[Leica] Re; Politically Incorrect terminology

[sonc.hegr at gmail.com (Sonny Carter)]

There's only one group you can't insult by calling them what they are, and
that's Rednecks.

Nobody thinks they are, and so you can tell a Redneck joke to anyone.


On Wed, Jul 3, 2013 at 3:59 PM, <lrzeitlin at aol.com> wrote:

>  I've been a semi-invalid for the last week recovering from cancer surgery
> and I've found the last few editions of the LUG to be a good substitute for
> "War of the Sexes." They take out the stiches in a few days and I should be
> back to my usual acerbic self.
>
>
> I personally am appalled at the cultural insensitivity to sexist
> terminology exhibited by many male LUG members. Despite the fact that some
> of us disagree with Tina's excessive regard for Leica equipment, we don't
> refer to her as a senorita (however spelled) or even as a "senorita who
> snaps." Why not? Because we regard her as a mature woman and an excellent
> photographer who deserves respect.
>
>
> I may be a bit sensitive to these issues. My sister-in-law was head of
> protocol at the White House and constantly had to chastise the staff for
> using diminutive, immature, or overly familiar language in referring to
> female guests, legislators, or Congresswomen. The Maid of Honor at my
> sister-in-law's wedding was Geraldine Ferraro, a woman that no one ever
> referred to as "girlie" or as a senorita.
>
>
> Words that in themselves are not sexist, like girl, chick, gal, skirt
> become so when used to refer to a woman in an overly familiar way. It's the
> same when talking of men. No one would ever refer to the Pope or the
> President as pal, boy, buddy, chum. We don't call Ted a "Canuck who
> clicks." Unless you actively want to insult somebody, don't disrespect them
> by diminishing them. A full list of male and female derogatory references
> is given here: Don't use them!
> http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:English_sexual_slurs
>
>
> I know most of you will say that you don't intend any disrespect. But it
> comes through in your terminology. It is worse in Latin countries but it
> exists everwhere. I've traveled extensively and worked abroad for much of
> my life and there is a cultural insensitivity to sexism in Spain, Italy,
> and parts of France. No woman Pope since Joan either. And I doubt that any
> woman will soon achieve a dominant position in Islam - although Mohammed's
> wife once did.
>
>
> Finally although I respect Jayanard's opinions on business, finance, and
> photography, he seems culturally unaware of the rampant sexism in India.
> While it is true that India has had a female head of state, as has the UK,
> Australia, and Israel, women in general are not regarded as the equal of
> men. I spent three years as a Fulbright Distinguished Professor at the
> University of Delhi yet my wife and 14 year old daughter could not walk the
> streets near our home without being harassed by "Eve bashing" hoodlums. My
> female graduate students complained that after years at the university
> learning how to think and make decisions for themselves, when they left
> they were often forced into loveless marriages that their parents had
> arranged and once married were subject to the demands of the husband's
> mother. Even today kitchen stove explosions are one of the leading causes
> of female death as grooms try to extort more dowery from the bride's
> parents. My landlord' daughters were forced to
>  leave the country to practice their professions as a physician and a
> journalist. My landlord was the Editor in Chief of India's Economic Times
> but even his position made little difference. So Jayanard, before you
> criticize sexist sensitivity in other countries, try to get your own house
> cleaned up first.
>
>
> Incidentally, the U.S. will probably get its first female head of state in
> 2016.
>
>
> By the way, I don't intend to insult anyone. I'm just telling it like it
> is. Sorry.
>
>
> Larry Z
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>



-- 
Regards,

Sonny
http://sonc.com/look/
Natchitoches, Louisiana

USA