medici:
From reading the above I believe we can boil most of the discussion down to one small point (feel free to disagree with me!):
People CAN say what they want but mores and social constraints suggest what people SHOULD (not) say.
Anyone CAN say the word 'nigger' but morals and ethics strongly suggest you SHOULDN'T! (in this case I strongly agree with NOT saying it because, for me, it feels wrong and disrespectful)
I agree completely
but, (you knew there was gonna be a "but", didn't you?) mores and social constraints can't
forbid people from saying offensive things or having unpopular opinions (they can only influence them, either positively or negatively); only government can by making laws and establishing legal punishments for violating those laws. "Can't" and "Shouldn't" are two very different things. "Can't means you can be
prevented from saying or doing things and punished for doing/saying them if you do. Your example above is excellent. One CAN say the word "nigger" but one SHOULDN'T. The social opprobrium might be considerable and affect your future behavior but at least you won't be fined or jailed for doing so. Nor should you, under any circumstances.