I’ve been following the mess that comedian Michael Richards has gotten himself into. Apparently, Richards was doing his comedy routine when two black men began heckling him. Richards let loose with a profanity laden retort, and used the word Nigger several times as his anger got the better of him. If you want his exact words, you can Google them easily enough.

I do not like the word Nigger, any more than I like any of the other derogatory labels society insists on using to hurt each other. I speak from experience - racial epithets can hurt, deeply. Richards was quoted as saying that he “was not a racist.” We’re all racists. Every single one of us, at one time or another, was taught all about what “race” meant, and how to recognize the differences. Separating and categorizing our own species is one of the things that makes us human.

We have this remarkable thing called a brain, which allows us to communicate our thoughts and ideas to each other. So what do we do? We use our brain to come up with ways to do hurtful, negative things to each other. The issue is not the use of these derogatory words. Nor is it just about prejudice or hate.

The whole issue centers around our inability, as a species and as a society, to stop and think about why this sort of thing continues to exist. If a term is deemed derogatory, then it should be derogatory universally. Why can calling the wrong person “homey” get you killed? Why is it okay for one African American to refer to another as “Nigger” and it is a good thing — but if it is used as an epithet by a non-black person it destroys lives and careers? Even the media, afraid of any lash back, refuses to use the word “Nigger”, even when quoting someone else. They have to refer to it as “The N Word.”

I think Michael Richards’ current P.R. fiasco is his just reward. However, I also think that the Rev. Jesse Jackson and other African American leaders are overreacting. Yes, I really do. Jackson is calling for a boycott of the “Seinfeld” series DVD collection. Why punish all the other actors and people involved in the production and sale of those DVDs? We’re right back at looking for ways to hurt one another. This, even after Richards publicly apologized.

Human society should not be so complex that we must constantly be on guard for a word, term, or concept that may offend someone. Where does it end? Will we each be issued a Politically Correct daily bulletin so we can keep up? Here are the words, gestures, or ideas that can get you in trouble today, subdivided by race and sub-categories, thanks for subscribing.

No, what the world needs now is not love or peace. What we need is RESPECT. Respect for one another, ourselves, and the cultures and societies that make us who we are. The love and peace will follow.