In a world where you can get fired for using the word "niggardly" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversies_about_the_word_%22niggardly%22), you really can't be too careful with epithets. And I wonder if you aren't falling into something of an either-or fallacy here, assuming that only hardcore racial bigots who want to offend minorities have need of such terms. Genteel racism is alive and well in this country and those who practice it feel more need than ever to be covert about it. I can't believe I'm bringing this up as an example, but NYPD Blue did a heavy-handed message episode that include what I can only assume is an actual euphemistic gesture: Moving the open hand, palm facing inward, from top to bottom in front of the face. As one of the characters who uses this gesture explains it, "It's a way to say it so you don't have to say it."