I use it freely
We have fought many fights so that we are hopefully ALL perceived as human FIRST, and then by race, gender or creed. To use those words takes us backwards.
I think putting so much meaning behind the word counteracts that purpose.
For instance, I can call someone on here a wop, he can call me a mick and we can laugh about it. I can call whisper a [BadWord] and he can laugh while I wonder if he understands what it means. You see, if we all stop being so offended at everything and just laugh at the idea then it doesn't matter anymore. It becomes non-offensive and useless as a weapon against others.