Ya think? I write for myself from my perspective.

I do think, and it's refreshing to discuss things unfettered by bleating sheeple and wall-to-wall moronic conspiracy theory invented fictional BS and hear from other reality-based thinkers.

I don't know what joining the Army at 24 years old has to do with my hating PC. I started hating PC long before that.

Good for you; if you hadn't, the armed forces would have been a good place for a general "attitude adjustment," but there too, experiences will vary greatly.

A good rant cleanses the system (sistem?) of toxins. Sure, I'd like my rants to change the world. But do would billions of other sentient beings on Earth.

Amen, brother. :)

Aha! A fellow pedant!

Interesting points, all. My biggest bugaboo in geographical terms is continually pointing out that Europe isn't a continent. It just isn't. There are six continents, and Eurasia is the biggest. Hmmph!

goode trickle [11] -

I agree with you generally, but in this specific case she's a multiple "first," so the media's going to point it out endlessly. I really have no idea when the whole "Asian" thing got started, but it's completely mystifying to me, personally, and seems like a step backwards.

As for your "hyphenated-American" point, I believe Teddy Roosevelt ranted against it over 100 years ago -- I'd have to dig it out, but I think he gave a speech on it. And he made essentially the same points you did.

nypoet22 [17] -

we also don't write tocko or faheeta.

Give it time... give it time...

I had to laugh out loud when on a cross-country drive I saw a giant factory for Sue Bee Honey right smack in the middle of Sioux territory. Which was only spelled that in the first place because of the French fur trappers. But eventually Americans respell anything they please.

Like the Soo Locks, in Sault Sainte Marie.

Or (another one that caused an enormous lightbulb moment and laughter from me) seeing the name Aux Arc on an Arkansas road sign. Aha! So that's where it came from!

And again, from the French, I've come across old references to the "Esquimeaux" before.

Like I said, give it time. Americans will respell anything they please...

:-)

andygaus [20] -

Call it "personal pedantry." It's a personal choice, and I've made mine. Heck, if we were consistent we wouldn't muddle Latin and Greek roots, either, and we'd all be driving around in either (take your choice) "autokinetons" or "egomobiles." Actually, now that I think about it, plenty of Californians do actually drive egomobiles... heh.

Chalk it up to me learning French instead of Spanish at an early age, I suppose.

[24] -

OK, that is an interesting point. You're right, when it comes down to voting blocs -- the generic terms do give them more power, in the end.

MtnCaddy [27] -

You certainly do have a point, but as an editor, I do actually have to make these choices. In the dog days of summer, sometimes I write about them...

[37] -

Yeah, I thought that both of them did have to struggle without an audience, and Biden did a little better at the TelePrompTer game than Harris, but hey, she'll get better quick (that's my prediction). I need to find a transcript of both speeches so I can just read what they said without being distracted (and so I can excerpt them tomorrow).

John M [49] -

Feel free to set your own editorial policies for your own comments, as always!

:-)

Just don't let the power go to your head and start using the editorial "we"... heh... which I limit myself to doing only on Fridays...

-CW

http://www.chrisweigant.com/2020/08/13/in-praise-of-sarah-palin/

:-)

-CW

She should go on Trump TV and tell them that she identifies as White. Let's see where that goes.

Oh, I like this idea, JFC. That could make for some delicious commentary... like that whole "Santa" thing:

And by the way, for all you kids watching at home, Santa just is White... Santa is what he is, and just so you know, we're just debating this because someone wrote about it, kids.

...

Just because it makes you feel uncomfortable doesn't mean it has to change, you know. I mean, Jesus was a White man too, but you know, it's like; he was a historical figure. I mean, that's a verifiable fact... but my point is, how do you just revise it, you know, in the middle of the story and change Santa from white to black?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XYlJqf4dLI

~ Megyn Kelly, December 2013

*

Oh, I don't know Megyn, but if you can change a first century Jewish historical figure into a "white man" like you just did, then Santa going "black" ought to be a piece of chocolate cake and easy as a Mississippi mud pie.

Kamala identifies as White, she just is what she is; just ask her husband, Doug. :)

Well reasoned and well spoke, John M.

[58]

When I'm good I'm very, very good, but when I'm bad, I'm better. ~ Mae West

Cain't touch that, Kick. It's just too perfect as is.

Do I even have to say I'm not overly politically correct either or do my posts make it painfully or otherwise obvious?

I wouldn't call it "painfully" -- I'd go with "otherwise" and "semi-obvious," Sister.

Just keep in mind that not everyone has lived your experience.

Ya think? I write for myself from my perspective. I don't know what joining the Army at 24 years old has to do with my hating PC. I started hating PC long before that.

A good rant cleanses the system (sistem?) of toxins. Sure, I'd like my rants to change the world. But do would billions of other sentient beings on Earth.

I have to say it Chris and Weigantia...

Say what?

I think the whole subject of whether to capitalize or not or should one be more or less specific in grouping nationalities is, frankly, silly. Who cares? It's shading too close to excessive political correctness for my taste.

Do I even have to say I'm not overly politically correct either or do my posts make it painfully or otherwise obvious? Having said that, I certainly do understand why an author would make the endeavor.

I think that one thing that might actually unite majorities of both Parties is hating PC, especially excessive PC, to one degree or another.

I hear you; I do, and I know you having served in the military informs your opinion; it simply can't not inform your thinking because it beats that "hang-up" right out of you, and it's set up that way by design... by necessity, and that's a good thing.

There's far more important things going on to devote any attention to this subject.

Just keep in mind that not everyone has lived your experience. I used to get them fresh out of high school and with a chip on their shoulder the size of Texas until I knocked it off and fed it to them for breakfast. People don't know what they don't know until they know it... I know you know.

Rant over.

Never underestimate the power of a good rant. :)

When I'm good I'm very, very good, but when I'm bad, I'm better. ~ Mae West

Find larger words from Biden-Harris and Trump-Pence.

LL&P

Knock it off with that "white" thing. We light-complexioned folks are henceforth to be referred to only as "Persons of Pigmentation Deprivation".

"White thing"!? You're funny. I will be more than happy to speak for hours on end about your "deprivation," but alas, the topic of the pigmentation of your skin wouldn't come up.

Heh. Just giving you a hard time, "White thing," you were crying out for it... so I threw you a bone. ;)

I hope you are taking care of yourself, mountain man, got your registration changed to Libertarian and all that, right? :)

I ask, because caring would unbalance our present relationship, and that wont do...

I regret to inform you, but I added you to my "meh" list some time back, and that list is never revised.

I appreciate your new-found concern, but as new-found, it's redundant and missplaced.

LL&P

I like the Biden-Harris approach, the sum of the two parts outweighs the individual contibutions.

Trump is well and truly bent-over, of that, no doubt remains.

I would'nt give "Tuppence" for Trump and Pence, in the same way Biden and Harris were like "Songbirds"...?

LL&P

That "squaw" thing (supposedly as a substitute for cunt)is a total bullshit story, invented by contemporary western tribes desperate for something to be offended by.

The word must have originated among the first European immigrants, who took it from the natives they came in contact with on the east coast.

I recall from reading the journals of the Corps of Discovery, where Captain Clark rendered it as "squar" if I remember correctly.

The "female genitalia" thing is utterly something manufactured relatively recently, by western Indians, whose ancestors at the time it entered our language, never even knew of the existence of their fellow natives of the east coast.

1) People should be able to define themselves for themselves. Not have someone else do it for them.

It was white men who gave people they found in the Arctic the name "Eskimo" which in English means "fish eater" and is somewhat derogatory. The name they actually use to refer to themselves is "Inuit" which actually translates as "the people."

Similarly "Roma" or "Romani" is preferred over the term outsiders gave them, again somewhat derogatory, of "Gypsy."

And don't even get me started on the old TV Western practice of white men calling Native American women "squaw." 1950's American mothers I am sure would have been horrified to learn that "squaw" didn't actually mean "woman" but actually would translate as an explicit term for female genitalia. I can just see his mom yelling now,"Dennis the Menace, Margaret is not a squaw, now go wash your mouth out with soap." if she only knew!

2) People who say they don't see color at all, while they are trying to be kind, are really making a mistake in the opposite direction. Because that also has a way of totally invalidating and dismissing not only a major part of who you are, but also your actual real world life experiences as well. Making you invisible can be just as bad.

Tolerance is great, but not if it implies that you are "only" being tolerated. After all, we can "tolerate" things that we loathe and despise. We need to strive for more than just "tolerance." The very fact that you are black, or female, or gay, should be just as positively valued and acknowledged as the fact that you are a human being too.

Hello "Tipsy Donald" - the man is losing his ability use words. Paragraphs have been gone for quite a while. I'm beginning to think there will be no TV"debates." Trump's handlers realize debates are "a ramp too far."

In the UK, 'Asian' generally refers to people from the Indian sub-continent, mainly India, Pakistan and Bangladesh rather than the Pacific Far East. 'Hispanic' and 'Latin/o/a/x' are not generally used, however. Prejudice and lack of understanding of different ethnic groups are no better. A friend of my son was racially abused for wearing a face covering and being apparently of Chinese descent.

I agree with you, John about traditional geographic labelling, especially since it has tended to ignore the groupings and movements of actual people.

I'm with you, Chris,

Time to go eat that tuna sandwich.

I know, I'm eating my tuna fish sandwich, too.

As I've maintained for some time now, "Joe could pick a tuna fish sandwich for Veep and still win."

So I made a niiice tuna fish sandwich, wrapped it in an American flag bandana and put it in the freezer.

You know, in case Joe wanted to actually nominate said tuna fish sandwich to make that same point, I wanted my sandwich to have the honor.

IMO we should refer to anyone first as an American and secondly of x and y decent.

Yes! Yes! Yes! I have wondered why no one identified themselves this way for years! I like to think that I am an “American heterosexually-challenged Caucasian”.

Kamala did fine as well. I'd have to say that I'm just about as gushy about the two as you, Sir Weigant.

She covered the bases and checked the boxes that she needed and again, I'll remind the studio audience that Kamala's voting record is the second most Progressive of all our Senators. You know, substantive actions to address our [fill in the Progressive cause.]

This reality really goes a long way toward explaining why XYZ-Americans want to add -American to the labels already assigned to them.

Onward to Kamala's speech!

John From Censornati wrote:

How about Suburban-Lifestyle-Dream-Wrecker?

If Trump goes, "Socialist Liberal Urban Terrorist" the acronym would spell...oh, never mind.

I guess I'm more into substantive actions to address our racism than I am symbolic grammatical gestures.

"Persons of Pigmentation Deprivation," huh?

(thinking)

"PPD?" I dunno, I think of Portland Police Department when I hear "PPD," and we can't have that.

C. R. Stucki wrote:

Kick[22]

Knock it off with that "white" thing. We light-complexioned folks are henceforth to be referred to only as "Persons of Pigmentation Deprivation".

It's not all that catchy but I'm with you, Stuck. And don't forget the, "The Jews will not replace us," thang.

I think the whole subject of whether to capitalize or not or should one be more or less specific in grouping nationalities is, frankly, silly. Who cares? It's shading too close to excessive political correctness for my taste. I think that one thing that might actually unite majorities of both Parties is hating PC, especially excessive PC, to one degree or another.

There's far more important things going on to devote any attention to this subject.

Rant over.

It must have been tough without the energy of an audience to feed off of but Joe made it work for me. And he was nothing if not a competent man talking in complete sentences and making a strong case.

Knock it off with that "white" thing. We light-complexioned folks are henceforth to be referred to only as "Persons of Pigmentation Deprivation".

I would have added, "And because our current President has so abjectly failed to uphold that Oath, I'll remind him that it reads [insert the thingy that talks about "upholding the Constitution of the United States".]

Speeches? We don't need no stinkin' speeches! ;)

82 DAYS * 1 HOUR * 33 MINUTES

Neither Biden nor Harris were at the top of my lists, but I am, as I knew I would be, happily on board.

Time to go eat that tuna sandwich.

'ness paw?

Perhaps it's the silent rebel in me. Ahem.

i believe simpatico was borrowed directly from spanish via the western genre of tv/movie, which is why the spellcheck dictionaries like it better that way. i'm guessing either the writers or the characters they wrote didn't really know what it meant, because the english adaptation is somewhat different in meaning from the spanish.

Hopefully, someday, we will live as equal partners in this country called Canada.

But, I'm not a hyphenated Canadian - except maybe European-Canadian but, that's pretty ridiculous.

Until you walk in the shoes of another ... I'll leave it up to them.

Why can we not emphasize that she is a successful American woman and leave it at that?

The whole need to assign someone a hyphenated ethnicity really just enables people to utilize different levels of judgement fostered by a persons racial biases.

IMO we should refer to anyone first as an American and secondly of x and y decent. There are times where the use of ones ethnicity is necessary to provide additional context to the discussion but if find the need to box someone into a hyphen tedious at best.

On the Asian question, as a geography teacher I try to get my kids to accept that Asia, like Africa (another problematic place for a generic word 'African' to be applied to everybody from there), is just too big and diverse for the word 'Asian' to mean anything.

Now, I will grant that in the American experience 'Asian' for some time now has referred to East Asian-American populations: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Filipino, and the rest. And this is because, as far as I can tell, most immigrants to American from Asia east of the Arab/Muslim crescent (aka the Middle East, a term that makes no sense and never has; see below for more ranting) have in fact come from the Pacific littoral: East Asia. And despite the strong national differences you note, East Asia was historically dominated by the Confucian civilization of ancient China, and populated by variants on what used to be called Mongolian facial features, so East Asian is arguably a meaningful generalization.

East Asian, not Asian. Because as you say, we now have a growing population from South Asia, the ancient Indian civilization of equal age and historical coherence: now India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc. They may loathe each other at times, but to refer to them in world terms, or American ethnic terms, as 'South Asian' is again a useful generalization.

And yes, I do like to point out to people that West Asia is a place that goes all the way back, and can be used to talk about all the varied peoples from Turks to Afghans to Arabs and Israelis. It's actually a better term than Middle East (which used to be Iraq and Iran, since the Near East was the Ottoman Empire from the Balkans to the Arabian Peninsula and the Far East was, of course China and Japan), and gee, folks, isn't calling all of Asia any form of 'East' simply a scream that it is unalterably different and opposed to the 'West', i.e. Europe and its worldwide offshoots?

Central Asia? It's there, all right, although not a large part of the American melting pot. And North Asia, like North America, has relatively few nations (Da!) and so is a less-needed, but not completely useless term.

Being a teacher, I'm used to my pedantry being ignored, so it's nice to vent when asked politely, like just now.

OK, moving on. I couldn't care less what title or dignity possibly VP Harris' husband is assigned.

And finally, thanks for the recommendation to watch the Biden & Harris speeches from today's event. You certainly make them sound impressive, but as you may have realized, you undercut your praise by letting me know that the convention speeches will probably be even better. So I'll wait for those. It's not like I'm not going to vote for Uncle Joe and the Lady Cop anyway.

Truth be known, I'm just totally and completely bowled over by everything. I have to pinch myself thinking about Biden as the nominee and what a great team Biden/Harris will be.

Of course, I'll be devastated beyond imagination if they don't make it.

I am reminded of Tiger Woods coining "Cablinasian" to describe himself, personally...

-CW

Sorry, I couldn't resist. I'm definitely not THAT strong! :)