Again, it is annoying. But the use of the word racist in this context just desensitizes readers to the whole idea of racism. And it smacks of desperate writer trying to come up with some damn content to meet a deadline.

Silly, silly, silly.

When I was growing up, the U.S. had a culture that accepted racism. Thankfully, in the sixties a period where people became aware and racism and sexism became less accepted. Then we had a backlash in which some folks (the ones privileged under the previous system) were whining about political correctness. Gah, we still have these tools. I think they are called teapottys or something like that. I want to slap them. You have people overreacting in both directions and, on all sides, there is a gaping lack of common sense.

To avoid racism and sexism, use some empathy, use your head. If you are lacking in sensitivity and intelligence, opt for plain old fashioned courtesy. That's why a code of manners evolves, because many folks left to their own devices can't seem to figure out how to avoid putting their foot in their mouth.

On the other end of the spectrum, don't devalue the term racist, which has very serious implications, for every little thing you feel proprietary about. To tell someone that they cannot use an ingredient that is part of your culture, that they must use it in a traditional way is absurd. Both in the sense of nutrients to be consumed and pleasure to be experienced, no one has the right to tell other people how to eat and cook. That's just fucked up.

What Rachel Ray and Coolio have in common is that they are annoying, not racist, just really ANNOYING. There is no law against being annoying. It doesn't even count as a venial sin. So don't watch them. Is the term "Asian Flair" annoying? Hell yeah. So is yummo. So is BAM.

If they bug you, (and Ray kind of bugs me, even though I get the impression she's a nice person), do what I do. Don't watch them.