Fixing "Squaw" Names

[Grant Barrett]

Here's a letter-of-the-law tactic taken by people resistant to a
seven-year-old Maine law that requires renaming places with "squaw"
in their names: dropping the "w" in the word.

<http://www.bangornews.com/news/t/downeast.aspx?
articleid=154544&zoneid=177>

"Five landmarks or groups use the name Squaw in one form or another
in Stockton Springs. For a number of years, a private road providing
access to exclusive waterfront homes was called Squaw Point Road. The
homes belonged to the Squaw Point Home Owners Association. In
response to complaints, the association renamed itself and its road
Squapoint. [...] Hayes said the town has been in contact with the
Human Rights Commission investigator and informed the commission of
the board’s decision to drop the 'w' from the word."

Also note that the gloss of "squaw" in the article is "whore." The
other common gloss for the word is "cunt."

Grant Barrett
Double-Tongued Dictionary
http://www.doubletongued.org/
editor at doubletongued.org

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