The Klansman Who Won't Use the N-Word

     In The Klansman Who Won't Use the N-Word, Ronson focuses on how the KKK is viewed by society and Thom Robb's idea of how it should be viewed.  Thom Robb is the Grand Wizard of the Knights of the KKK and his leadership qualities are much different than his predecessor, so much so, that he lost many klansmen when he was elected Grand Wizard.  Thom preaches to his klansmen everything you would not expect from the KKK.  He suggests not saying the word, "nigger" in public, and not hating black people, rather, just really loving white people.  Thom is working to gain political power to show how the actuall KKK operates but the media is more focused on keeping a negative label on the group. 
    I have always thought of the KKK as a violent group of uneducated white people, but after reading this, I believe this thought has only been fueled by how the media portrays them.  At the same time, I think what Thom is trying to accomplish is impossible because the people in the KKK are only naturally going to be hostile against blacks/foreigners.  The idea sounds nice, but the KKK will never be viewed as a positive group.

-Isaac

Bitch

        In Beverly Gross' Bitch, she examines the different usages and meanings of the word "bitch".  Gross describes the differences in meaning of the word throughout the past century.  "The metamorphosis of bitch from the context of sexuality (a carnal woman, a promiscuous woman) to temperament (an angry woman, a malicious woman) to power (a domineering woman, a competitive woman) is a touchstone to the changing position of women through this century" (80).  Being called a bitch is the most humiliating comment a woman can receive.  Gross gives a few examples in history of the use of the word bitch.  Barbara Bush referred to Geraldine Ferraro during the 1984 election as rhyming with the word "rich".  Bush obviously meant it as Ferraro being a "pushy woman" (81).  After Ernest Hemingway split up with Gertrude Stein, Stein commented that his writing was poor.  Hemingway responded by calling her a bitch.  This is different in that Hemingway feels threatened by a woman (Stein).  Gross writes about Madonna  and how she "defused" the situation of being called a bitch the best by saying, "I enjoy expressing myself" (84).  She showed that it didnt bother her. 
       I believe Gross is extremely convincing in describing the different meanings of the word "bitch".  I can relate to pretty much all of the definitions she gives in the chapter and unfortunetely, I have used the word "bitch" in a few of the contexts they are given in.  It is also true that there really is not any male equivalent of the word "bitch".  I could be called an "asshole" but its doesn't ring as harshly as a woman being called a "bitch".