From: Erik Reuter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: Killer Bs Discussion <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Killer Bs Discussion <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: Raceism Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2003 13:20:17 -0400
This is really silly, Jon. If you want to change people's minds, telling them they can't or shouldn't be use a name is a rather dumb way to go about it.
Changing the way a person refers to others is often the first step in changing their perceptions and attitudes. I don't see anything wrong with attempting to combat racial stereotypes, especially when a majority of the targeted population find them offensive.
Besides, most people don't like whiners.
So anyone who attempts to combat a racial stereotype would be a whiner to you? Should we alert the ADL & NAACP that their battles are silly and not worth the time? ;-)
I know there's a difference in degrees of effectiveness. I don't think it's an unworthy cause though.
Using or not using the name "redskins" is not an important battle to fight-- surely there are more effective battles that people could be fighting if they want to eliminate real discrimination against people with red skin.
I don't see Native Americans perpetuating a culture of victimhood by filing this suit. I think that's a difference in the way we both perceive it. I also think you're arbitrarily ignoring the time (decades) that the term was used as a disparagment and pejorative in order to prove your point.
After all, some people's skin DID (and does) have a red tone to it, so the term is a basic description, not an insult. Big deal, who cares about skin color, get over it.
Uh huh. And 'Nigger' comes from 'Negroe', which means 'Black'. I'm sure that with subtle alterations, this argument would go over very poorly with African-American communities nationwide.
Jon
Le Blog: http://zarq.livejournal.com
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