Golliwog matters

Matthew Syed has an excellent piece in today's Times on why those people who argue that Carol Thatcher is a victim of 'PC gone mad' are quite wrong:

Words like Paki, nigger and golliwog are not iniquitous because of tone, context or intent. Their power lies in their capacity to reinforce an inner bias so potent that few of us can rid ourselves of its influence; so powerful that it continues to shape the life chances of minority groups even in societies virtually bereft of overt bigotry; so wounding that those of us in minority groups still shudder at their mention, except when they are used ironically to turn the table on the bigots. Language is not just communicative, it is world-changing.

I am always amazed when Jews, of all people, argue that words like Paki are harnless nicknames. Unless, that is, they enjoy having yid yelled at them in the street.