In english class we read an essay by a chinese-canadian guy called “I’m a Banana & I’m Proud of it”. He kept saying he was a banana (yellow on the outside, white on the inside) & he was proud of his chines heritage, etc. There’s even a mag for asian-canadians called Banana. The prof said he hijacked what he thought of as an unbelievably racist term/word & put a positive spin on it by referring to himself as one. We got into this big long discussion on how the rest of the people should be the same way, like how someone’s friends make up nicknames for them, like shorty or Fat Bastard, etc. If somebody called me honky or cracker I’d go ‘yeah I’m english/french & proud of it’. I guess it has a lot to do with how it’s used though. If a black guy said to me ‘Drax is a no good worthless cracker…’ I’d be pissed off but if he said 'Hey Drax what’s up cracker?" I wouldn’t be offended or anything. A few of the people said if their friends call them coconut (brown on the outside, white on the inside) they’re ok with that, but if they hear someone call them that on the street they’d get mad, so that matters too. What you guys think? Am I allowed to call someone banana if they know I’m not being a jerk about it? You can call me honky if you want.
There’s a mag here called, “YOLK” - yellow on the inside, white on the outside. Which I see, is a li’l different than “Banana”. Anywhoos, if it was a close friend of mine or an aquiantance where I understood this person’s sense of humor, than no problem. I just turn around and start calling them “kwai low” or “round eye”. Afterall, if you can dish it out, you should be able to take it, too.
Drax are you at a public university? If you are, I would warn you, don’t argue this. Your professor will most likely tell you that every other hint of racism against non- Europeans is forbidden and a horrific crime against the human race. However, racism against whitey, or from one non-European to another, is A-OK.
p.s. I never found “honkey” or “cracker” to be offensive no matter who the hell said it. What does “cracker” mean? It’s sort of like “yankee” to make fun of Americans. I finally told some malnourished growth-stunted Irish hooligans last summer who were trying to rile me by calling me “Yankee” what that meant. “Yes, my family fought for the Union in the Civil War, and I am a proud Yankee. No, it isn’t at all offensive. Come up with something better.” They were really disappointed, but they weren’t witty enough to come up with a real crusher, so they just sort of melted away.
Patricia: That’s pretty good. Yolk… Yeah, that probably describes me, now that I think about it…!
Drax: As for any minority group that worries about what they’re being called… I think that Blacks, Hispanics, Indians and whoever else have a lot more important things to occupy themselves with than whether they’re called “colored people” or “people of color”. The underlying thinking of people who are prejudiced one way or another is the real problem, not a particular word that they might use to express that prejudice. All the PC types seem to think that by outlawing certain “offensive” words they can change something. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. Calling false teeth “alternative dentation” doesn’t put the real teeth back in your mouth, y’know?
first, some of you people seem to have pride in things you have no control over, funny to me. second, the people that make the arguments like, “I didn’t mean it bad” or “I’d call a bad white person that too” or “I don’t see how calling you $%#@& is bad” or any similar stupid argument, are racists (I have met plenty and have not found ONE that I would not say was a racist). these people use it as an excuse. let me ask you, if your best friend came over with his new wife and she was of another race would you use these type of tearms infront of her? realy, why not? because you KNOW it is wrong, offensive and racist. I am not a big fan of PC but I have more of a problem with the anti-pc movement out there.
After reading this again last night, I was going to further explain my thought on this topic: however, char did it better. So, what char said.
I thought yankee was a term to describe someone who lives in Northern USA. I’m from the south and that is what it means to us. It doesn’t offend me if people call me cracker or honky. Even if they are black or whatever color. To me those are just words. Now I don’t go around calling people these names, because I don’t think it is right, but I don’t see what the fuss is about these names. I don’t think it is right because most people get mad at these names but they are just words. If you know someone than it is a different story.
Yo, check this. I get called Whigger all the damn time. Aint, nuthin but words, you dig?
Hey, Drax. If the Cleveland Indians or the Washington Redskins want to change their names, I would be honored it they became the Washington/Cleveland LightandFluffys. I guarantee they would have a great mascot. It would be a mix between the Michelin Man and the Stay Puft Man. Now that would guarantee that other teams would overlook them. That would be a perfect setup to win alot of games. Just in case anyone was wondering, people don’t name teams after things that they hate. They name them after things or people they admire. Therefore, it is a compliment, not derision.
I don’t really understand why adults worry about name calling anyway. I used to get mad when people called me names, that ended right about the time I Graduated junior high. After that whenever someone said anything insulting to me I just flip em off or say “F@** off” and walk away ( I know it’s not the most mature way to react, but who cares, it’s not really about the words anyway but the intent). What’s the big deal? It’s a free country, we are supposed to be allowed to think and say whatever we want right? It’s another matter if the person starts following me and spewing profanity for no reason, (that is real harrasment)then I just get right in thier face and say, get away from me or face the consequences. If a fight ensues, well that’s how life works right? We can all sit around and try to be “PC” (Stupidest thing ever invented) but come on, we all know that there are extremely closed minded, unenlightened individuals out there that will never get over thier stupid irrational hang-ups. I am not perfect, I have made incorrect assumptions about people before, but I am allways quick to apologize and admit fault. I have even made rude comments, and exhibited insulting behavior once in awhile, sorry sometimes I am a jerk. My problem is with softskinned oversensitive types that can’t shrug off a word or comment. Ooooooh, you hurt my feelings, come on toughen up or go hug your teddy bear and have a good cry. Life is all about differences, it is human nature to point them out and form opinions. I happen to find offensive behavior pretty funny, and when it is directed at me I like to react in unexpected ways that confuse my harrassers when I have the time to play games. Sometimes I’ll even agree with them “Yah I know I am a MotherF****r, but your mom was begging for it”.Everyone should try behaving in a less predictable manner sometime. think about the reasons people are being the way they are, don’t play into thier agenda’s. What is thier intent in calling you an “offensive” name? They are trying to make you feel bad, so just don’t feel bad. Have fun with it, learn to laugh at yourself, call yourself a bad name just for fun. I have definitely behaved as a stupid peice of white trash at least once in my life. Stop taking everything so damn seriously everybody, geez. Why would a racial slur make me feel bad. Yup I am white like a cracker, haha. Hey btw, where did the term honkey come from? Is it cause white people fart more than black people or something? I fully expect to get flamed for this, come on guys, think of some really original insults. I need some new material.
Native Americans have some very legitimate grievences with white American culture but, the names of sports teams sure as hell is not one of them. They just sound like little pussies when they whine about the Atl. Braves or any of the others. I cant picture Cochise or Crazy Horse protesting in front of a ball stadium.
There is only one race. the human race. who gives a fuck what color somebody is? why does it matter? people who care are stupid. the only time i would care what color a person is is if im looking to date them and that doesnt even matter because the other day i almost ran off the road because i was staring at the finest black woman i had ever seen. Any decision made on the basis of color is wrong.
Name calling is rather foolish if you really think about it. I have a friend who has an earned PhD. Not many people know of his degree, or profession. I heard him called n****r in a public meeting once. It didn’t even bother him at all. I asked him about it later and all he said was “you are what you answer to”. What a class act!
Why do you need to have a name for another group of people? I am sure that what offends one may not offend another,depending upon their respective temperment settings are.Myself personally, I feel that someone’s given name is enough, and that is what I call them by.