Lance,
What some people call 'political correctness' others call 'good manners' and a
"respect for others'
feelings".
For some people to feel that they have the right to denigrate and insult and hurt
people through the
language they use because they don't want to temper their expressions and then fall
back on 'freedom of
speech' is one of the most ill-mannered and callous things one can do.
Language and how one uses it can reach out and heal or it can hurt and destroy.
Language is important and is
one of the ways people express to the world how they see things.
If the language one uses hurts and insults others then that person is showing the
world their lack of
concern for others and often, their racism. This has nothing to do with political
correctness but plain
humanity or the lack of it.
Trudy
Lance Kelly wrote:
> Theres a simple answer to your dilemma acknowledge your difference and
> accept that you as everyone else in society have inbuilt racism your
> inability to accept others choice of words (and thas all they are is words)
> suggests you have a bigger problem and that is as a result of this so called
> "politically correct" society which lacks the decency of people to express
> themselves in anyway they wish.
> If they have made a perosnal statement to you about your colour or creed
> your anger and frustration is acceptable. But if you chastising society
> becuase its celebrates the difference of people and the ability of
> marketeers and economic minded people to express and advertise themselves to
> sell product then I find your arguments difficult to accept.
> We are all differentiated from people individually, collectively as a race
> and as next door neighbours.
> Politically correctedness is not the way society is heading and rather than
> segregating people by controlling speech, we should be grasping the words
> and celibrating the fact that by the name redskin, blackskin, whiteskin,
> yellowskin or any other skin that people are at least being acknowledged for
> who we are.
> Be proud and happy of who you are first, show by actions and affirmation
> that you are proud to be who you are then you are in front of the racists
> who slander people and denigrate them. You are better than that. I say
> DOWN with political correctedness.
> Regards, Lance.
>
> "For equal society based on active particpation and not words."
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Sioux <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Sunday, August 01, 1999 5:45 PM
> Subject: [recoznet2] Redskins? Blacksins? Niggers?
>
> > Hau kola-pi,
> >
> > Just a thought. I have recently been abused in a store when asking fro
> the
> > removal of an item which I find grossly offensive from the counter top.
> >
> > In fact< I have had various reactions when I have come across this before
> > and spoken to the store owner or counter person.
> >
> > The offensive item are candies called 'Redskins'. A kind of red chewy
> > thing! As a Lakhota person I find these items extremely offensive, and
> > whenever I come across them I always like to approach the store owner or
> > sales person, and explain just how I feel.
> >
> > Now, I guess many of you are going to think I am being silly over this,
> but
> > I find this a very bad example to set to children whom I presume would be
> > tha main consumers of this candy. What kind of a message is it sending to
> > these childrem? There is even a picture I think of an 'indian' on the
> > wrapper!
> >
> > Each time I approach about this problem, I speak calmly and quietly, and
> > attempt to explain why I am offended and ask if they would please remove
> > the item form display and preferably from stock.
> >
> > I say to people, ok, how about if this thing was some kind of licorice
> > candy? Would they have it on their counter if it was called Blackskins or
> > Niggers? Of course, they usually protest that of course they wouldn't
> > thing of doing such a thing...............and of course they shouldn't
> either!
> >
> > My next reply then, is what is the difference between calling this red
> > chewy candy a 'Redskin' and a piece of licorice a Blackskin or a nigger?
> >
> > I must hasten to add here, that personally, I would never use such words,
> > they are not even in my vocabulary and are used here purely for the
> > comparison! My people and all my brothers and sisters of the native
> > american nations have strong feelings for our aboriginal brothers and
> > sisters here.
> >
> > But Please can someone see what I am saying?????>
> >
> > I am very sad today................
> >
> > Sioux
> > -------------------------------------------------------
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>
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--
******************************************************
"... and so we�re in a situation where we�re far from Parliament or
Congress being there to protect people from the external powers,
i.e., to control the economy in the interest of the people. Parliament
is now there to control the people in the interests of the economy."
--Tony Benn, MP, as quoted in the July 24, 1999, New York Times
******************************************************
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