Posted on 07/30/2015 7:31:30 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
According to a “Bias-Free Language Guide” used by the University of New Hampshire, the word “American” is “problematic” and therefore should not be used.
“North Americans often use ‘American’ which usually, depending on the contexts, fails to recognize South America,” the guide explains.
“[It] assumes the U.S. is the only country inside these two continents,” it adds.
It recommends using “Resident of the U.S.” or “U.S. citizen” instead.
According to the guide, other “problematic” terms include “opposite sex” (it recommends using “other sex,”) “senior citizen” (it recommends “old people” or “people of advanced age”) and “obese” (it recommends using “people of size.”)
The guide is provided on the school’s official website, and was reported on by Campus Reform. According to its description, it “was prepared for faculty, staff and students of the UNH community to encourage the full range of contributions that we offer as individuals and members of various groups.”
“The guide presents practical revisions in our common usage that can make a difference and break barriers relating to diversity,” the description adds.
In case you are worried that these guidelines are a bit too restrictive, the description assures that that’s not the case:
“This guide is not a means to censor but rather to create dialogues of inclusion where all of us feel comfortable and welcomed,” it states.
Ah yes . . . “inclusion.” Of course.
The guide is prefaced with a quote about “democracy” from MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry:
In a democracy, recognition matters. Everyone wants to be seen as who they are.
If they are not, then it’s impossible for them to enjoy the experience of being full citizens.
(How something like being called “senior citizens” rather than “old people” could make it “impossible” for people to “enjoy the experience of being full citizens” isn’t clear.)
— Katherine Timpf is a reporter for National Review Online.
It doesn’t matter what you say. You can pick a word out of the dictionary at random and these feel-goodies will find a way to reach back way in their superior intellect and tell you how it is offensive.
Pull any and all Federal funding going to the place.
If they don’t like America—Screw ‘em.
The problem with “senior citizen” is that some old people aren’t citizens, so they could feel “excluded.” “Old” has problems, of course: some people don’t like the idea of being old, and also, it’s not precise.
“People of size” is the dumbest, since everyone has a size.
Suddenly, I finding the word “University” irrelevant~
I agree that many forget or do not think about the 'Americas' and all that they contain but no other country in the Americas calls themselves that - we are 'The United States of America'. They can even look at the money in their pockets, says it right on there.
When Canada changes their name to 'The Canadian Provinces of America', I'll be sure to clarify which 'American' I am...
Other sex seems to imply that they’re are only two. Isn’t that wrong on universities these days? Bad, bad, bad.
Unless it refers to having sex “the other way”, which I’ve heard is all over universities these days, too.
But, seriously, “old people”??? We called them “senior citizens” because “old” was “offensive”!
“Opposite sex” implies an even number. That discriminates against those who perceive an odd number of sexes.
You’re probably supposed to say, “an other sex,” not “the other sex.”
If Russia can call themselves Russians, then we can call ourseves Ussians
When the official at the border asked "nationality"? I was told to respond "United States".
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