The thing about Dr. Laura is....

The other day I just got out of work and I was waiting for the 57A Bus from Kenmore Station heading home to Allston. It was pretty late, and I was tired, but not so tired that I couldn't help to overhear a conversation of the two women standing next to me. The older woman, well not that old, no more than 35, with short hair and clearly a little tipsy. The younger girl, who was just maybe not quite 20 was listening to every word. When the bus finally came, the driver, a youngish, black man got off and went into the bus station to take a break, the older woman told to the younger woman that "Those black people, they never seem to work hard. They always need a break, they need to rest." As inaccurate as this is, I almost thought it was really funny. I mean, we're the ones that picked cotton for years and then the bus driver took a 5 minute break and all of a sudden, we're lazy?

Of course, Dr. Laura is my new favorite thing. Apparently,Sarah Palin endorsed her and you know how I love Sarah Palin. So, Dr. Laura came under fire after saying the N word 11 times. A Black female caller called into her show and said that her White husband's friends always said insensitive things like, "How do you black people feel about this?" or "Why you black people do that?" Dr. Laura cut off the caller, saying she was overeacting, and then goes on to say the N word claiming it was okay because black comedians say it. The next thing I know, Dr. Laura decides to retire from radio, claiming she is losing her first amendment rights.

But here's the thing. It's not about first amendment rights. Just because you CAN say something doesn't mean you SHOULD say it. I'm not going on a radio saying gay slurs because I can. Is Dr. Laura racist? I don't know about that, but here's the thing. I grew up in an area where I constantly got the "How do Black people feel about ..." Because I have to speak for 12% of the population. Dr. Laura was insensitive by saying "You shouldn't marry someone outside of your race if you can't take comments." People should be able to marry whomever they want. They shouldn't have to be the spokespeople for millions of people. And they should learn from others. Not try and break them down. Take that Dr. Laura....