In the wake of Arizona’s immigration laws, Shirley Sherrod’s Fiasco, and the Department of Justice’s failure to press charges, the word “racism” has been used far too often. As a perpetual student of language, I find it appalling that people whom have been charged with crafting and interpreting our laws don’t even know the proper definition of such a simple word as racism.

In the realm of race related ideologies, three stand out: racism, bigotry, and prejudice. To separate the three, I will provide some real world definitions rather than quote a free online dictionary. A racist is one who believes that one race is genetically superior to all other races; a bigot is one who is entirely intolerant of any views other than his/her own; prejudice is a judgment made prior to any action unsupported by any reason.

The moment that someone other than an educated, middle class, white male is involved in a political happening, someone throws down the race card. “This law is racist!” you will hear; “That politician is a racist!” will echo through the legislature; “Racism is alive and well in America!” Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton will proclaim.

What people (and this applies to the right, left, middle, up, down and caddywhompus) need to realize is this: each and every word has a proper meaning, and when that word is bastardized is begins to lose all meaning. In the decades prior to the 14th Amendment, true racism existed and was even institutionalized in many instances. Racism will exist so long as people exist; so long as people have even so much as the slightest difference, hate for that difference will exist.

Leveling the word “racism” against an opponent is the rhetorical equivalent of training a gun on a target. The word has a deep history of strong emotions, and the speaker/shooter is attempting to whore out the history and emotions of the word to his/her advantage. Misusing words in an attempt to induce action is a demonstration of weakness. If a speaker is unable to achieve his/her goal without such misuse, improper application, poor vocabulary, and flat out trickery, then perhaps said individual should pursue a career that doesn’t involve talking so much.

Racism is one of the greatest evils to befall mankind. The belief that one particular human genetic structure is superior to all others is the very thought that claimed six million lives during World War II in addition to those lives lost in the fight. Call the thing what it is; call it hate, call it bigotry, call it prejudice, but do not call it racism unless it is racism. Diluting the word until it has no meaning is an insult to those whom have suffered under its oppression.