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Old 01-09-2002, 04:02 PM   #9
Aelia Jusa
Iron Throne Cult
 
Tetris Champion
Join Date: August 23, 2001
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Age: 44
Posts: 4,867
quote:
Originally posted by Grand-Ranger:


Yes, I would mind. For one, not all americans are white trash, I will thank you not to call my countrymen that. All though most white trash dont mind if you call them that..

But back to my point all Afican-Americans are black, unless you cant an Eygption(Or somwhere up there)-American an African-American.

Wow, this poll has overnight equaled the posts of my sports poll. People certantly like dangerous topics..



Well, Grand-Ranger, you are in luck, because I would never call anyone white trash, though clearly you would, since you mention that not all Americans are white trash you obviously consider some are.

The point I was making that you obviously missed, is that political correctness is not what's most convenient for you, or what is clear to you, eg all African Americans are black. Political correctness is about respect, and using terms to refer to a person or group of people that they do not consider to be derogatory, demeaning or insulting. It is also about not using labels that define a person or group of people by some characteristic rather than as first and foremost, people. If Americans with dark skin want to acknowledge the fact that but for the actions of white people who took them from their home countries and used them as slaves in a foreign land, thus wish to be called African Americans, then that is their perogative. It is not your place to decide what you will call them determined by what is most easy for you. I was reading an interview with Mohammud Ali the other day, and he mentioned the epiphany he had when he first heard the term African American - it was a revelation to him that made sense - all other ethnic groups, Chinese, American, French etc were known by a term that indicated their country, black Americans were known as blacks, or negroes.

Likewise calling a person with black skin black, or a person with schizophrenia a schizophrenic is not politically correct because you are labelling them by some characteristic and denying that they are a person. It may be more time consuming for you, but the respectful and polite way to address them is as a person with whatever the characteristic is.
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