[RonHolzwarth]

from before: "I understand that "squaw" is a Massachusett word meaning "woman," so why would she find it offensive?"

Well hell, Nigeria is a country in Africa that is mostly Black, but that does NOT make "nigger" an acceptable word! Although you can still say Nigerian.

The problem is that, over time, words aquire distasteful meanings. Kinda like shit. Before the word feces was in use, there was just no other way to say it!

"Squaw," like many other terms, now conjures up images that do not at all coincide with the way we should be viewing our fellow human beings.

[Sloth]

"Squaw," like many other terms, now conjures up images that do not at all coincide with the way we should be viewing our fellow human beings.

Like what?

[B Knotts]

Baloney. The only people that think squaw means something bad are the politically correct idiots that came up with that false and stupid theory.

[Taft in '52]

"Squaw," like many other terms, now conjures up images that do not at all coincide with the way we should be viewing our fellow human beings.

If that's the case, why the sudden concern? For decades and decades, the term "squaw" has been widely used--in place names, in a type of bread, and so forth. I find it odd that this term suddenly become offensive in the past year or two.

[muawiyah]

The Abenaki Indian word for "woman" is and has been "squaw" for millenia. The only mis-use of the word has occurred on the part of other Indians who found some enjoyment out of calling Abenaki women "whores".

It's not the word "squaw" that's offensive ~ rather, it's the usage by non-Abenaki.

The mis-use should be terminated, not the word.

It's truly unsurprising that Gov. Janet Napolitano should prefer to encourage non-Abenaki to continue to call Abenaki women whores than to counsel them to the contrary.

BTW, this whole thing has something to do with the efforts by some recognized Indian tribes to deny the existence of the Abenaki who continue to not be recognized by the federal government. Someone is afraid the BIA "pie" will be subdivided further should that recognition ever become official.

[occam's chainsaw]

The problem is that, over time, words aquire distasteful meanings.

No, the problem is that a whiny bunch of liberals decide they need a new crusade. They create a problem where none ever existed, bolster their arguments with fabricated lies, and label all opposition as evil bigots.

I don't have any idea what kind of images "squaw" conjures up in your mind, but I get the mental picture of a beautiful young Native American woman. Maybe you have just been conditioned to think differently.