INDIAN IS NOT A DIRTY WORD
By Pale Wolf

I get so tired of the Politically Correct (isn't that an oxymoron?)
Seems to me that there are those who go around making up new ways of saying things just to case their own conscience.
Just when, where and by WHOM was it decided that INDIAN was a dirty word? Certainly there were offensive words which were in need of change... retarded for example, or cripple.
The changes to those references were called for and well meant. Trying to take the negative connotation away from someone's state of being.
But I just don't see how INDIAN falls into that category. Was it perhaps "who" was saying it.. and "how" it was being said that made it so negative?
So now, in an attempt to correct that prejudice, a new term is born.
But does a new term truly inspire new attitudes, or does it just ease the conscience of those who use it!?
"Native American",
hmmm.. While certainly the term is more accurate, and attempts to be respectful, I am not sure it is an improvement.
According to Webster, the definition of native is: one born or reared in a particular place; (which fits anyone born in this country) or an original or indigenous inhabitant.
Indigenous, well that certainly fits, but I hardly see it working into a conversation smoothly.
No, I prefer INDIAN to that.
People know exactly who is being referred to then, don't they? No confusion, no candy coating, no politically correct guilt-spawned sugar word. Just the plain and simple fact. Geographically incorrect as it is, I still prefer it.
It was good enough for those who came before us.
Hang out on the Pow Wow circuit for a while... you won't hear the people calling themselves "Native American". "Skin is more like it.:)
It's kind of like the term Shaman. ::hearty laugh::... don't hear that one much either.
Although to hear some people talk, you would think there was one around every corner!! (just give me a few classes and afew books and poof.. I'm a Shaman) Let's just get down to it.
INDIAN is an honest word, a good word in my opinion. A STRONG WORD FOR STRONG PEOPLE. If the rest of you want to sugar coat the word go ahead, but for me...

INDIAN is just fine!!!

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