Is it OK to use the term "Fag"

This week in sports, Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen called Chicago Sun Times columnist Jay Mariotti "an -- fag" because Mariotti wrote critically of Guillen. Guillen said that he didn't mean it as a slur, but that it meant that Mariotti wasn't a real man because he won't stand accountable in the White Sox locker room for the things the writes about the team. Mariotti says he fears for his life if he was to go into that locker-room and has been threatened before. Guillen has been attacked by most media outlets this week and ESPN has lost its mind by not even saying the term "fag", instead saying " a word that rhymes with bag". That is just ridiculous. But that got me to thinking, why is everyone so upset over the term. There have been many articles and columns written this week about this and no one has mentioned why they are so upset with the term "fag."

I understand that fag can be used as a slur against homosexuals, but i've used the term for a long time with my friends. I call close friends "fags" and them likewise. Are we being told "fag" is a slur because it hits close to home about Mr. Mariotti? I have never read anything about him being homosexual and no one mentioned this week, well at least no one at ESPN mentioned it. Are they upset because a member of their fraternity was outed, or do they have a real problem with the term. I think if you are not homosexual, then you should not get upset if someone calls you a "fag".

Also, what is the real reason Mariotti does not feel safe in the locker-room? Is it because he was threatened because he is a homosexual and homosexuals are not prevelant nor sometimes welcome in professional sports locker-rooms? I'm not saying Mr. Mariotti is gay, because i have no proof of that. I'm just saying that if he was, a lot of this would make more sense.I don't know. Maybe he feels threatened just because of a story he wrote, and if he does, then things are in sad shape. I would like someone in the media to ask the questions i've asked here today. Then, i believe, will the have, as Paul Harvey used to tell us everyday, the REST OF THE STORY.