To Alaskan natives, the word Eskimo is analogous to the “N” word, just like the word squaw is to the “c” word. Now, I’m no PC speech nut, but IMHO, cultures have a right to determine which words are offensive to them. Italians, Jews, Chinese, whites, blacks, Hispanics, Alaskan Natives and any other cultural group. I don’t think people should lose their jobs over it, unless, perhaps, in the case of a politician who uses what amounts to dirty words, about his constituents. The guys who got in trouble, may not have, if they hadn’t followed up the word, “Eskimo”, with the words, “Can you smell them?”.
Remember how incensed we were about the Stzrok/Page remark about “smelly Wal-Mart people”? That offended us. If it’s ok for us to be offended by that, then it’s reasonable that there are certain words that offend others.
Picked up a fella hitchhiking. Apache I believe. He noticed the bagged bottle of wine and asked ‘what’s that’. ‘Oh nothing’ I said ‘just a bottle of wine I got for my wife ‘. ‘Good trade’ he said.
That was a racist joke. Back In The Bronx as a kid in the 50s where I came from all different races and nationalities would see who could ‘ rank out’ the guy from a different heritage, best. We had fist fights, but usually not over jokes like that.