I have to disagree with you Spide.
Blacks using nigger is about co-opting the word; it's not about adopting or reinforcing negative stereotypes that surround it (blacks are stupid, etc.).
Also, you talking to your family is different from making a public statement. When you make a public statement, you're talking to many many people who may never have met a Jewish person and whose perception of Jewish people is informed largely and unfairly by references like this.
Try this analogy on for size.
In Afghanistan, there are many people who have no clue about the American system of government, no clue of American values, etc. They are farmers, for example, and they are not generally educated about worldly affairs.
Here's what they've heard in the last 7 years. They've heard about the US invading Iraq, abusing/humiliating prisoners at Abu Graib, torturing captives at Guantanamo, and so forth. On top of this they hear Americans are obsessed with material goods and do not care for the elderly. They probably have a few words and a few jokes that stem from these stereotypes. And of course they are unfair and unreasonable.
If an American in Afghanistan referred to himself in a joking way but in a way that also reinforced these stereotypes, I would be pissed. I would take no solace from the fact he is an American and is allowed to make fun of himself. Those stereotypes are damaging. They prevent the Afghani people from gaining a fair and balanced perspective on who Americans are. All these stereotypes are deterrents to the kind of tolerance and understanding we need to progress in this world.
I choose this analogy in part because this stuff is on my mind. My daughter if off to Afghanistan as an AID worker in a couple weeks. And things ain't too good for aid workers over there right now.
Do I think Mr. Behrman should be nailed to the wall for this? No. I think he likely means no harm. I think he likely is joking in his own way.
But at the same time "lightening up" or "getting a life" is not the right answer either.
Mr. Behrman needs to get a clear message that this is not OK.
...
Because it IS NOT OK.
oke: :barf: 
