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Re: Who's the bigot here?
In Response To: Re: Who's the bigot here? ()

It may be a complex situation but it's very much alive and well. It is also not unique to those of Southern roots. The terms may be different but there is a word that seems to trigger a negative response for many different people. As you said, Wetbacks, Dagos, Krauts and such are meant to be derogative. Take the word "Injun". Heard that one a whole lot until someone made a PC list. I'm not sure how Injun made the list because I'm pretty sure the list was made for one word only. The one that has one letter now. Don't need to hear the rest of it. It's gotten more publicity than any other word in the last 25 years. But, think of an Indian. Just a youngun really. He was sent away from home to be educated so he could 'help' his people. After a few years of being indoctrinated in the White way at the Carlisle School, he was about ready to be returned to his 'people'. Sadly, a war broke out. Soooo, in order to get public support and ramp up the homefires, the United States used some of those 'Injuns' to sell bonds and remind folks in New York City there was more to the country than Manhatten. They dressed the 'Injuns' in some sort of fancy dress, not really the tribe specific outfit, and let them 'dance' outside of the library and other public buildings. It seemed to work pretty well. Some of those 'Injuns' enlisted. I'm sort of surprised the US even let them enlist after the insulting way the US treated them. I guess the US didn't figure it was insulting. Anyhow, one I do know of (and I'm writing just what is written on the back of his picture I'm holding in my hand) "Chief Don White Eagle. Died 18 November, 1918. Argone." I believe the writing to be that of my Great Aunt. She was engaged to him.

Remember, the US wasn't all that PC in those days. But then, we were still called Rebels too. Can't have our cake and eat it too. Now no one is what they wish to be but what the rest of the country dictates they are. There you see the American Way in all of it's glory. I have friends who are Native American. They call themselves 'Indians'. It's ok with me. They also think PC pandering is ridiculous. It's about as honest as the original treaty keeping. We still say we are Rebels. We say we are Rednecks. It's not a derogative term if "WE" say it about ourselves. We've learned how to use the PC clout too. I just wish someone would use the legal system to get the one letter people with the group with 5 letters that gripes about anything Southern to shut the heck up. We won't say that letter if they stop with the 'R' word. I'd rather be called Redneck than racist but would prefer Rebel. I mean, some of us still do object to what is going on in DC.

Just look at what is not nice today. "Illegal". Really. I mean, you cannot ask if an 'illegal is legal'. In the grand scheme of things, Redneck seems to be a badge of honor. I'd rather be a Redneck than an illegal anything. I mean, Injun Joe isn't the part of Twain's works they want rewritten. Injun seemed to have no one speak up for it. That one letter word sure did though. Boy howdy, yeppers! Sure did.

Pam

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Who's the bigot here?
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