Re: Amerind an offensive term (was: Early Amerind assimilation

Stephen Barnard (steve@megafauna.com)
Sun, 11 Aug 1996 16:35:25 -0800

Eric Brunner wrote:
>
> Stephen Barnard (steve@megafauna.com) wrote:
> : Eric Brunner wrote:
> : >
> : > Stephen Barnard (steve@megafauna.com) wrote:
> : > : Joel and Lynn Gazis-Sax wrote:
> : > : > The point that this so-called
> : > : > anthropologist cannot understand is that the offensiveness of a term
> : > : > is a matter for the recipient to decide. You are allowed one mistake
> : > : > in polite circles, but after you are informed it is offensive, you
> : > : > have no further excuse.
> : >
> : > : The problem that arises is when the intersection of the sets of
> : > : permissible terms, gathered over all the interested parties, is the null
> : > : set.
> : >
> : > The utility of purpose of the grand unification of nomenclature is exactly
> : > what again please?
>
> : The utility is to have a term to use that doesn't offend anyone.
>
> Umm, so you've been informed to the contrary and you still are compelled to
> find a universalism... Sounds like Stephen Russel got it right on the money
> when he wrote that this was really about people as (other peoples') data.
>

What does "informed to the contrary" mean? To the contrary of what?

I'm not "compelled to find a universalism." I just don't want to offend anyone by
using the wrong term. What's wrong with that?

> Now then, just what universally applicable utterances do you have in mind?
> There are miles of text written "about Indians", from 1492ad (or ca 1000ad
> if you've a mind to add a very small additional body of works), in script
> and print, in a wide variety of European languages. Know of any inobvious
> ones which were or are true and useful?
>
> Oh, there is no point leaving the "so-called anthropologist" question lie
> silent any longer is there?
>

I already said, quite some time ago, that I was willing to accept Native American
(although I have some reservations about it) if everyone else is. So why do you keep
picking at this scab?

Steve Barnard