Everyone knows that racial slurs and ethnic jokes are commonplace in an ethnically mixed American society. Even Hollywood mirrored this regrettable truth in popular sitcoms like Archie Bunker. Yet ethnic or racial slurs represent the most egregious, politically incorrect conduct, carrying draconian penalties. Sticks and stones.
Words can hurt and do matter.
Uttering racial slurs offends our most coveted values. Knowing this, how could any racially sensitive jury trust the mountain of evidence. If the O.J. trial crashed and burned because of race, it's easy to see how careers can follow suit. Scratching his head, baseball commissioner Bud Selig ordered Rocker to undergo psychological testing before he metes out an appropriate punishment. That's not a bad idea.