[78-L] ^^An apology to hopefully end the N-word discussion

[David Lennick]

We can't tell Polack jokes any more?

(Duck, Lenny!)

Michael Shoshani wrote:
> For what it's worth, or not...
> 
> I actually missed the original post. I also missed the hasty departure
> of DrJazz.  I started reading the thread when it was apparent that
> fireballs were being thrown every which way.  People forget that these
> things erupt on 78-L from time to time.
> 
> Before people start huffily and hastily leaving 78-L because of one
> person's unfortunate choice of vocabulary, I would suggest that people
> consider that perhaps Chris Zwarg was not fully aware of the
> repercussions, connotations, and general social anathema of that word in
> today's American society.  He does not live in the United States, he is
> not surrounded by American culture, has no day-to-day contact with our
> societal issues (which, really, do not affect Germany), and is probably
> as ignorant of how persons using that word are perceived as we are of
> how Europeans would perceive an American using an old word or phrase
> considered perjorative against...oh, I don't know, the Flemish maybe.
> 
> I mean, hell...my fellow Americans, how many of you have annoying
> acquaintances who still tell "Polack" jokes? My guess is that these are
> told in ignorance of how they would be perceived by Poles living in
> Europe, much less Americans of Polish descent.
> 
> 78-L has long had a sense of moderation and self-correction,
> occasionally having to learn from our own mistakes or those of others. I
> like to think we still do.
> 
> Michael Shoshani
> 
>