Let’s be honest: is anyone is surprised that Republican Florida state Sen. Frank Artiles still doesn’t think that he did anything wrong when he cursed at his colleagues, called one them a bitch and then called some of them “niggas” earlier this week? Though he tried to apologize on Wednesday, his excuse was less than impressive.
Republican Sen. Frank Artiles tried to say his use of the word was actually "niggas" and explained that's the way people speak in Hialeah, the city near Miami where he grew up. Even as he apologized on the Senate floor Wednesday, he said that his intention in using it was benign.
"I grew up in a diverse community. We share each other's customs, cultures and vernacular," said Artiles, who is Cuban-American.
Diversity is a beautiful thing. It makes this country great. However, it would be a real shame if the use of the word “nigga” is the only cultural custom Artiles picked up living in the community of Hialeah. And apparently, he didn’t learn too much, because among people who grew up in multi-ethnic environments and travel in multiple social circles, we already know full well that certain language (the n-word aside, which is loaded with lots of controversy among black people) is for use at home and in the street and not for the workplace. It’s called code switching. Or better yet, just using good judgment. And plenty of folks from Hialeah disagree with the idea that this is how they talk.
The excuse drew outrage from Senate Democratic Leader Oscar Braynon, whose district borders Hialeah.
"It is not acceptable in Hialeah for that to happen," Braynon said. "It is not how they talk in Hialeah." [...]
Republican Sen. Rene Garcia, who represents Hialeah also took offense.
"My constituents and I would agree that this language is simply unacceptable. Senator Artiles owes the residents of Hialeah an apology for unfairly associating them with this kind of behavior," he said in a written statement.
from Daily Kos http://ift.tt/2orBSHG
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