Act now! Still one slur that's somewhat acceptable!

If you follow sports or media news, you probably have heard a lot about the "Ozzie Guillen calling Jay Mariotti a 'fag'" story. This thing has been going on for a week now but not for the reason you would expect. Basically, a guy everybody loves called another guy everybody hates a word everybody is supposed to hate, but maybe not really.

In all the stories about the Guillen/Mariotti flap, writers pay lip service to how "fag" is a "horrible," "reprehensible," "bigoted" and all sorts of other stuff word. But nobody is really all that worked about it. The debate now is centered on whether a columnist can criticize people without ever facing them and still be considered a man. (You know, not a "fag.")

It's obvious the situation would be much different if the n-word (rhymes with ligger) or the b-word (rhymes iwth itch) had been directed at an African-American or a woman. Not only is nobody seriously calling for Ozzie's head (though strangely and awesomely enough, White Sox GM Ken Williams has come close), but the media has accepted his terms for framing the debate.

So, if you don't like gay people, be sure to get all your anti-gay slurs out while you can. Apparently there's still time to do it and not get punished.