All or nothing

On Friday, Dr. Phil McGraw hosted a special episode of his talk show where a fiery debate on the N-word took center stage.

A panel featuring Rev. Al Sharpton, comedian Paul Mooney, CSI: New York actor Hill Harper, comedian Sheryl Underwood and conservative radio talk show host Michael Graham led the talks on the touchy topic, which escalated to screaming, ignorant remarks and completely biased conversation.

The two-syllable slur, arguably the touchiest word in society, is held to a double standard that is causing too much unnecessary commotion between men and women of all races.

A majority of hip-hop artists use the term for whatever reason they please - to refer to a friend, to attack an individual or group or even to refer to themselves. If someone who is not black uses the term, they will more than likely get beat down into the pavement.

Isn't this a double standard?

If someone used a derogatory term to refer to a homosexual, it's a hate crime. If someone used offensive slang to refer to an Italian, it's a hate crime.

Why is the N-word considered free speech?

Sharpton's feelings were that the word is a poison and either needs to be banished from all "talks" of life, or accepted so that anyone should be able to use it in the middle of South Central without any repercussions.

Will this ever be possible? Not at all.

In a world where people of all ethnicities and orientations want to be considered equal, is segregating yourself going to help matters?

Black Entertainment Television? The name itself insinuates who can and cannot be a viewer.

Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Alliance? Great reasoning for the group, but by being a member you are putting your sexual orientation ahead of your duty to be one with the human race.

Black Student Union? Racist in its own right, wouldn't you say?

It doesn't matter what one's agenda is behind being a member. For many, it is for support, socialization and to gain knowledge of one's history. Hidden beneath the culture is the racism that most of humanity is trying to destroy.

While many will fight the charge that these divisions aren't causing racism, aren't they a simple form of segregation? People are separating themselves from mankind to put themselves into a group based on ethnicity, sexual orientation or culture.

Does that make us all racists? Perhaps.

While we might not go to the person in front of us in the hall and use whatever derogatory term that may apply, the problem isn't being fixed by segregating oneself in a group.

While I envy Sharpton's feelings on the subject, I know that it will never be ideal like he envisions. Racism will always be in our lives, waiting for us behind whatever door we open. The all-or-nothing scenario that he dreams of will never come to fruition, only because mankind will never take control of the situation.

Instead, free speech, double standards and ignorance will always be in the forefront of our lives.

Case closed.