Re: Political Correctness (Was Re: Master/Slave)

[Stephen Martin <stpats -at- storm -dot- ca>]

Sandra Law wrote:

> I didn't want to enter into this debate, given its potential to become a
> minefield ... but here goes.

I was going to pass this one by as well, this isn't the time or place to
debate social crimes, but since someone else has taken a swipe...
 
> -----Original Message-----
> Tom Eagles
> Subject: RE: Political Correctness (Was Re: Master/Slave)
 
> If the concern is how Black folks will be offended by "master/slave"
> let me tell you that slavery in America was preceded by several
> thousand years by slavery in other parts of the world, and even
> amongst native tribes in various parts of the world.

Slavery in America has also been followed by the continuation of various
forms of slavery elsewhere in the world.
 
> One word - context.  In the context of technical writing the phrase
> 'master/slave' has one meaning.  In the realm of N. American social
> history it has another and in the realm of certain tribal practices
> it has another context (i.e. meaning) altogether.

Agreed.  It may be difficult, but it should also be kept in mind that
our audience isn't solely composed of Americans, and we may do a
dis-service to our audience as a whole if we kow-tow to the
guilt/persecution complexes of a select few.

> In the context of the social history on this continent, the term slavery
                                          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
In the USofA, to be more accurate.  I'm not aware of slavery having been
practiced in Mexico, and Canada's slave-descended population is a result
of freed or escaped slaves, and more recent immigrants from the
Carribean.

> practice of 'capturing' members of another group and incorporating
> them into your social group (Mohawks and Hurons did this I think).

This was the African practice as well, with the exception that they then
sold the captives to slave traders for delivery to the Middle East,
Europe, and, later, America.

I know there's another mailing list discussing (the English) language
and it's meanings, but I can't recall it's name, can anybody help?

Alternatively, can anyone tell me if it's still called cannibalism if a
person eats themselves?