Date:  Tue, 28 Oct 1997 11:37:12 -0500
From:  STEVE ALLEN NOLDEN <sanold01[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]MOREHEAD-ST.EDU>
Subject: Re: PC Dictionaries?

I am a Black man, not African-American, and the use of the word "Nigger"
or shall I say the definition of the word, in the Merriam dictionary
greatly offends me. Who gave them the right to define any one person or
race. Is the publisher of Merriam God. Nope. So what gives him the
right to call me a "Nigger." If he called all white people "Peckerwoods"
then all white people would most likely be offended. Being labeled is
not a good thing. I cant see how someone can support Merriam's
definition. Personally, since the dictionary wants to define black
people as "Niggers" then the dictionary should include all derogatory
statements about all races.

Steve Nolden