Couple of off the cuff thoughts: Why can't people use the expression "niger" in context? It was clearly meant as a racial insult, and I think people need to remember that that is the way it is commonly used. Replacing it with a placeholder doesn't make racism go away or make the word less racist, all it does it soften the racism used in that instance.
His TSA story is more likely fiction. Is he saying that there are "TSA" in London? And in either case I've never seen the TSA select people "randomly" by name alone (in fact they do their profiling based on appearance, not name, which is arguably even more insidious). Even if they DID select by name, how would he, a selectee know the names of everyone else selected at the same time? The whole story makes no sense and sounds made up (by someone who's never travelled or been randomly selected no less).
I've been randomly selected a handful of times, but they don't know my name when they do so.
Why can't people use the expression "ni[g]ger" in context?
People can use the expression in context and many do. Speaking as a black guy (but not representative of all blacks), I have a visceral reaction to the word[0] so when outlets self-censor, I see it as a small sign of respect and I appreciate it. YMMV of course.
I understand the arguments that "n-word" or "horrific racial expletive deleted" is awkward or may be seen as patronizing, but I see "nigger" (in nearly all contexts) as insulating. It's a tradeoff, and from my POV not using the work is preferable. Again, YMMV.
[..] all it does it soften the racism used in that instance.
I think you're correct, it does soften the racism, but I also think it improves relations. I'm okay with that.
Just to be clear, I'm just offering my own perspective here, I'm not trying to convince anyone to self-censor. If someone wants to scream "nigger, nigger, nigger" from the rooftops, go right ahead. Just don't expect me to ever listen to you.
I have an acquaintance who looks white but was named Mohammed (he is Kurdish). He changed his name to "Michael" because, as he said, "It's easier to say... like for example at the airport."
I agree about referencing the word "nigger", Louis CK has a bit where he says he hates the phrase "the n-word" because, "you still put the word 'nigger' into my head, so it's not like you didn't say it".
But socially one probably has to accept reality, there's a court case about a guy who was fired for saying the word, not using it in a derogatory way but just referring to the word itself.
During the last few months, I have let myself have a beard. I have a darkish skin, so with a beard I look very Arabic.
In my last flight, security were specially bothersome, making me open and show my luggage. I didn't relate it until my friend pointed it out, but I am very sure he was right now.
I've been stopped by them before. They would have no way of knowing my name BEFORE they stopped me, as they sit physically too far away from ticketing to hear anything and don't appear to have any communication equipment.
They just pick out mostly men to run secondary checks on.
I think names do trigger a lot of 'random' searches on their own. Whether by profiling by a computer that delegates to the TSA person or by that person if reading the ticket.
My father when travelling in the US gets pulled out for random searches 4 out of 5 times when boarding. I would think a grey haired suited Scandinavian businessman in his 60ies is less likely search candidate by looks. But our family name has a stem that may seem middle Eastern for some who does not know that is is clearly a Scandinavian name (ends in -sen). I put that down to poor profiling logic.
When another cousin when in the US also started to get pulled for 'random' searches on every flight then it got rather comical as he was a high ranked NATO officer at the time.
That makes me wonder, what does it mean to be a NATO officer, and is that how he would describe himself? Or would he be an officer of country X who is assigned to NATO duties at the time? Like, does he wear a NATO uniform? Or the uniform of his nationality? Are you in your countries military org chart and NATO's, or just NATO's? Or does NATO even have an independent org chart or officer hierarchy? Are there units permanently dedicated to NATO service, or is it just mapped on to national units in an ad hoc manner when needed?
His TSA story is more likely fiction. Is he saying that there are "TSA" in London? And in either case I've never seen the TSA select people "randomly" by name alone (in fact they do their profiling based on appearance, not name, which is arguably even more insidious). Even if they DID select by name, how would he, a selectee know the names of everyone else selected at the same time? The whole story makes no sense and sounds made up (by someone who's never travelled or been randomly selected no less).
I've been randomly selected a handful of times, but they don't know my name when they do so.