racial epithet makes news

[Dan Goncharoff]

And yet we use the two phrases in exactly the same way.

DanG

On 7/6/2010 8:28 PM, Baker, John M. wrote:
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> Sender:       American Dialect Society<ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "Baker, John M."<JMB at STRADLEY.COM>
> Subject:      Re: racial epithet makes news
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>          The majority of dictionaries characterize "Injun" as offensive
> and often caution that it is highly so.  I don't think the same can be
> said for "scout."
>
>          While I think the primary concern is with the use of "Injun,"
> the phrase can be understood to imply that not all Indians are honest.
> In contrast, "scout's honor" implies that all scouts have honor.
>
>
> John Baker
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> -------
>
>>> CNN reminds us that some time ago Michael Steele, the
>>>
> now-in-hot-water
>
>>> Chairman of the Republican National Committee, concluded an informal
>>> statement by saying, "Honest Injun on that."
>>>
>>> Acc. to the report, Steele "caught lot of flak for using what is
>>>
> often
>
>>> considered to be - what *is* - a racial epithet."
>>>
>>> JL
>>>
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