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.
You know if you lined a few of these twits in front of a wall and gave them the options of “last words” or a “cigarette”, this foolishness would stop right there.
I now understand the concept of the fictional Madam Defarge and the Rabble of the French Revolution.
Don’t tell me what to say and I won’t tell you where to go.
Well....they can just kiss my American arse.
Always soemthing interesting in New Hamster.
Does the word university still stand?
I don’t want to be called, ‘old people.’
The phrase went out of vogue decades ago as being politically incorrect, insensitive, and rude!
It was replaced by the phrase “senior citizen,” not they claim this is culturally incorrect?
Phhhtttt....I cannot keep up anymore. I say what I mean and I mean what I say. Get over it.
Idiots. We call people who are citizens of Canada - Canadians. We call people who are citizens of Mexico - Mexicans. All of the countries in South America have their own name.And as far as I recall, there is no other country that has America in it’s name.
This American say FU to this bunch of freaks.
With Obama in office it has become offensive.
The U.S.A. is the only country in the western hemisphere that actually has the word “America” in its formal name.
I was told it was very offensive to the Canadians because they too are Americans.
Freak’n morons. We’re the only country in the hemisphere with “America” in the name.
Did you ask the person advising you what you should refer to yourself as then?
Yeah, but when politicians talk about benefits for Americans they may be hoodwinking us into believing USA citizens when their words could very well mean N., Central, S. Americans.
Something I’ve brought up on numerous occasions.
RE: Does the word university still stand?
It really is a PLURI-VERSITY more than anything else.
Good grief.
People actually sit around and think about what might offend other people.
So can we call black people negroes again?...
We now see the effects of not learning our history in grade school - Please let me refer you to:
Amerigo Vespucci - World Map
www.mapsofworld.com › Cartography › Medieval
Amerigo Vespucci is the undisputed leader among the medieval map makers in the world. He is well known as the man after whom America was named.
Please note South and Central was only added secondly and was specifically noted as SUCH to be distinct and separate from the original AMERICA.
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