I do not think words are irrelevant...they do tell us something about the speaker and the speakers motives and beliefs.

Some words might indicate some hurtful or evil motive by the speaker...but words in and of themself are not evil.

You seem to imply that all words are mere words and no one should be offended. I am wondering if we could not have saved ourselves much trouble over the past many years had we offered your last paragraph as an explanation to certain dark-skinned people who became so upset at the use of the word "nigger". And we could have explained that Andy from Greenville says that "words are not evil"!

Or, as my father used to say, "If you know what it means, then you've heard it before. If you don't know what it means, perhaps you should expand your knowledge!"

If one is offended by mere words, then one is blind to the truth of actions. Instead of shrieking at a connotative affront, one should use it as a learning experience - for oneself as well as for one's children and - students?

You took the bait.