Well, somehow I doubt continuing use of hte word will make it any less offensive in the long run. And for those who might be interested in learning how to use the time-honoured word to insult other racial/ethnic groups, check out this Wikipedia article about "the N word"

"The term wigger, or whigger, refers to a young, white mimicker of certain affectations of hip-hop and thug culture. It is a portmanteau of white and nigger. The word is widely considered offensive because of its similarity to nigger and because it reflects stereotypical notions about blacks.

Similarly, other portmanteaus formed from nigger, also usually considered offensive, are used to describe other nonblacks who adopt certain, usually hip-hop, African American cultural affectations. These include combining nigger with Chinese, to produce chigger. (A chigger is also a type of mite and a type of flea, pests whose bites cause intense itching.)

Nigger is also combined with Jew to produce jigger; with Korean to produce kigger; and with spic, a slur for a Latino, to produce spigger. The terms timber nigger and prairie nigger are used in some areas to refer to Native Americans. This term is found more in the northern part of the United States where the original Native Americans flourished in the large forests that once existed there. Sand nigger refers to those of Arab descent, and snow nigger is a slur against those of Inuit descent. None of these derogatory terms implies any connection to African American culture."

Geez, lemme write all this down. See? There's something new to learn everyday! (but not, in this case, anything that I particularly want to learn ....)