Re: Amerind an offensive term (was: Early Amerind assimilation
Eric Brunner (brunner@mandrake.think.com)
30 Jul 1996 00:14:09 GMT
Stephen Barnard (steve@megafauna.com) wrote:
: Mary Beth Williams wrote:
Rather predictable, that someone would, this someone is simply luck of
the draw.
Mr. Barnard,
I don't intend to simply give offense, however I do think that it is
unlikely that anyone will actually give your writings on the subject
of Early Contact Period social grouping or interactions or the nuances
of the archaeological record or ethnographic issues more than a passing
glance, whereas those of Ms. Williams are more interesting than those
of quite a few others (as David Rindos observed here just a few days
ago).
Keeping that in mind, you do see the scope of your "curious" interest
in our own identity is not the most interesting subject at hand. As one
sci.anthro subscriber, I do thank you for having the good sense to start
a seperate thread to post unrelated comments in, and hope that you find
whatever it is that you are looking for.
: > First of all, the term *Amerind* is highly offensive to most Indians,
: > myself included, so if I'm going to continue to participate in this
: > thread, a more appropriate term must be used.
: Of course, you have the right to be offended by any word you like. I'm
: curious, though, *why* you and most "Indians" are offended by "Amerind".
: I was under the impression that "Indian" was an offensive word, and that
: Amerind started as an inoffensive -- or at least a less offensive and
: more descriptive -- alternative. Have you ever heard "Amerind" being
: used in a deliberately offensive way (e.g., "those lazy, stinking
: Amerinds")? I haven't.
: A similar progression is seen with "Negro", "colored", "black", and
: "African American". It's OK, and even flattering, to call someone "a
: person of color", but it's offensive to say they are "colored".
: I'm more than willing to refer to any ethnic or racial group in whatever
: terms they deem acceptable, but the rules keep changing. Sometimes I
: get the feeling that people want to be offended.
Yes... Some people are just as you describe, seeking offense. A balanced
person can distinguish between those who name racism, and those who are
victims of ignorance and internalized oppression. We applaud the former,
and avoid the latter. You should be happy we don't ask you to use our
real names, as none of our languages are remotely like Indo-European ones.
: Steve Barnard
--
Kitakitamatsinohpowaw,
Eric Brunner
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