Eight months ago, Duane "Dog" Chapman's TV show was taken off the air because of his hateful tirade against his son's black girlfriend that featured heavy use of the n-word, with a few f-words thrown in to make sure his meaning was clear.

Today, "Dog the Bounty Hunter" is back on A&E, and its star is enjoying the fawning attention of loyal fans, national celebrities and local luminaries.

Last April, radio host Don Imus was fired by CBS and MSNBC for calling Rutgers women basketball players "nappy-headed hos."

Now he's back on the job with WABC after a few months of dubious promises that it would never happen again, and he seems to be skating past a furor over his latest racial outburst involving football star Adam "Pacman" Jones.

Local racial flare-ups involving radio personality Larry Price and City Councilman Rod Tam blew over quickly despite unsatisfying resolutions.

Price, who questioned the honesty of Senate Majority Leader Gary Hooser on the basis of his blue eyes and California birth, made a public apology that became meaningless when his partner, Michael W. Perry, immediately chimed in: "I think you're crazy. You don't have to apologize."

Tam, who recently offended local Hispanics when he referred to undocumented workers as "wetbacks," was half-heartedly censured by fellow council members, who then consoled him with hugs and pats as Latinos who had come to Honolulu Hale seeking fair redress looked on.

I don't think racial slurs should be subject to capital punishment, but neither should public figures who utter them be able so easily reclaim their pedestals with no real accountability or atonement.

Equally troubling are the public attitudes — especially in Hawai'i — that these ugly denigrations of other people are no big deal, and that those who object are too politically correct and have skin that's too thin as well as the wrong color.

Each of the above "role models" had defenders who tried to make them out as the victims.

I get so upset about these public displays of racism because I think of the little kids who will feel bad about themselves because of the color of their skin as a result of thoughtless remarks made by adults.

Few things cause more insecurity among children than being made to feel different from their peers in a negative way. Growing up is hard enough without having their self-esteem brought down by the brainless blathering of their elders.

I also think about the kids who will take what these prominent grownups say as a green light to deliver such racial insults themselves, creating an endless cycle of prejudice that keeps getting passed from one generation to the next.

Research leaves no doubt that racism experienced by children has lifelong emotional, social and economic effects.

"The most common expression of racism is through racist name-calling, which is often viewed by adults as trivial, although its impact on children can be profound," said British researcher Christine Barter.

Those who consider racial digs a harmless part of the fabric of our multicultural community should think about that.

Barack Obama said after the controversial racial remarks made by his former pastor: "The comments that have been made and the issues that have surfaced over the last few weeks reflect the complexities of race in this country that we've never really worked through — a part of our union that we have yet to perfect."

We'll never get there as long as we keep making excuses for these lapses into ignorance, hatred and exclusion by opinion leaders who should know better.

David Shapiro, a veteran Hawai'i journalist, can be reached by e-mail at dave@volcanicash.net. His columns are archived at www.volcanicash.net. Read his daily blog at http://volcanicash.honadvblogs.com.

David Shapiro, a veteran Hawai'i journalist, can be reached by e-mail at dave@volcanicash.net. His columns are archived at www.volcanicash.net. Read his daily blog at blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com.