Originally Posted by 
Arapiles
				
			 
			It doesn't matter whether it's new or old, it was an offensive term then and it's an offensive term now.  It's not a term whose meaning has changed over time, like, "fantastic" or for that matter, "gay", it was always used as a term of racial abuse.  
And the fact that members of the RAF felt comfortable calling a dog by that name, and actually putting it on a headstone, condemns them and the organisation.
I'm guessing that none of you have lived in the USA or the UK and I assure you that prejudice against black people is a very visible and live part of both societies, the US more so.