Peter Jackson's got a problem

[35tickets]

The dog's name is Nigger. So it should be called that in the movie. I've got two books on the dambusters and each book refers to the dog by that name.

So what are we going to do....change history?

After all if we turn on the tv and watch juice or the NZ top 40, how often does the word 'nigger' come out of missy eliots mouth? Actually i don't watch the music channel much only the jim beam show, everything else is shit.

[The Stranger:Me]

When has it ever been appropriate to deny (or attempt to change) history?

The dog was called Nigger, it is offensive to some, so let's accept those two facts and get on with it.

Well even more important is if it is offensive and causes a stir he is going to get a ton of free publicity.
That can't be beaten for promoting a movie.

[sAsLEX]

Nigger doesn't mean black - it means 4/5ths human. It was used as justification for enslaving africans and transporting them to USA, if they could convince themselves that africans were partly animal then it was acceptable (according to an American Studies Lecturer at Canterbury University I sat next to on a plane once, long flight...)

Which is not to say they should rename the dog, no point rewriting history (like Japan does in it's school text books with regard to WW2)

Etymology

Main article: Negro

The Spanish word negro originates from the Latin word niger, meaning black. In English, negro or neger became negar and finally nigger, most likely under influence of French nègre. Neger (sometimes spelled "neggar") prevailed in northern New York under the Dutch and also in Philadelphia, in its Moravian and Pennsylvania Dutch communities. For example, the New York City African Burial Ground was originally known as "Begraaf Plaats van de Neger."

In the United States, the word nigger was not originally considered derogatory, but merely denotative of black, as it was in much of the world. In nineteenth-century American literature, there are many uses of the word nigger with no intended negative connotation (see below)

God I really do hate being wrong.

Get over yourself the word means black.

[Macktheknife]

Nigger doesn't mean black - it means 4/5ths human. It was used as justification for enslaving africans and transporting them to USA, if they could convince themselves that africans were partly animal then it was acceptable (according to an American Studies Lecturer at Canterbury University I sat next to on a plane once, long flight...)

Which is not to say they should rename the dog, no point rewriting history (like Japan does in it's school text books with regard to WW2)

Bert, you seriously need to check your facts before you believe crap like this. Some guy who may or may not have been a lecturer, clearly infected with PCism, sells you shares in the bridge of retro-history analysis/justification and you then go around believing it and repeating it.
I see Saslex has already shown the origins of the word so I will not duplicate it, only support and confirm it.
The dogs name was Nigger, get over it, it is an important character in the story and should remain true to the original for multiple reasons, not least of which is that people really need to grow up about our history. Constantly sanitising things harms us all and disguises or removes the ability to learn from our mistakes.

[Krayy]

let's call the dog "Porch Monkey" or "bro"

Can't be "Porch Monkey". We're taking it back

[The_Dover]

Can't be "Porch Monkey". We're taking it back

better check the maori don't own it first.

it might have been theirs since the dawn of time

[ManDownUnder]

Well even more important is if it is offensive and causes a stir he is going to get a ton of free publicity.
That can't be beaten for promoting a movie.

LOL - bloody cynic!

It reminds me of a time I was reading a story to my little boy (about 6 months ago). I went for a classic...Brer Rabbit. Great adventures and stories, and none too PC. There's happy niggers in there, sad niggers, etc etc... which raised the question - "What's a nigger"? So I answered it - accurately.

Explained where the word came from, what it meant then, and what it means now - and why people don't like to use it any more.

Now he knows. I didn't make a big deal of it - so I hope he knows... it's not a big deal.

Like any child (or anybody) - how are you supposed to know about things if people won't talk about them? How does a kid ever know "Fuck" is a dirty word, reserved for special circumstances.. unless someone they trust is actually willing to explain it?

Or "Nigger"? Put it in context and we're all better off.

[Deano]

And I always thought the word Nigger came from 'Nigeria'. You live and learn.

[MSTRS:Me]

Almost right, Deano. Country was named after the river Niger. The origin of that word has been answered.

[The_Dover]

There's happy niggers in there, sad niggers, etc etc...

is that sad niggers or sand niggers?

[LilSel]

If thats the dogs name... then thats the dogs name...

[Maha]

I bet if the dogs name was Bitch (in the movie)..... some views would change??.....

[James Deuce]

No absolutely not. If the "dog's" name was historically bitch it should stay that. There is NOTHING insulting about calling a female dog bitch. That IS what they are after all.

Must try harder maha man.

[Skyryder]

If Jackson changes the dogs name because of the Penile Corectile brigade, then the PC wussers have won.

It's a defining moment in New Zealand's history folks. Will Political Correctnes alter history or will history prevail.

Skyryder

[The_Dover]

what if it was called cunt?

or gook?

or faggot?