worldcitizen
2003-08-04 19:02:42 UTC
HI,
I apologize for posting in English but I know no Dutch. I am hoping
that some Dutch people will respond to my question.
I have a friend who refers to Dutch people as "cloggies." He says
that "cloggie" is never used in an offensive manner.
However, somebody criticized him for using "cloggie" and said:
I hope you don't start using "cloggie" .
It is insensitive at best to use any word that is a substitution for a
race or nationality or ethnic group and so on that describes that
group in terms of wearing apparel, food choices, appearance etcetera.
Would you use "coolie" for a Chinese person or "yarmulke" for a Jew?
How about "beaner" for a Mexican or "rice eater" for an Asian? Or
"marshmallow" or "crumpet jammer" or "teabags" for the British?
A lot of people use derogatory terms because they are ignorant and
don't know any better. My Scottish grandfather always used "wog" when
he talked about elderly Asian men. When my mom confronted him about it
when she was young, my grandfather was dumbfounded that it was a
derogatory term. He always thought that "wog" meant wise old
gentleman.
Use a little common sense. If you hear people using "spic" for the
Spanish, it doesn't take a genius to figure out those same people
aren't using "cloggie" in a positive way.
Could anybody comment on the use of the word "cloggie" and if some
Dutch people might be offended by its use?
Thanks in advance
I apologize for posting in English but I know no Dutch. I am hoping
that some Dutch people will respond to my question.
I have a friend who refers to Dutch people as "cloggies." He says
that "cloggie" is never used in an offensive manner.
However, somebody criticized him for using "cloggie" and said:
I hope you don't start using "cloggie" .
It is insensitive at best to use any word that is a substitution for a
race or nationality or ethnic group and so on that describes that
group in terms of wearing apparel, food choices, appearance etcetera.
Would you use "coolie" for a Chinese person or "yarmulke" for a Jew?
How about "beaner" for a Mexican or "rice eater" for an Asian? Or
"marshmallow" or "crumpet jammer" or "teabags" for the British?
A lot of people use derogatory terms because they are ignorant and
don't know any better. My Scottish grandfather always used "wog" when
he talked about elderly Asian men. When my mom confronted him about it
when she was young, my grandfather was dumbfounded that it was a
derogatory term. He always thought that "wog" meant wise old
gentleman.
Use a little common sense. If you hear people using "spic" for the
Spanish, it doesn't take a genius to figure out those same people
aren't using "cloggie" in a positive way.
Could anybody comment on the use of the word "cloggie" and if some
Dutch people might be offended by its use?
Thanks in advance