This is merely evidence of the winds of change as one passes through time. When I was a teen, those words were never intended to be offensive, but more descriptive. Members of the ethnic minorities whom the words were descriptive, used them, (and still do today) usually still descriptive in nature. That being the case, it is evidence of diversity even within a particular ethnic group. Especially interesting is that depending on the ethnic origin of the speaker, the words are offensive, and when used by others, they are not considered offensive but descriptive. On the other hand, ethnic discrimination in most every other nation on the planet is a matter of law and custom. In the Arabic countries, it is tribal rivalry used as the "nice" way to describe the inter-ethnic hate. In the oriental countries, especially China, the ethnic Chinese lay claim to ownership of any country out side of theirs when the ethnic Chinese near or become the majority. In Africa, ethnic differences (perhaps tribal differences?) result in the on going slaughter of others. These are but two examples, but many more exist, and are alive and well. If a particular group measures their social standing in society in general by the omission of these particular words in use around them, I think their self-esteem badly needs repair. It has been human nature to "label" one person or another, and usually these labels are painted with a wide brush. They should never be considered as an accurate depiction of any particular person or group, but taken with the usual grain of salt. It seems only in the US there is a climate of genuine diversity, some still feel uncomfortable with, but take offense at mere words, while at the same time consider it ok if they themselves include them in their common vernacular. Ahhh, let freedom ring!
====================================== Stop spam on your domain, use our gateway! For hosting solutions http://www.clickdoug.com ISP rated: http://www.forta.com/cf/isp/isp.cfm?isp_id=772 ====================================== If you are not satisfied with my service, my job isn't done! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry C. Lyons" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "CF-Community" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, June 07, 2003 9:59 AM Subject: Re: Stratfor: WMD in Iraq. The issues involved. | Some people laughed. If you're a white anglo-saxon protestant type - | they have little meaning, if you're of one of the groups that those | words have been directed, they hurt and are very offensive. I am not | advocating censorship, just respect for others, and so a bit of | discretion is needed. | | larry | | >They used to say those words on Saturday Night Live. And people used to | >laugh cause the jokes were funny. | > | >will | > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?forumid=5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?method=subscribe&forumid=5 Host with the leader in ColdFusion hosting. Voted #1 ColdFusion host by CF Developers. Offering shared and dedicated hosting options. www.cfxhosting.com/default.cfm?redirect=10481 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5
