Rod Dreher says sensible things about the Rick Perry rock controversy.
I know very many white Southerners of my generation who concluded a long time ago that there is no changing the minds of older white Southerners on the issue of race, so the best thing to do in some contexts is to let it ride, because it’s fading in time. Make sure they know that the word is offensive, and that you don’t appreciate that kind of talk, but otherwise, don’t make a big deal out of it. People are complicated, and they are complicated by history.
And don’t tolerate any genuine official racism. Of course, this won’t be good enough for most liberals.
