks and whites to use their facilities. These time differences always gave white patrons the more desired time, which meant black patrons had to show up later, which eventually translated into “late”. It’s a little known fact that unfortunately doesn’t yield man short or easy to read web articles, but many people have devoted significant time to researching the historical reasons for colored people time and the Jim Crow Laws that created them (see page 400, paragraph 2).

After sharing this, she then asked why we wanted to use a term that was full of such negative connotations? She made the argument that using this language and not sharing this history behind it is just as bad as using offensive language. I now believe using historically charged language might even be worse.

Sarah Palin’s use of “blood libel” is no different.

Jokes, slang, and terms that have been “reclaimed” or no longer charged with such strong emotion should not be tolerated because while definitions can change, pain does not. Every word in our language has a history behind it and it matters not what the connotation is now, once offensive, always offensive. As an religious-pluralist, I always make it known that derogatory language, joking or otherwise is not, acceptable. I do so, because I do not ever want us to get to a complacent point when we think tragedies of our past do not haunt our present and shape our future.

I cringe at the “N” word. Even if prominent African-Americans use it in every day language and claim to be “taking it back”, I do not ever want it back. I will never forget the books I read as a child where my favorite African-American heroes were being debased and called out of their name. That is what rings through my ears when I hear that word. It will never be part of my definition of being a Black American.

And then there’s the jokes. Every joke is funny because it is really based on truth, but instead of being horrified, we laugh.  Which is actually worse. Telling these jokes that poke fun a fundamental problems or stereotypes in our society distract us from doing anytime about these problems. I’ve heard many jokes about church politics, but I’m still waiting for the story about someone trying to change them.

These jokes and mis-used words distract us from the true problems at hand and do so at the expense of others.

As long as there are Jews on earth, the Holocaust will not be forgotten. This means antisemitism will always be a real and vibrant fear. And a joke or phrased once used against my Jewish brothers and sisters will hurt just as much today, as it did yesterday and as it will tomorrow.

As long as there are African Americans on earth, slavery will not be forgotten. This means racism will always be a real and vibrant fear. And a joke or phrased once used against my black brothers and sisters will hurt just as much today as it did yesterday and as it will tomorrow.

As long as there are women on earth, violence and oppression will not be forgotten. This means sexism will always  be a real and vibrant fear. And a joke of phrased once used against my sisters will hurt just as much today as it did yesterday and as it will tomorrow.

As people building bridges across the faith line, it is important to know the history behind our rhetoric so we can be a voice for change. It is important to recognize the problems our jokes are addressing, and be agents of change rather than passive perpetrators of the status quo.