‘Bashing’ Brouhaha

I attended the press conference Jan. 25 at which the Urban League presented its “Blueprint for Action.” I was concerned and uncomfortable when the phrase teacher bashing was used. The picture generated in my mind was of physical violence. I knew physical violence was not intended. Nevertheless, I was troubled and hoped the matter would fade away.

However, as it received more attention and became an issue, I discussed it with friends, African-American and white. My white friends were generally troubled as I was. The African-American friends I talked with were resentful that an issue was being made of the phrase.

Then one of my African-American friends pointed out that the term bashing has become part of the Standard American English lexicon, and it is more or less synonymous with the word criticize or challenge . We use the word knock in a similar way, as in “Don’t knock it!” However, I was still dubious.

A short time later, I was reading the analysis of Notre Dame’s TV deal with NBC in the Sports section of The Times, and on Page 7 appeared: “Look for renegotiation and continued Notre Dame-bashing from the CFA’s more vocal members.” Then, on Feb. 10 on the first page of the Calendar section, appeared the headline “Is CBS Guilty of Andy Rooney-Bashing?”

I realized two things: The term bashing is in more common use than I had known, and, in the two instances cited, there was not the slightest picture in my mind of physical violence. When an African-American used the term, I reacted differently to it than when an unknown reporter (who I assumed was white), used it. There is no nice way to say it, but my reaction was racist.

I also understood why my African-American friends were resentful. It is ironic that they are criticized for using “Black English,” and told they must speak standard middle-class American English in order to communicate effectively. Then when they do use a term that “has apparently become so publicly acceptable,” as witnessed by its use in The Times, it is given a meaning different from that which The Times meant in its use of the word.

SHUFORD SWIFT

San Diego