You wrote

"No one yet has come up with an equivalent insult to cunt that is routinely applied to white males and has the same level of insult."

Yes we do; the word is "douchebag." Though it is applied to all males, not just white males, just like CUNT applies to all women, not just white women.

But I need to clarify the meanings of both terms as they pertain to speech. Cunt is applied to a woman that will stab you in the back, or will use her sexual appeal to cause you trouble. For example; Condi Rice is a cunt because she help lie to get authorization to invade Iraq, which has killed thousands of our best and brightest service men and women

Douchebag is a dim witted male that expressed his ignorance, illogical prejudices (not that prejudice is ever logical), homophobia, or misogyny in his behavior, character, or by what he spouts. For example; Rush is a Douchebag (enough said).

Both words have their importance, thought you can't say Hillary Clinton is a cunt without offering proof (has she stabbed anyone in the back or used her sexual appeal to cause someone trouble?), but you can say all the guys who wear the C.U.N.T or "I love cunt-tree music" t-shirts are definitely douchebags.

I suppose its a bit more clever than the other shirt but I would have needed the caption if the title of the article hadn't had the word cunt in it.

Its funny that cunt only seems to be a really bad word in the states. If you watch Brittish tv or movies people call each other cunts and twats all the time, more like calling someone a dick here.

The issue isn't about whether or not "cunt" is an insult to women, the issue is the fact that the same party that is selling, buying, and promoting these shirts are the same party that constantly complains about the "moral decline of America". They complained that "Brokeback Mountain" was "immoral" and are worried about the "coursening of the culture" but will happily parade around in public with a shirt that openly has what could easily be considered a cuss word and is without doubt a childish insult on it. The real issue here is hypocracy.

We can debate the merits of the word itself, but let's not lose sight of what this is really about.

I disagree. Broadsheet's publicizing this stuff actually disempowers it.

One of the reasons racism is still an evil in this nation is that it has gone more or less underground except in some parts of the country. I say drag that sucker out and get a good look at it. Get a good look at us and our denials.

At the same time, such discussions allow us to look at ourselves and to examine our own consciences. We need to get to a place where we can see beyond the surface of people and to acknowledge each person's unique individuality that transcends the obvious like sex and race.

It is amazing what people will judge others on. My daughter and I were talking last night about Dennis Kuncinich and she said to me: "He was really the cool guy in the Democratic race. I would love to just sit down and talk to him about stuff."

So why didn't more people think we was the cool guy? Partly because Kucinich is not good-looking at all. He is rather homely and nerdy-looking. That guy you ignored in school because he voice was a bit high, he didn't play football, and he talked about idealistic and intellectual things that made others roll their eyes.

Too bad. Our loss. If we keep looking only at the surface, we will pay the price that shallow people pay.

There is a *huge* difference between expressing smugness towards a rival sports team, and calling a Senator, and presidential contender, a walking vagina.

Calling a woman a "c*nt" is denying her brain, her intellect, her personality, her personhood. It's telling her to shut up and lay down. And even though calling a man a "dick" does reduce him to his penis, somehow it doesn't seem to bother men (though please correct me if I'm wrong. I've just never seen a guy flinch at being called a "dick." Not even Tucker Carlson when Jon Stewart called him a dick on Crossfire. Which, God bless Jon Stewart, didn't really elevate the tone!)

A couple of years ago, I heard a story on npr about women in politics in France. Women have far greater representation in the French legislature than in America (well, almost every country does, but I digress). The reporter was stating that, even though women are participating in the French government, they are not always taken seriously. She used an example: as a female French legislator got up to speak on a reform bill, an elder statesman sighed and said "Ahhh, voici les vagines qui parlent." ("Oh look, it's the vaginas talking").

I remember thinking, "Well, at least our few women senators are not so disparaged by their peers."

Looks like I overestimated us again.

And look, everyone has the right to use ugly words to describe people they don't like. Fine. I have problems with people emblazoning such words on tshirts (words you don't want your child to repeat, or words you wouldn't repeat in front of your grandparents). And I have *huge* problems when "professional politicos" reduce themselves to this level. Words change worlds. So, when we think things are important, we should take extra care in choosing words. Calling HRC a "vagina" when what you really mean is "She's as pragmatic and ruthless as Catherine de Medicci" is really dumbing down the message, isn't it? And, sigh, it makes you look like .... well, a dick. (Kidding!)

I agree with every word. And you even mention the most insidious ism of all: Classism.

As my mother used to say, "IT TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE!"

Well I confess that I may not be the greatest expert on insult words. I don't know what you mean. Are you saying that Cunt Lover has been used as an insult for men in the same way that nigger lover has been used as an insult for white people? I didn't know. That would only work if you bought into the racist and sexist messages in the first place. I was called a nigger lover in high school because I supported civil rights. This was in Texas in the 60s. It didn't bother me at all. I knew civil rights were the only morally decent solution to prejudice.