Okay... I don't want to get too far off track from my normal blogging topics but I can't resist this one.
I was watching C-Span (hey, it's late and I'm trying to make myself fall asleep- don't judge me) and they were re-hashing the debate from earlier tonight. Apparently, the bloggers and Twitter-ers were all in a tizzy over the fact that John McCain referred to Barack Obama as "that one"... as in
"you know who voted for it- that one" while nodding his head at Barack. They were saying how demoralizing and insulting and racist it was.
Now maybe I am alone here but I didn't really see it like that. Since a lot of the people that read my blog are from the same part of the South as me, perhaps you can verify this. The way he used that expression is pretty commonplace around here. It isn't meant to be insulting, it is just a way of speaking- much like "y'all" or "I'm fixin' to". If you aren't used to it, it might sound odd. I know for a fact that I have said it on many occasions speaking about someone and it is meant to be more light-hearted than anything else.
In a different tone or context it could certainly be used to be insulting but that is true of a lot of the things that we say. "Bless your heart" comes to mind as a good example. We all know that is the double-edged sword of language down here.
It just seems that this is the stupidest thing to be worried about during a Presidental election.
But bless their hearts, it's all they know.
Edited to add: I did read a couple of things this morning that were saying "that one" is a common Irish expression that McCain likely heard his mother say growing up.
I was watching C-Span (hey, it's late and I'm trying to make myself fall asleep- don't judge me) and they were re-hashing the debate from earlier tonight. Apparently, the bloggers and Twitter-ers were all in a tizzy over the fact that John McCain referred to Barack Obama as "that one"... as in
"you know who voted for it- that one" while nodding his head at Barack. They were saying how demoralizing and insulting and racist it was.
Now maybe I am alone here but I didn't really see it like that. Since a lot of the people that read my blog are from the same part of the South as me, perhaps you can verify this. The way he used that expression is pretty commonplace around here. It isn't meant to be insulting, it is just a way of speaking- much like "y'all" or "I'm fixin' to". If you aren't used to it, it might sound odd. I know for a fact that I have said it on many occasions speaking about someone and it is meant to be more light-hearted than anything else.
In a different tone or context it could certainly be used to be insulting but that is true of a lot of the things that we say. "Bless your heart" comes to mind as a good example. We all know that is the double-edged sword of language down here.
It just seems that this is the stupidest thing to be worried about during a Presidental election.
But bless their hearts, it's all they know.
Edited to add: I did read a couple of things this morning that were saying "that one" is a common Irish expression that McCain likely heard his mother say growing up.
3 comments:
Kind of like "hey woman"?
I know what you mean... There were things I had to learn the meaning of when I moved here, such as "mash" the button & coke= all drinks & so on... If people don't know they sure are quick to judge. More things are important people you got that right!!
Glad you all are feeling better. What is Charlotte gonna be for All Hallow's eve?
C-Span? Really?? (laughing quietly) LOL
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