All of those 'Dutch' references were common, long ago. They also mostly meant Germans of any sort, not just people from Holland (Pennsylvania Dutch = Germans, vaudeville's Dutch comedians = Germans) "Dutch Courage" is especially common; I'm surprised you haven't heard that one. (Try Jack London's short story "Dutch Courage" , for the longest definition) . I don't like to see our colorful language throttled by Political Correctness
ps - 100+ years ago, Germany was well known for producing CHEAP manufactured goods - just look at all the "British" records stamped there, and the many cheap gramophones, too. Edison himself considered the Germans to be "cheese-parers" - and he was half 'Dutch' ----- Original Message ----- From: "DON MAYER" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 04, 2004 4:43 PM Subject: [Phono-L] Racial Inferences (was Coin-op'd Edison . . .) Eric, I am sorry, but I can not let your "Dutch" references go without responding. I don't think that your "Dutch = inferior" comments were pertainent or in good taste. I have not heard the examples you quote in my little corner of the English-speaking world, so it does give one hope that the phrases you quote are more local than you realize. In any event, I do hope that we can have meaningful discourse without racial characterizations such as you provided in your posting. They do sound a little like fingernails on a blackboard to some of us.
