It's not wrong to say the N word.

If you look up the word on Merriam-Webster's website an read the full page underneath the definitions you'll get a better idea of why the word refers to more than simply blacks, And get a better idea of how it's used in many places today to refer to ignorant people. The term 'wigger' and the 'ER' word are used for these people interchangeably. Urban dictionary is a terrible place to look up these terms. It's better for less common slang. You and I would both love to see a society in which no one takes 'offense' to words. Unfortunately, That isn't the current society we live in. "Words hurt because we let them" is true, But the process to change societies is slow. You can simultaneously be right that using the term 'ER' SHOULDN'T be wrong and be wrong in your opinion that it is not currently wrong to do so. Many people are too ignorant to read intent behind words. Much of this can be said to stem from the higher use of sarcasm and slang in the States compared to other countries. While other countries often have multiple very different meanings behind words based on intent or inflection, American English largely does not. The history behind the ER word and the perhaps irrational feeling towards the word on behalf of blacks in the US combine to give the ER word a negative connotation. So much so that it almost only used by racists, As I have said before. Language differs much in many countries. If you speak so many languages you probably know this already, But English is far different than many other languages in these respects. "Freedom of Speech" usually refers to things being illegal or legal. So in this case, There are no laws preventing you from saying it. Random black people on the street saying "you aren't allowed to say that" doesn't constitute damage to your freedom of speech. It is always unwise to insult people in random public places if you're aware the reaction will be negative enough to potentially incite violence against you. So you and I can agree that no word should perhaps bring up this level of offense - particularly for those who have not actually been victims of it - but in the US it is a word that empowers white supremacists. It's a word they use for solidarity among their own group. They've effectively taken claim to it. We can agree that society should be led down a path where these sort of words with heavily negative connotations lose their power until they mean nothing more than any other word. We can agree that people should not be babied and treated as victims (so long as they weren't actually victimized. This is more common than you seem to believe. ) But, In the end, Using the word is currently wrong both from a practical sense and a moral sense. Your argument will have much more merit in a world where people have not been victimized using the terms. We can get to that world much quicker if everyone stops using the word for a few generations. For now, It is wrong in every conceivable way. There are always better terms to use. Many insults exist that are stronger, And make you look more intelligent. The only things ER tends to be better at is forming solidarity amongst supremacists and inciting violence. If these are your goals, Then I'd argue your goals are probably just as wrong as the term you use. If getting to a world where we all don't see ourselves as victims and don't take offense to simple words or language is your goal, Then victimizing people and shoving the words they have the strongest reactions to in their faces is also the wrong way to go about it. "My brother" works even better than "my A. " And so I leave you here, My brother. May your thoughts be clear, -Thoht