Taking her marbles and going home.....

As many of you know by now, psychologist Dr. Laura Schlessinger has decided to fold up her radio talk show based on her response to one caller's question.

Here's the full audio clip and the transcript.

I should first mention that as much as I dislike Dr. Laura -- I often refer to her as "the Shiksa" -- I agree with the point she was trying to make. It seems OK to use the N-word in a black-on-black context, but if a white person like me uses it, they're in Deep Trouble. I think of the SNL word association sketch with Chevy Chase and guest host Richard Pryor. In the sketch, Chase uses escalating racial epithets, concluding with the N-word. Pryor's response to it? "Dead honkie!"

Anyway, it wasn't the Shiksa's multiple use of the N-word that bothered me. It was her sanctimonius attitude, and constant interrupting of the caller, that irritated me more. Instead of trying to come up with a workable solution for the caller's question, she stepped onto her bully pulpit and publicly berated the caller. Callers don't need that, especially in a public forum such as a radio talk show.

I'm glad she chose to take her marbles and go home.

I think there's a song in here somewhere. To parody Lou and Peter Berryman:
"Every time we have a chat
it's N-word this and N-word that
I can't control how you young black folks talk to one another
But I don't want to hear you use the N-word with your mother"

(I can use some help with the verses.)