The new, politically correct term for Indians/Native Americans
Reader Tara e-mails: “My daughter’s preschool teacher calls Indians/Native Americans ’1st Americans.’ I guess that’s the NEW PC term. I just hope I’m not calling my kids ‘Last Americans!’”
On a related note, reader Becky e-mails:
Michelle,
Let me first say that I am married to a full Sioux, making my daughter half Sioux, and she does take after him (native genes beat Scot/Welsh/Irish imports anytime). In her pre-school and kindergarten, she was an Indian. Well, they called them Native Americans, but you get the point. Both my husband and I attended the Thanksgiving pageant for the two years of pre-school and the kindergarten play. At no time were we ever offended that our daughter was an Indian, Native American, whatever. In fact, we joked about it being typecasting! She had fun with it, played it up. Everyone loved it. No one asked if we were offended or anything. No one asked us ahead if we minded, either, and they all knew her heritage.
Neither of us has ever been the type to object to the Indian mascots for sports teams or anything else. The only time I have ever had a problem with his heritage is when a former employer denied me a promotion because I was a “dirty squaw who married a dirty Indian”. I quit as soon as I heard the comment, filed a grievance and put the small-minded people out of business, at least in that state (they only had 6 employees).
It’s called history people. Get a life!
***
Yesterday: Thanksgiving Derangement Syndrome
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Categories: Political Correctness
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There are so many things wrong with calling them “First Americans” that I won’t even bother going into it.
What on earth has happened to this nation?
i believe in Canada they are referred to as First Nations
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Nation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A9tis_people_(Canada)
So, Canada is the nation to emulate in this regard?
Are you serious?
They got called “Indians” because Christopher Columbus made a mistake. I kinda like the notion of remembering the mistakes of great men.
Doesn’t anybody remember any more that the Indians were the heroes at the first Thanksgiving? Don’t they teach this any more, that the Indians saved their new neighbors’ lives by teaching them how to hunt and grow food in their new home? That the greatest blessing God gave those settlers was the Indians?
I just don’t understand. Thanksgiving is a day that honors Indians.
I guess “Injun” is out then.
I’m part Welch, so I don’t want to hear the expression “welch on a bet” anymore.
I’m also part Dutch, so I don’t want to hear “going dutch” any more.
I’m also part English, so I don’t want to hear “putting english” on a pool ball.
My wife is Chinese, so no more “Chinese checkers”, “China dishes”, etc.
Where does it end?
Huh?
There is no way the uneducated PC crowd can claim “native Americans” were the 1st Americans. There are several archaeological digs in both North and South America that have produced enough evidence to leave that question (who were the first Americans) open. Here in western PA there is a dig that has produced human remains, caucasian, that date to 18,000 years ago. There are similar finds in Mexico, Peru and Brazil.
Well that cleared that up – I couldn’t remember if they were Yams or Cranberries.
Wasn’t the first American named Vespucci?
They don’t let facts get in the way of assuaging their guilt.
It’s all about “feeling good”.
You got that right boilermaker!
I’m hoping to visit the dig southwest of Pittsburgh next spring!
It may clear it up but does e-harmony make special considerations for them in case they want to intermarry?
“First Canadians” is the term heard north of the border for native peoples of all stripes, just as long as they aren’t related to the wascally English or French who settled the place. Being part “First American” (Cherokee) myself, I say…Pfffft. Means nothing.
Valrie, please……. Don’t you know that in Left World we can NEVER celebrate or discuss anything that happened in the past that would rob “progressives” of a chance to have an exploited victim or deprive them of an opportunity to bash American History.
All that is wrong with America can be traced to evil, white, Christian men. You are obviously another brainwashed, knuckle dragging, bitter, gun clinging, hate-filled, racist, facist, neocon, homophobe for even thinking like you do.
In his book, Braindroppings, George Carlin was correct in saying that calling “Indians” “native Americans,” “first Americans,” or what you want is ridiculous. He suggested that we call them what they called themselves: Cree, Seminole, Iroquois, Apache, Navajo, Sioux….you get the idea. ‘Nuff said.
*out*
My name from the is indians, non-dot indians. Don’t like it? tough.
Present.
#16, the = them. Is it 16:00 yet???
It never ends.
I am white and I don’t ever want to hear “Polly want a cracker” and while we are at it Clorox should not be able to call it bleach.
No more French kisses or Roman Greco wrestling. How about those Sewish Meatballs?
And while were at it, when the hell ‘criss-cross applesauce’ replace sitting ‘indian style’? I know it’s probably been 6-8 years since I first heard it, but, egads, it still bugs me.
I believe that the various tribes were anything but united, nor did they wish to be, and since our borders were not their borders before the European settlers came they are not really being historically accurate by calling them ‘First Americans‘.
We don’t call our Astronauts the Second Cosmonauts and this would make as much sense!
I notice that the kids still play “Cowboys and Indians” with just as many wanting to be Indians as cowboys.
The “politically correctness” is more than just silly it’s destroying the culture of all Americans
and bestowing preferential status for intolerant cultures like one that begins with the “I” letter (does not include the North American Indian tribes)!
The “politically correctness” is run amok and We must ACT and also understand how this indoctrination is helping those who wish us harm.
Uh, no.
1st Americans? There should be a rule about how many times you can change the title of your ethniticity. Its getting silly.
I’m German / American. I’m not offended when the Nazi religion is denigrated. I’m not offended when George Lucas used the word storm trooper which comes from the German “sturmabteilung” meaning the same as those who assisted Hitler to power. Much has come from my ancestry, the good and the bad. The American indians, and all cultures have had the same in their history.
Hey libs, just get over it. We can take it.
I’m Irish so from now on I vow to be offended by “Paddy Wagon”, the Boston Celtics, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, “luck of the Irish”, St. Patrick’s day parades (I know that doesn’t make sense but go with me).
Everyone should just be so offended by everything that no one talks to each other or goes outside. We should just sit in the home and listen to government instructions.
Mrs. Malkin:
Write a new book!!!!
Please.
Uh, yes as the tale is told.
More importantly we thank GOD.
New term? 1st American? Shucks. I was just warming to Indigenous Person.
Flyoverman nailed it.
The Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy at work again.
They think the imperialist white man is the root of all evil and has oppressed people all over the world, including the “First Americans”.
The VLWC hates (among others) this picture and this picture in our U.S. Capitol building.
Native Americans give less thought to this than the politically correct crowd does.
I believe the Clovis were the first Americans, but they went with the Wooly Mammoths.
I have been sick of the political correctness since the NCAA Presidents (with nothing else to fret about) ruled that the University of Illinois mascot, Chief Illiniwek was a hostile and abusive symbol. They would rather we FORGET our American heritage.
The VLWC also can’t stand that when Nancy Pelosi looks out from her perch as speaker, she sees the lawgiver Moses.
As you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, I hope you will remember why the holiday exists.
Maybe we’re just thinking of this the wrong way… we should just view the Pilgrams as Undocumented Immigrants.
Its not like the Indians provided us with Social Security or guaranteed home loans or anything. I think they owe us…
The indians (dot) are having a really really really bad day in india. 78 dead and 900 wounded?
religon of pieces at work.
Does this mean I’m no longer being subversive when I teach my children that they are native Americans because they were born here?
I’ll have to find a new way to tweak their politically correct (sheeple?)teachers.
I wonder if Biden predicted this scenario. Both India and Pakistan have nukes. India will want vengence.
I am a proud british-scottish-new zealander-american.
phew…..
When will the US Gooberment do away with the Bureau of Indian Native American First American Affairs? Talk about a useless POS. If they are the First Americans, why in hell do they need the US Gooberments involvement in their affairs?
Mister P,
I heard that Smiley toured the local dunkin donuts to assess the damage.
Apparently, the VLWC also thinks that the evil, imperialist white man has no claim to Alaska and Hawaii as states…
“Not allowed to go to“?
Who’s in charge?
What is their agenda?
Do the people behind Obama’s campaign [to whom Obama must ask permission to visit Alaska and Hawaii, and when they say, "No", he says "I was not allowed to go"] think that Alaska and Hawaii should not belong to the United States?
I’ll break this into two comments. Hawaii first…
Here’s an interesting find from the “Prairie Fire” web site:
Stolen Islands: Hawai`i Demands Sovereignty
Now Alaska…
Has Russia been working through their members in the US Congress to prevent drilling for oil in ANWR?
The area that became Alaska was purchased from the Russian Empire after Congress concluded its resources could be vitally important to the nation’s future growth.
Does Russia have very real intentions of taking Alaska back?
A leading Russian political analyst has said, “we could claim Alaska – it was only granted on lease, after all.“
When will the US Gooberment do away with the Bureau of
IndianNative AmericanFirst American Affairs? Talk about a useless POS. If they are the First Americans, why in hell do they need the US Gooberments involvement in their affairs?Let’s try that again
Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr reinvents Thanksgiving. Thanks Abe Lincoln.
http://www.jessejacksonjr.org/thanksgiving.pdf
It seems every holiday we American’s have celebrated since our country was founded now has a ‘pc’ term some group makes the majority of us use. I am an old gal and I will still use the not pc terms and put up whatever decorations for the occasion. I will say Merry Christmas, Happy Easter, cowboys and Indians, happy Hanukah, etc. Don’t like it, though toe nails!
L
I am simply an American. Very proud of that. Simply Blood and Name is all that I keep of my heritage.
My children will be proud british-scottish-soiux-german-new zealander-hungarian-polish-americans.
double phew….
This should read, “about 50 people still demand sovereignty.”
Gotta love this site…
Alohaguy had a nice reference to Amerigo, the female version of his name being America and all…
Those who have common sense and a love of history can’t believe how silly the one-sided debates on race have become. We are all from the same source people. Race is a fabricated idea. Whatever name you want to be called, you still have the same life.
Culture is what matters!
Semantics. If you are going to use a European term, the first was “skraeling” used by the Vikings.
I prefer the term “Vedauwoo”. It is the aglicized version of the Cheyenne Arapaho word “bito’o'wu”, which means “earth-born”, which, of course, we all are (so far).
Do any of you well educated folks know of any culture that hasn’t subdued another, sometime in their history?
#50, At least we aren’t like the Moaris, they took over New Zealand from another group and literaly ATE them.
Yeah, as the tale is told, but not how it happened. Sorry. But you’re right that they were thanking God, not the Indians.
They were called “First Nation Peoples” in my freshman college courses back in ’01. Made me gag every time I read it.
Not planning to get to internet this weekend (’tis the season to not be mad every day! lol), so let me wish our illustrious, fur-clad hostess (referring to the CLBPI calendar, of course) and everyone here a Happy Thanksgiving and warm start to the holiday season!
Even you lgm, nyk, Chapoutier, RedStateSkeptic and all the other assorted *trolls*.
And oh, by the way,
Yes, the Left Wing Wants Revolution
Family Man, if they never subdued another, they would’ve died out. We might have never heard of them.
Even the Lilliputians went after the Blefuscudians.
I’m surprised they didn’t come up with a more clever PC label, like “civilizationally-challenged aboriginalistic indigenous peoples.”
The name game…coming to you from modern educators, formally known as “teachers.” It seems that even that “traditional” label was good enough for those with a progressive (I’m smarter than you) mentality.
My last post was tangentially related to the topic of this post by way of “race” relations, but I agree with TXGator “Race is a fabricated idea.”
We are all one human race.
Have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving, y’all!
Finger cramps after typing that? My eyes crossed!
HMMM
liberalcabob
YUM
It appears some of us are more “one” than others – bigots!
Yes, enjoy Turkey day before the chickens come home to roost!
Personally, I get uneasy when I see a “Mayflower” moving truck rolling down the road….
/sarc off
liberalcabob
Forget it. There would be to many LEFTOVERS
What difference should this make to libs what native Americans are called–first Americans etc.
Thank goodness you meant the calendar! She’s been called a lot of things in her day…
hey since the President’s wife gets to be called “first lady”, is it now ok to call the President the “First Communist”?
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
http://www.federalistpartyblog.blogspot.com
Indians did not save the settlers.
The Real Story of The First Thanksgiving.
Maori cannibalism, when uncovered by European historians, was white-washed. When reported later, it was deemed racist.
Perhaps they ate the brains to gain the knowledge of the conquered. Maybe some of us conservatives could sacrifice and feed our brains to all the crazy, emotional, unthinking liberals?
They would only end up bitter, clinging to their guns and religion.
Well yes, however it is the truth. thats why there are no maori-oris left. But it was not unusual for maoris to eat the conquored, they did it to rival tribes and even white settlers. It was a real dis-incentive to surrender. The capitives had a choice of slavery, or the pot. Interestingly they had a way arround it, they would line up their warriors and whoever did the best war dance would decide the day, unless the loser wanted the slave or the pot option. But they don’t do it anymore.
Can’t we all just be Americans? Why the need to compartmentalize everything and everyone.
I’m really sick and tired of this. The melting pot has turned into pots, pans, saucepans, casseroles, fryers, and cast iron fryers.
What are we going to call Indiana, where I live?
Human conservative bitterness isn’t anything a little Jack Daniel’s marinade and some liquid smoke wouldn’t take care of. Once the religion and gunpowder flavors started to meld with the Montreal steak seasoning, I think we’d be some good eatin’.
But, thanks for the laugh, Aloha. I needed that one.
They don’t like this either.
“Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and to humbly implore His protection and favor.” Let’s see. One, two, three, four references in just that first clause. What a fanatic, George Washington! Just wanted you to hear that. That’s the first Thanksgiving proclamation in 1789. The real story of Thanksgiving — and by the way, the real story is continuing, what I just read to you. The thanks was given to God, not the Indians.
It could be a good option for GITMO.
My answer for that? A deserted island, 1 years supply of pork mre’s for 1 person, all of them dropped on the island with combat knives.
Brown-skinned people making decisions based on dancing, sonofdy? Wow, we could get into a whole range of racist banter with that one?
Typical white person, I know…
Apparently the Mayflower settlers received real help from the local “Indians”–a misnomer by Christopher Columbus since he thought he had reached the Indies (India). The name stuck.
**
Sometimes the settlers and the Indians got along fairly well–other times it was real war between them. Ditto for the relations between various Indian tribes. Some worked well together and formed loose alliances–like an early state–with a written language. Others savagely attacked /killed / robbed / raped their neighbors–kind of like most European states did.
***
Sports teams and schools name their teams with Indian names because they recognize the strength and courage of these people–not to run them down. They were a very tough bunch.
***
John Bibb
Obama likes the new PC term “1st Americans.” When he was adopted into the Crow Nation as Barack Black Eagle, he said the following:
“Few have been ignored by Washington for as long as native Americans – the first Americans.”
The One intends to hold an “annual summit to ensure tribal needs are met.”
Not such a bad idea. Imagine if we could have settled WWII with a really good dance lineup.
Thats racist!!!!!
The proper term for Indians is “Aborigional”
On November 26th, 2008 at 5:26 pm, JHSII said:
What are we going to call Indiana, where I live?
The way most residents of our state of Indiana voted in the election JHS? I have a few suggestions, but courtesy of Mrs. Malkin and the bloggers, I refrain from soliciting them!!
All of the Holiday PC makes me want to Run Amok, as my Filipina wife would say.
No the abos live in Australia
If you want to know a people who really got mistreated, ask the orginal tasmanians. You will need a oujia board because they are all dead.
Thank goodness the Indians, Native Americans, errr First Peoples, were thoughtful enough to contribute corn/maize to the table and when European settlers brought a pig or two to the party – Southern cooking was born! Food hasn’t been the same since. Can’t make stuffing unless it’s cornbread with lots of garlic and a dozen sliced black olives mixed in. My yankee mudder-in-law looks at it like it’s poison.
Southpaw #49 – using their tribal names is a much better idea. Never met a Sioux, Crow, Comanche, or Apache yet that wouldn’t appreciate that. Thanks for pointing that out.
WWII? I don’t know if I would want to get into a dance contest with the Nazis. Those people could choreograph! Italians? No way. Japanese? I saw “Memoirs of a Geisha”. The only war American whitey could’ve won was the Civil War.
And, incidentally, I think that’s the first time I’ve ever typed the word ‘choreograph’. And, for the record, I never saw “Memoir of a Geisha”.
As a Celt, I can say that the Native Americans are lucky that the Vikings only ventured here in small numbers, unlike Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands, and Germany.
Liberalism!
Right, and TXGator doesn’t have any ABBA eight-tracks at home either…
And I call preschool teachers like that….1st Idiots- from the North American tribe: Anencephaly.
Oh, I have their whole catalogue on my Fly-pod. Barry Manilow, Neil Diamond, all sorts of goofy music.
Needless to say, I would never be my side’s representative in the dance competition. Nor would I want to if the choices were slavery or the pot.
We better contine to cling to our religion and guns for fighting wars, the tap shoes would give away our positions.
Always wanted to be able to sing and dance. Unfortunately, I can’t breathe and chew gum at the same time, and I make Dylan sound like Pavarotti.
Also forming lines and poking you tounge out at the enemy simply doesn’t work against M60′s…
hansome fellows…
Being white, I have sometimes been “offended” by people calling me Anglo-Saxon. Sorry, people, I’m neither Anglo nor Saxon, nor are my roots Germanic. I’m Celtic. Being called Celtic-American would be nice, but after seeing this article, I prefer “1st English”, since my ancestors were there long before the Romans, Vikings, Danes, Anglos, Saxons, or Normans.
Those people in Boston would insist on calling you “Seltic” rather than “Keltic”…
Does this mean you paint yourself blue before battle?
Injun
You have good taste. Leave it to “Hollywood” to have a Chinese woman play a Japanese woman. All those Asians look alike…
I concur heartily, graysonret. I have always checked the “Other” box on any form I had to fill out, and if there was a blank to fill in, I would write in Celt.
When people ask my kids what they are, they always say Celt-Chinese-Hawaiian.
“The only time I have ever had a problem with his heritage is when a former employer denied me a promotion because I was a “dirty squaw who married a dirty Indian”. ”
Ummm, nope.
Why would you have a problem with your husband’s heritage? You very well may have a problem with your husband’s heritage, but in this case, your employer had a problem with you marrying someone of your husband’s heritage.
A Freudian slip that may require some self examination.