Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/07/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]From: "Adam Bridge" <abridge@mac.com> >>>>> Just goes to show how complex this business is - 'cause I thought Brit was a completely acceptable term. Certainly in the Navy we used it when operating against our counter-parts and there was no perception of it being anything other than a quick short-hand. "Limey" however was avoided. <<<<<< Americans have an affinity for assigning "endearing" names to foreign nationals" "Wop, Dago, Ginni, Limey, Gook, Frog, Nigger, Chink, Spic, Pollack, Jap", and so forth. While there is no doubt that all of these (and others I may have missed) are used in a derogatory sense, some are not really offensive. Pollack, for instance, is the correct designation for a Pole. In fact, were I one, I would rather be called a Pollack than a Pole. A Polish national would refer to himself as Polakiem. Black people (African Americans, now) refer to themselves as niggers in the most endearing way when conversing among themselves. Obviously no one else uses the term without prejudice. Of course, when these names are used to insult, demean, or harass, then, obviously it is unacceptable. Joseph Codispoti P.S. Can anyone tell me what such designations are called? They are not names. What are they? - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html