The Black Sheep Liberal of the Family, Back in the Conservative Wolf Den on Thanksgiving

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:how is saying "colored" or "oriental" racist? outdated terms but hardly racist. what the heck does the NAACP stand for then?

The NAACP, like "the Negro Leagues," uses the term in a historic and formalized context. It doesn't mean it would be acceptable to use it in conversation. You are correct it's not blatantly derogatorily racist but it's still unacceptable usage and children shouldn't hear it used conversationally.

Well, while not "de facto racist," they are, in the modern age, both perjorative terms due to the echos of a racists and ignorant past. Does that help?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I posted in another thread today about not hanging around with hurtful relatives. If I had a relative who said, in front of my daughters, that women shouldn't be in the workforce? Or used the N word? Or other ugly talk? I would not bring my children there anymore. Sorry.
Politics is always a bad idea but respectful political disagreements, that's one thing. But bigotry and hate, I will pass.

I agree 100%!! I told my husband's step father exactly this when he used to use the term "jungle bunnies." I mean, WTF? That term is not only totally ancient but utterly ridiculous and nonsensical. My kids wouldnt even understand what it meant but what if they innocently repeated it? And the ignorance and hatered behind the use of terms such as these will infect the very air of the room you are in, IMHO. By allowing people to use and say nasty and incorrect things about people who are different from them in your presence, and not disagreeing, you are condoing it, period. The ONLY time not speaking up is ok is if speaking out would put you or your children in imminent physical danger. Hatred and ignorance thrive when unopposed.

[Anonymous]

I have similiar problems with my family who is racist against white people. It's awful how they make fun of "white folks" lack of dancing ability, style and even cooking ability. When they go on about how they finally got one of their own in..put me over the edge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have similiar problems with my family who is racist against white people. It's awful how they make fun of "white folks" lack of dancing ability, style and even cooking ability. When they go on about how they finally got one of their own in..put me over the edge.

Is this a joke?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the only right-thinking conservative in my family of knee-jerk liberals, so I try my best to show them the error of their ways but it is an uphill struggle. Luckily I know that time is on my side.

I wouldn't count on it. My family's only grown more liberal as they age.

Really? My parents have grown way more conservative as they age. My sister is right there with them. Luckily, I have a liberatarian brother coming down from NYC---my husband and I are independent. We are well represented. Also- my brother will say anything to get the conservatives fired up. It is always entertaining. I am sure FOX news will be blaring from my dad's surround system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have similiar problems with my family who is racist against white people. It's awful how they make fun of "white folks" lack of dancing ability, style and even cooking ability. When they go on about how they finally got one of their own in..put me over the edge.

Is this a joke?

Wondering the same. There's got to be more than those type of criticisms floating around that table...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the only right-thinking conservative in my family of knee-jerk liberals, so I try my best to show them the error of their ways but it is an uphill struggle. Luckily I know that time is on my side.

I wouldn't count on it. My family's only grown more liberal as they age.

Really? My parents have grown way more conservative as they age. My sister is right there with them. Luckily, I have a liberatarian brother coming down from NYC---my husband and I are independent. We are well represented. Also- my brother will say anything to get the conservatives fired up. It is always entertaining. I am sure FOX news will be blaring from my dad's surround system.

Yes, really. I'm very lucky!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have similiar problems with my family who is racist against white people. It's awful how they make fun of "white folks" lack of dancing ability, style and even cooking ability. When they go on about how they finally got one of their own in..put me over the edge.

Is this a joke?

Wondering the same. There's got to be more than those type of criticisms floating around that table...

unfortunately racism now-a-days is just as likely to be directed at white people as coming from white people. one of these days we will get past it.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Everything was fab! No worries at all. A little discussion about Obama taking away everyone's right to own guns, so
"we better go stock up on those and ammo." But nothing untoward. Great day all around, and I worried about nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Everything was fab! No worries at all. A little discussion about Obama taking away everyone's right to own guns, so
"we better go stock up on those and ammo." But nothing untoward. Great day all around, and I worried about nothing.

Glad to hear it, OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have similiar problems with my family who is racist against white people. It's awful how they make fun of "white folks" lack of dancing ability, style and even cooking ability. When they go on about how they finally got one of their own in..put me over the edge.

Is this a joke?

Wondering the same. There's got to be more than those type of criticisms floating around that table...

unfortunately racism now-a-days is just as likely to be directed at white people as coming from white people. one of these days we will get past it.

Oh give me a break. That's like saying "nowadays sexism is just as likely to be directed at men as coming from men

All I can do is laugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the UK, it is not offensive to describe people of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc. descent as Oriental. In the United States, they are referred to as Asian and it would be considered offensive to many to be referred to as "Oriental."

How dumb are you that you can't understand that in two different countries with separate histories have different customs and ways of life? Seriously, think before you type.

Yikes! Us "Asians" of Chinese, Japanese, Korean etc. descent HATE being referred to as "Oriental" because IT IS AN ADJECTIVE!!! It should be used to describe, say, a bowl or a plate -- as in 'that is a circa 18th C. oriental plate.' It is not the proper way to describe a person of Asian decent. It may be acceptable in a former imperialist kingdom, not here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the UK, it is not offensive to describe people of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc. descent as Oriental. In the United States, they are referred to as Asian and it would be considered offensive to many to be referred to as "Oriental."

How dumb are you that you can't understand that in two different countries with separate histories have different customs and ways of life? Seriously, think before you type.

Yikes! Us "Asians" of Chinese, Japanese, Korean etc. descent HATE being referred to as "Oriental" because IT IS AN ADJECTIVE!!! It should be used to describe, say, a bowl or a plate -- as in 'that is a circa 18th C. oriental plate.' It is not the proper way to describe a person of Asian decent. It may be acceptable in a former imperialist kingdom, not here.

My husband has chosen to refer to himself as Oriental. He sees it no differently than calling someone Eastern European, Middle Eastern, a Westerner, or any other geographical generalization there is to describe people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the UK, it is not offensive to describe people of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc. descent as Oriental. In the United States, they are referred to as Asian and it would be considered offensive to many to be referred to as "Oriental."

How dumb are you that you can't understand that in two different countries with separate histories have different customs and ways of life? Seriously, think before you type.

Yikes! Us "Asians" of Chinese, Japanese, Korean etc. descent HATE being referred to as "Oriental" because IT IS AN ADJECTIVE!!! It should be used to describe, say, a bowl or a plate -- as in 'that is a circa 18th C. oriental plate.' It is not the proper way to describe a person of Asian decent. It may be acceptable in a former imperialist kingdom, not here.

My husband has chosen to refer to himself as Oriental. He sees it no differently than calling someone Eastern European, Middle Eastern, a Westerner, or any other geographical generalization there is to describe people.

Great! He chose that- for himself! If the majority of Asians in American prefer to be referred to as "Asian" rather than "Oriental," which can be offensive, then you should refer to them as Asian until/unless they tell you they prefer otherwise.

I hate when people bring up an exception to the rule as if that changes things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the UK, it is not offensive to describe people of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc. descent as Oriental. In the United States, they are referred to as Asian and it would be considered offensive to many to be referred to as "Oriental."

How dumb are you that you can't understand that in two different countries with separate histories have different customs and ways of life? Seriously, think before you type.

Yikes! Us "Asians" of Chinese, Japanese, Korean etc. descent HATE being referred to as "Oriental" because IT IS AN ADJECTIVE!!! It should be used to describe, say, a bowl or a plate -- as in 'that is a circa 18th C. oriental plate.' It is not the proper way to describe a person of Asian decent. It may be acceptable in a former imperialist kingdom, not here.

My husband has chosen to refer to himself as Oriental. He sees it no differently than calling someone Eastern European, Middle Eastern, a Westerner, or any other geographical generalization there is to describe people.

Great! He chose that- for himself! If the majority of Asians in American prefer to be referred to as "Asian" rather than "Oriental," which can be offensive, then you should refer to them as Asian until/unless they tell you they prefer otherwise.

I hate when people bring up an exception to the rule as if that changes things.

Is that a preference for immigrants and children of immigrants from Asia? A friend of mine is from China and says that it doesn't matter if you call him Asian or Oriental. Same is true for another friend whose family has lived here for several generations. I'm confused.