Hatunen wrote:
> On Thu, 28 Apr 2005 15:09:02 GMT, "Frank F. Matthews"
> wrote:
>
>
>>
>>?? wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Frank F. Matthews wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Now things are really getting ridiculous. Are you allowed to use the
>>>>special words if you are closely related to a member. Perhaps a
>>>>spouse or in-law. How about a second cousin or maybe a person who has
>>>>lived there for a few decades or so,
>>>>
>>>>If the damned term is offensive then it's offensive whoever uses it.
>>>>If folks use it among themselves then it isn't offensive if someone
>>>>outside the magic circle uses it.
>>>>
>>>
>>>I've witnessed an argument between blacks in which they were calling
>>>each other "nigger". But I don't think a caucasian could get away with
>>>calling either one of them "nigger". In like fashion, the sports teams
>>>of the Red Mesa, AZ High School (on the Navajo rez) are the "Redskins".
>>>But the Washington "Redskins" are under attack. It's all related to
>>>"ownership" of the word, I'm told.
>>
>>snip
>>
>>Then those folks can all piss off and be ignored. Words are not owned.
>>
>
> But words can be powerful, and where a word has a history of
> being used in a derogatory manner, "fighting words," it is only
> polite to avoid using it.
>
> Once upon a time in America, redskins were people to be
> eliminated in a near genocide, so the remaining redskins might be
> a bit tetchy about the word.
>
If they want to use the word redskins themselves then I don't care if
they get all bothered about my using it.
> Would you think that a sports team that called itelf the
> "Fighting Kikes", a homage to the winning nature of the Israeli
> army, would be appropriate?
>
If the Israeli army wants to call themselves Kikes then they shouldn't
be bothered if I do.
The point, David, is that groups shouldn't get uptight about folks using
terms that they commonly use amongst themselves without rebuke. If they
get bothered in that situation that's their problem not mine.
> ************* DAVE HATUNEN (hatunen@cox.net) *************
> * Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
> * My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *
|