We're going to have to disagree on this one... While I can understand your feelings on the matter, and sympathize, I staunchly defend the word, it's definitions, (not just the modern usage) and the user's right to free speech.
In my estimation, misplaced emotion and ignorance (not a pejorative, I'm using the word to make a point) are primary causes of friction in modern society. When a society bans words and actions based on arbitrary feelings that they could cause when the hearer is ignorant of all the meanings, we degenerate into we have today. I cannot speak freely at my workplace because with an innocent slip of the tongue, someone might be offended, complain and I lose my job. I cannot help an elderly flight attendant out of the van, because if I do not offer the gay flight attendant behind her the same assistance, I am guilty of "sexual harassment". I cannot even put an arm of support around a woman with tears in her eyes, who just lost her husband to cancer, for fear of someone else reporting me for "sexual harassment".
All this because we as society have come to believe that we have the "right" to take another's freedom, i.e. control their behavior because someone doesn't like how it feels when they exercise that freedom. I do not believe that these are the "certain inalienable rights" that our forefathers fought and died for.
Finally, I am sorry that your feelings are hurt. I was not there and am not privy to the conversation or it's context. And while I can understand a request for "sensitivity", I stand by my original assessment. I don't think that it's worth getting all worked up about, just because someone is not familiar with all proper usages of a word.
Cheers!!! Keep the greasy side down!!!
What I have found out is the the actual words were "you wouldn't say that if your brother was trying to rape you." That does have a different connotation that "the east pilots are rapists."
That said, I do agree with part of what you say, but that is the world we live in. There are plenty of racist people in this country that would like to say "the X pilots are acting like N's." I think that would provoke and deserve immediate indignation. There are things that are considered unacceptable these days and the line is not always clear. But, as a representative of our pilots I do feel that, at least in front of the APA president, the comment was inappropriate and too far reaching.