Ok, so Im gonna go out on a limb and agree that Boisclair maybe didn't mean his comments in a rude way, like intentionally rude I mean. Thats certainly not to say that I condone the use of the term "slant eye" to refer to any human being. Anyone who knows me, knows that I ardently oppose all forms of discrimination or intolerance but, I recognize that it still remains a prevalent social issue in Canada, and abroad.
The fact is that people often use such terms and don't mean them in an overtly racist way; however, when people don't recognize that such terms are based on unacceptable stereotypes, that is a more important problem than the simple use of the term.
If people can use terms like "that brown girl" or "slant eye" to refer to someone, and not understand that they are inherently racist terms , regardless of the person's intention while using them, that is where the problem lies.
Now Andre could be a horrible racist, but I doubt he intended to be one. I can't, and won't speak on his behalf. But, whether he meant what he said in a malicious way or not, the fact is that people need to recognize the foundational racism that underpins such terms that may find their way into people's general dictionaries.
People ought to understand that one's intentions are not always an acceptable justification for something said. What people need to realize, is that regardless of intention, the underlying assumption of such terms is racist and inappropriate. Racism isn't always intended, but it still should be understood as the the underpinning of such terms, whether they were meant used in a racist way or not.
Nothing in this entry should be taken to mean that I condone any of Mr. Boisclairs comments in this instance. My only intention was to discuss an underlying issue, not to support Mr. Boisclair's remark in the slightest!
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