People still use the "N" word?

I really can't believe that it is the year 2007 yet there are still walking, breathing racists among us. Sure, there are the morons who still walk around and honestly believe in "white power" but I blame that on lack of teeth and brain cells. I guess what I should say is that every now and again, I still manage to stumble upon someone who is an outward racist. Words, phrases and all. I am always quick to make a comment in return so they know I do not think that way nor do I tolerate those thoughts or language in my presence but again, it does not fail to baffle me.

I ask the question...are there racist members of your immediate or extended family? Coworkers? Local watering hole? How do you put the ki-bosh on their comments without stooping to their level and get into an all out screaming match?

Here is another question...have you ever stumbled upon a degrading/racist conversation where you were the race/religion they were speaking of? How did you handle that?

I cannot even begin to say I know how it feels to at the end of a racist comment...or have a racist comment directed at me, however, I grew up in the poor part of town and it has its stereotypes. When I was growing up, I never really met people from outside my little neighborhood so I didn't know these stereotypes were there until I entered the working world. Usually over drinks after work, there was always a comment or two that came up about people from my part of town. Since I was so new to the working world, I did not know how to take these comments. People where I grew up were thought of as stupid, racist, meatheads for lack of a better term.
In fact, it really made me look at where I grew up and not want to be like the rest of the people I knew. When I was able to step out of the world I knew and look in, I did not like what I saw and again, I was nothing like the people I grew up with. I wanted a lot out of life and I hold myself to that everyday. And let's face it, every woman has been at the tale end of an awkward look or comment in the working world, mechanics, real estate realm. It really does suck so why does it continue on with others?

Anywho, back to the matter of racists. I go off on tangents sometimes...you'll have to excuse me.

I just read today that Dog the Bounty Hunter was taped saying the "N" word by his own son. It hit me like a ton of bricks again, as it always does. How do people still use that word? How do people even think like that? The best is that he went on TV and said that he is so close to black people that he felt he could use that word but he realizes he is "not black". WTF?!? What kind of cock-a-may-me s**t is that?

Well, that's about all I have to say on this subject. The human race often does not impress me, in fact it disappoints me. Will this be the same for my children when they are my age? Is there hope in the world?