The Word American is Now Offensive?

1. 61

   Live to Learnposted 4 years ago

   I laughed so hard I had to share this. A Colorado University is advising students not to use the words 'America' or 'American' as the terms might offend weaker nations. 
   
   I kid you not. Here's the link
   
   https://pluralist.com/america-american- … ado-state/
   
   So, what should we call ourselves? I'm voting for 'I'm a resident of the country just below Canada.' Should all of that be capitalized since it's the name of a country?
   
   Or maybe I am from The Country Which Shall Not Be Named.

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      wildernessposted 4 years agoin reply to this

      Can't use "male" or "female" either - guess we're all neutered in The Country Which Shall Not Be Named.  Or maybe "bulls" and "cows"? 
      
      And first year college students aren't "freshmen" anymore - guess maybe they're "college infants" ("junior" is already taken").
      
      This garbage is absolutely pathetic.

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      1. 61

         Live to Learnposted 4 years agoin reply to this

         Were I a citizen of a Central American nation I'd  be highly offended.  I'd call this the nation of people who've lost their big girl panties.

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   2. 88

      GA Andersonposted 4 years agoin reply to this

      I was going to think of some witty quip. but abandoned that idea.
      
      First, your information needs to be updated. Apparently, after the initial uproar CSU, (Colorado State University) decided they needed to "update" that inclusive language guide.
      
      A Chancellor now says the hubbub is unwarranted because it refers to an "outdated" document. The "new" document does not include that America/American reference. So ha! (but all the others are still there).
      
      As a side note, does taking the "hip hip" from hooray have to do with fat-shaming?
      
      Anyway, thanks for the chuckle, but, after the chuckle, we should consider that this is not an insignificant issue.
      
      I followed a couple of links to find CSU's "Inclusion" policy statement . . . Wow!
      
      Then consider that CSU's annual enrollment is over 33,000. That is more than 33,000 young and impressionable minds exposed to this style of thinking. Does that really prepare them for the real world awaiting them after graduation? Of course not.
      
      GA

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      1. 61

         Live to Learnposted 4 years agoin reply to this

         Hip hip hooray is fat shaming? I can't wrap my head around that.

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         1. 88

            GA Andersonposted 4 years agoin reply to this

            Well, why else would they find that phrase non-inclusive? I was just guessing. The text of the "guide" was almost subscript on my screen and I didn't strain to make out their explanation.
            
            Oh well, maybe it is because they don't say 'Hip Hip' in those other Americas countries. *shrug
            
            GA

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      2. 79

         Eastwardposted 4 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks for doing the homework on this one!

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            GA Andersonposted 4 years agoin reply to this

            You are welcome Eastward. It was just a couple of links.
            
            GA

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            1. 62

               Randy Godwinposted 4 years agoin reply to this

               You American! 

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               1. 61

                  Live to Learnposted 4 years agoin reply to this

                  Say it ain't so! You did not just insult smaller Central American nations.
                  
                  It's people like you that make the rest of us look bad. Have some sensitivity, already.

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            2. 79

               Eastwardposted 4 years agoin reply to this

               In 2019 a few links is more research than a lot of people are willing to go. I see articles in the mainstream media these days that I don't think my high school writing teacher would have let pass (he wasn't that strict!).

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                  GA Andersonposted 4 years agoin reply to this

                  yeah, and I have written some articles that fit that description too. ;-)
                  
                  GA

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                  1. 79

                     Eastwardposted 4 years agoin reply to this

                     Hahaha

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      3. 78

         Credence2posted 4 years agoin reply to this

         GA, college students are not young impressionable minds, give people credit for being able sort the wheat from the chaff, without having their heads being perpetually submerged under the brine of Right wing dogma.
         
         You are speaking about my AlmaMater here, even though I, too, think that this lastest proposal from my old school is kinda silly.

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         1. 88

            GA Andersonposted 4 years agoin reply to this

            So you think they are not young and impressionable minds, hmm...
            
            For how many do you think this is their first excursion into the world beyond their home environment?
            
            For how many might their college experience be their first time making decisions outside their home environment?
            
            I disagree Cred, I think the college years are major formative years for a majority of new college students.  The college world they step into will be their new perspective.
            
            I also think they are in for a reality-check when they leave the safe space of inclusiveness and that kumbayah atmosphere of their college experience.
            
            But, that's just a perspective, I don't have the experience to say it is the true reality of the experience.
            
            As for separating the wheat from the chaff, I would guess that less than half of new college students can do that.
            
            Come on Cred, what colleges can you think of that are structured around "Right-wing dogma" 1 out of 100? 1 out of 1000? I think you will be on a long search looking for those brine-soaked brains that aren't just the exceptions to the rule.
            
            GA

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