From: Mike Lorrey (mlorrey@datamann.com)
Date: Thu Sep 13 2001 - 16:39:16 MDT
Adrian `Guru Zeb` Harper wrote:
>
> At 01:32 12/09/01, you wrote:
> >
> >Well, it's good to see that people are taking these terms so lightly. I
> >must say I was rather stunned to see in the newspaper an article about
> >the first American team to play a match of cricket at Lord's in jolly
> >ole' eland. They were a racially diverse team from East Los Angeles
> >whose official team name is the Compton Homies.
> >
> >Given how much native americans hate having terms referring to
> >themselves used in sports team names, I am rather surprised at this
> >double standard...
>
> I'd be very surprised if there aren't many Native American sports teams
> using names
> that refer to various aspects of native culture.
>
> Mike i think what your failing to understand here is "Cultural ownership of
> terms"
> it's fine for ppl from a given community to use certain terms to describe
> themselves
> and others around them. Whilst for an "outsider" to use the same term is to
> so much
> insulting but more like too familiar. the same rule applies to all races
> and creeds.
>
> If i called someone US citizens "White Trash", "Trailer Trash", "Cracker",
> or "Cheese Head"
> I'd expect to get my Brit ass shot off or at least punched. :)
> But we both know that these terms are commonly banded about within those
> particular communities.
Then why do you limeys always use the term 'Yank'? It's bad enough to
describe a northerner that way, but to call someone from the
Southeastern US a 'Yank' is, in fact, a grave insult.
The term 'Yankee' properly applies generally only to residents of the
states of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. We consider it a descriptor
of thrift, economy, productivity, ingenuity and 'down to earth' living,
self restraint and modesty. It is by no means an insult here, and we
don't mind at all if 'flatlanders', 'city slickers', 'crackers',
'limeys', or 'eurotrash' describe us as such.
>
> My problem with this kind of thing is the persistent use of the "N" word in
> Afro-American culture particularly music. With result it's becoming a commonly used
> phrase in black communities around the world, my own relatives in the West Indies use it
> all too often. I do feel however the use of this word within the black community only
> weakens any argument against me and my relatives having to tolerate it's unfriendly use
> by others.
>
> So as you can see no double standard, just the typical usual somewhat
> peculiar workings of ppls irrational cultures.
>
> (JOKING)
> You should talk to more black ppl Mike, oh sorry you guys have "ppl of
> color" don't you. :)
Ah, no, that is a passe term. 'African American' is the polite term,
'black' is generally used in verbal shorthand.
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