[Vision2020] Buffalo

[Art Deco]

All,

Perhaps this has been a most useful discussion.

But perhaps if the word "hunter" or "person" had been used instead of 
"Indian," offense would not have been taken, mistaken motives might not have 
been attached, and most of the group might have seen that there was a bit of 
realty reflected by the joke.  [Before I get slapped, I am not saying all 
managers are screw-ups!]

I am in the same boat as LJ, except older.  Both my parents were vehemently 
prejudiced most of their lives toward a lot of groups  [though they did 
change a little in their elder years] as were most of my peers through my 
under graduate years at the UI ending in the spring of 1962.

Language usage is a habit.  Habits are automatic and most of the time 
unconscious.  I have worked hard to change some of my improper 
sexist/racist/etc. language habits, but approaching senility, I sometimes 
screw up.

There are some individuals and groups who I consider to be an egregious 
threat to a free and/or healthy society.  I will continue to use any 
language I deem accurate and proper to describe them -- PC be damned.  I 
disagree with these persons and groups because of their ideas and resulting 
actions, not because of their race, gender, or sexual preference.

I often disagree with religious groups. In fact, I see some religious 
beliefs as manipulative and self-serving and many, if not most, as 
delusional, and exhibiting plain mental health problems.

As a person who has hired many people for many firms in my consulting 
career, I have not/do not discriminate on the basis of religious belief.  I 
believe that all persons are entitled to hold those beliefs, although they 
are not entitled to take all actions which proceed from those beliefs nor 
are those beliefs immune from critical comment and analysis.

When I was the planning and zoning coordinator Boundary County, I was 
severely criticized by a surprisingly large number of public employees and 
members of the public for hiring a very bright, fervent young Mormon and a 
very, bright, fervent young Jehovah Witness.  On their breaks and lunch 
hours they argued loudly and very hotly (and amusingly).  However, during 
work times, they performed their tasks excellently and served the county 
very well.  That was what they were being paid to do.

Please give middle aged LJ and old me a little leeway.  Except for the 
reckless stupidly of some persons and groups were I might use some language 
some might consider intemperate to describe, if I slip and say "man" or 
"woman" instead of "person" it is not because I discriminate or am 
prejudiced, but because at my advancing age, habits of a lifetime are 
strong, especially when I am tired or preoccupied.

Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
deco at moscow.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <debismith at moscow.com>
To: "LuJane Nisse publisher" <lujane at lataheagle.com>; 
<vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 19, 2005 10:34 PM
Subject: RE: [Vision2020] buffalo


> LuJane, this was a "no-brainer". Agreed, it is difficult to know what is 
> politically
> correct, particularly when one chooses not to be "exposed" to groups 
> outside one's
> own,  but this was a blatant violation of decency.
> Debi R-S
>
> From:           "LuJane Nisse publisher" <lujane at lataheagle.com>
> To:             "lfalen" <lfalen at turbonet.com>, <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> Subject:        RE: [Vision2020] buffalo
> Date sent:      Sat, 19 Feb 2005 17:28:07 -0800
> Copies to:
>
> [ Double-click this line for list subscription options ]
>
> everything almost these days is racist or politically incorrect. Difficult
> to even talk these days with breaking egg shells.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com
> [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]On Behalf Of lfalen
> Sent: Saturday, February 19, 2005 4:19 PM
> To: vision2020 at moscow.com
> Subject: [Vision2020] buffalo
>
>
> Re: Melynda Huskey's comment. It never occurred to me that the joke might 
> be
> taken as racist. It was a joke on upper management. I think you are a 
> little
> thin skinned. I hve some Indian blood and it did not even cross my mind 
> that
> it might be taken as racist.
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/attachments/20050220/6760b1a6/attachment-0001.htm