Sep 08, 2008 02:17AM GMT
Question
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Science - Other
Being Politically Correct?
I know that it is politically correct to call the indigenous people of the USA as Native Americans. I am of Irish descent, was born in the USA and our family has been here for many generations. If I am not a Native American, what am I?
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raves Sep 30, 2008 11:37AM GMTTrue, but the indigenous peoples have been here for thousands of years. Europeans came over to slaughter and then teach these SAVAGES how to become human beings!! But, I digress. I am insulted that because my family came here from Ireland and Scotland many generations ago, I cannot refer to myself as a Native American. That is what I am, since I was born here.
Marky :o) -
raves +1 posted Sep 15, 2008 01:14PM GMT
Answered I think...
I don't like categories and labels. I do understand the need for them in an uptight society that has its issues. Political correctness is something I never warmed to. I don't like people telling me what to say and how to say it, nor do I like to get dishonest responses from people - I'd rather know what you really think.
You are what you are, and what you consider yourself to be. I call myself a mutt. -
raves +2 Sep 08, 2008 08:36PM GMTYes, and it divides us as a country. We all came from different parts of the planet. That's what makes this country unique. Even the indigenous people tell stories about how their ancestors walked across the Bering strait to come to this land of NO people!!
Thanks for your response.
Marky :o) -
raves +2 posted Sep 08, 2008 03:14AM GMT (edited)
Answered I think...
I don't believe in political correctness. Since when is it bad to call things by their name? who decided that calling a black person 'black' was bad? what's all that about 'African-Americans'? They are NOT African. Most of them have never been in Africa and never will. What's more, they're not even interested. Why should they? They are AMERICANS.
Have you ever heard anyone say "He/she's European-American"? of course not.
Native Americans? well.. every person born in this country is a Native American.
When Columbus thought he had reached the Indies, he called the people on the islands "indios" or "Indians". Despite the fact that he made a mistake, that's the real and proper word for them.
There are many other stupidities like that. Can anyone tell me what a "Latino" is? Are Romanians "Latino"? their language derives from Latin.. And so does French and Italian. So....
And what about "Hispanics".Are they Hispanic because they are of Spanish descent? millions of them aren't. Someone born in Latin America who's very white, very blond with very blue eyes,.. is he/she Hispanic?
Are they Hispanic because they speak Spanish? If so, what about the people from Spain? would you call them "Hispanic"? More so, Spanish is one of the official languages of Equatorial Guinea, a tiny...I don't believe in political correctness. Since when is it bad to call things by their name? who decided that calling a black person 'black' was bad? what's all that about 'African-Americans'? They are NOT African. Most of them have never been in Africa and never will. What's more, they're not even interested. Why should they? They are AMERICANS.
Have you ever heard anyone say "He/she's European-American"? of course not.
Native Americans? well.. every person born in this country is a Native American.
When Columbus thought he had reached the Indies, he called the people on the islands "indios" or "Indians". Despite the fact that he made a mistake, that's the real and proper word for them.
There are many other stupidities like that. Can anyone tell me what a "Latino" is? Are Romanians "Latino"? their language derives from Latin.. And so does French and Italian. So....
And what about "Hispanics".Are they Hispanic because they are of Spanish descent? millions of them aren't. Someone born in Latin America who's very white, very blond with very blue eyes,.. is he/she Hispanic?
Are they Hispanic because they speak Spanish? If so, what about the people from Spain? would you call them "Hispanic"? More so, Spanish is one of the official languages of Equatorial Guinea, a tiny country in Africa where most people are black. Would you call them "Hispanic"?
And what about the millions of black people who live in the Latin American countries.. what are they???
It gets more and more complex every time, doesn't it.
We're all human beings, that's what we are. You can "describe" a person but you shouldn't put a label on them, and you should use the right word, not something someone made up.
-(less) -
raves +4 posted Sep 08, 2008 02:33AM GMT (edited)
Answered None of the above
I dont know what to call us..... you know funny you ask this today. I went to a local 'pow wow' where they had native american dancers and this big market where you could buy beadwork and things like that. But what struck me as really odd was that these native american brothers went way out of their way to make a strong point of their Veteran status with a whole flag hanging ceremony and everything.
I think , just based on what I saw there,, that Native americans have pretty much accepted that as a whole they are mixed into the other races in this country with most americans having atleast some native blood in them. When this happens with the other races in this country... will we finally find peace? I sure hope so...
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raves +1 Sep 08, 2008 03:34AM GMT (edited)haha.. well, science says we area heading twords the singularity... just had anouther one too. Hubby was playing on WOW game... and he tells me he is looking for a bear to make some kinda bear meat spell (I dont play so dont know what he was talkin about for sure) anyhow Im layin here watching andrew zimmerman from 'bizzare foods' and he was at this russian feast thing and starts talkin about how they eat bear meat there and is sittin down to a bear burger! hahaha.... creeeeeepy hahaha
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raves +4 posted Sep 08, 2008 02:29AM GMT
Answered I think...
Until enough time has passed...you are an American. The wounds are still too fresh and the indigenous people have not gotten the proper recognition yet. One day...after enough time has passed...people will call themselves Native Americans. Now if you were born in say NY...you are a native New Yorker. -
raves +3 posted Sep 08, 2008 02:26AM GMT
Answered None of the above
I think that a lot of politeness is misnamed as "political correctness." Would you call them "Indians"? That's not what they are. I'm sure if you called them by their tribes it would be cool. Because, actually, no race is native to North America. I'm not sure what you are getting at.... what do you think we should call them as a group? -
raves +3 Sep 08, 2008 03:04AM GMT
Answered I think...
I don't even try to be politically correct.