Rick Lanser's Message

["Vollbach, Elizabeth" <evollbach -at- LOGICON -dot- COM>]

     Rick said,  "As a genuine member of a "disabled" group--I've
     been deaf for over 30 years--and as a literate fellow who wants to
     choose the right words for the right situations, I must admit I am
     distressed by the hoops people try to make the English language jump
     through in order to avoid real or imagined slights to others." etc.

     Excellent!  That's exactly right!  I, also, speak with first-hand
     authority on this subject of the use of politically correct language.
     A couple of days ago I said that it is silly.  Rick's message is the
     reason I say so.  It gets ridiculous.  Personally, I have a problem
     with the words "crippled" and "gimp."  But that's just me, and I don't
     expect the whole world to jump through hoops to please me.  Likewise,
     I don't think I should have to write in fear that someone *might* be
     offended.

     For example, only (this hasn't really come up with me), I feel it is
     terribly wrong to refer to someone as "nigger."  But "black" versus
     "African-American"?  In the news I've noticed that reporters usually
     say "African-American" rather than "black" nowadays.  I would tend to
     say "black" just because it's shorter and easier to say and type, and
     because I may not know for a fact that a person is black because
     his/her ancestors were African.  Should I, then, be afraid that
     someone might be offended?  That's jumping through hoops.

     (But please don't call me "crippled" or "gimp," or I'll rip your head
     off.  :-) )  Beth