What's the difference between being polite and being "politically correct"? I often hear people say they're tired of having to be "politically correct", yet it seems those same people complain that others are less polite than they used to be. What's the difference? Isn't the goal of both not to offend others? When is it polite to be "politically incorrect"?

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

My perception is that being polite is one thing and there are pretty clear guidelines. Basically it's the golden rule treat others as you wish to be treated.

Political correctness has gone to the extreme. What is politically correct? There are not clear guidelines. Can I make of fun of Italians, middle aged women with long breasts, incredibly intelligent people or whatever I perceive myself to be but not make fun of anyone else? Or is it okay to say things that are funny with good intentions and a good non racist/homophobe/whatever heart?
What about observations about groups of people, that although perceived to be stereotypes, might hold some truth?

I think people are fed up with having to carefully pick their words when they have no bad intentions.


And there are also specific issues. For example, I saw Oprah discussing with Jay Z the use of the N word. She said she and others her age and older find the word disgusting and it conjures up visions of lynchings and beatings and other atrocities while he said using the word takes the hurt and pain out of it and makes it a common word instead of an obscenity.

So while some PC things might be obvious and are just an extension of being polite other things might be unclear.

When is it polite to be "politically incorrect"? It depends on the situation. Another example: Bill Cosby pointing out things in the African American community that if I pointed them out would be racist is perhaps considered politically incorrect but is he being impolite?

If someone lives in a community where people throw all their garbage in the front yard and leave it there is it ok for them to call their neighbors white trash or hillbilly pigs? Is it true? Impolite?

I guess a lot is up to interpretation of the speaker and listener. And therein lies the rub.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Don't people carefully pick their words so as to be polite? Isn't politeness also up to interpretation of the speaker and the listener?

I don't think anyone would say using the "N" word is polite. Even Bill Cosby's statements probably wouldn't be considered polite. I'd guess that even if you agree with him, you'd call his statements blunt and/or true, but not polite. Another difference too, is he's not directing them at any one person in particular, is he?

It's blunt to say the majority of Americans are overweight. It's impolite and politically incorrect to say, "You're fat." Even if I have good intentions, I think saying, "You need to lose weight" is impolite.

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

Well said. People should always pick their words carefully.

Mail Carrier to me is PC. Mailman (before you know there gender) is acceptable to me. PC has definitely gone to the extreme.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

So you call the group of people who deliver mail, mailmen. but if a woman delivers your mail, you make the effort to say mail carrier? And you consider calling everyone a mail carrier extreme? I'm honestly curious. I don't get why saying mail carrier is more effort than mail man or what's extreme about it.

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

If I know the mail carrier is a female, I will say "the Mail Lady". If I don't know their gender, Mailman or Mail Carrier, whichever suits my fancy at the time, I guess. I consider the word "mail carrier" PC, if you don't know the gender of the mail carrier. Kind of like a Fireman. I don't normally go around saying Fire Person, as they can be a man OR a woman. I guess by default I use the male version.

At the risk of flaming, I consider African-American PC.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

I don't find myself carefully picking words to be polite. Being polite is more than words it's something that comes naturally after years of learning & living. Politically correct in my opinion is somethin I have to think carefully about in a situation. If I say it could it misinterpreted? Will people think I'm racist or a homophobe or whatever if something I say is misinterpreted?
Something the simplest most innocent statements can be misinterpreted.

Please excuse any typos or errors as I'm typing on my phone & it's been a long day of travel.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

That is one I agree with. Should I be referred to as an English, Irish, Welsh, German, French American? And that would make my kids English, Irish, Welsh, German, French, Swedish, Norwegian Americans.

I agree with that one, too.

I am German and Polish, but I don't say that I'm German-Polish American.

I would love to understand why blacks call themselves African-American rather than just American.

What would you rather call people who are African American?

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GO NAVY WRESTLING!!BEAT ARMY!!!
RJB 3/18/60 - 5/22/04
We miss you, sweet brother
God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!

http://mylifeundertheabaya.blogspot.com/

Is there something wrong with Black? Or how about just American? What are non-African American people of color supposed to call themselves?

Charlize Theron is African American.

Yeah, it seems inappropriate to me too to assume all people of color consider themselves "African."

I also think the word "special" to refer to people with mental or physical disabilities is weird. I think of something that's special as something you want. If someone tells me they have a special surprise for me, I expect it to be something good. Having a physical disability myself, I can say there's nothing "special" about it.

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

I am not the color black any more than you are white.....People come in many colors....because no matter what.....some of my ancestors come from Africa and while that is part of my heritage as it is people of African American heritage....I do not see why it is so hard....if you want to be called Polish American why can't you without having an issue....if I want to be called Multi American, I can be.....why does it bother people.....I just do not get it....explain it to me like I am a fourth grader, please.......

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GO NAVY WRESTLING!!BEAT ARMY!!!
RJB 3/18/60 - 5/22/04
We miss you, sweet brother
God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!

http://mylifeundertheabaya.blogspot.com/

usnamom - I'll call people's heritage whatever they personally prefer.

But, if I had to identify someone I didn't know, I might say, "She's a white woman, about 50 years old, 5 feet tall, slim build." It doesn't seem appropriate to say, "She's an African-American woman, ...." How do I know if the woman is American, never mind African-American just based on looks?

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

What I know is that people of color.....who are considered "black" by any other standards, I usually call them African American unless they tell me different. I do not want to be called "colored" or "Negroid" or whatever. I am bi racial and by the law, I am African American by the government description as is anyone who is not Asian, Caucasian, or Hispanic. I believe there is one other catagory we put people in but I am not sure what it is called at the moment. I would not call Charlize Theron African American...I would say she is from South Africa...or wherever. African American is to say that your lineage is from Africa. If we can understand the times when people of color were dehumanized and not allowed to be proud of being Black in America...therefore NOT American, it is a matter of pride to many to say they are African American.....just as Hispanic Americans are proud to be Americans...it shows where your heritage is but you are American.

__________________
GO NAVY WRESTLING!!BEAT ARMY!!!
RJB 3/18/60 - 5/22/04
We miss you, sweet brother
God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!

http://mylifeundertheabaya.blogspot.com/

What's the difference?

Here's an example of how I distinguish between the two:
Recent headlines Fort Worth School district bans Christmas (including Santa, Parties, and Gifts) from the classroom

Then after the up-roar it caused they went back and amended what was first said.
but the original gist was... Not during school hours... If you and your elementary class want a party, celebrate OUTSIDE of school hours. We feel Santa and CHRISTmas would make some students feel uncomfortable because not all celebrate the holiday.



Politically Correct or (attempting to be in this case) - The MINORITY controls the Majority because we don't want to offend/exclude someone that leads to a nasty lawsuit. Morons.


Polite - The MAJORITY while understanding that not everyone celebrates the HOLIDAY makes the activity voluntarily optional for participation. Alternative activity in the library (movie, popcorn and cocoa). *Happy Winter*.



X

MERRY CHRISTMAS! and HAPPY HOLIDAYS! (I'm just that happy, and I want you celebrate ALL of it!)

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Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

I think the problem I have with it is that people are using "African American" AS a color. I don't see anything wrong with describing someone as black or white. I think the word black has come to signify "bad" things, such as funerals, mourning, etc. JMO, of course, but, that is my problem with it. African American is NOT a color.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

I'd go for your idea of "politically correct" in this case, which I also consider polite. Religious celebrations are inappropriate in the schools. Separate but equal has never been appropriate.

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

I must be dense, because I haven't heard of anyone saying "I love that African American colored coat there".

The government uses the term African American to describe a race of people.....just as they use it to describe Asians, Hispanics, etc. I have never heard of someone describing someone as a Yellow or a Brown. Has anyone else?

I do not mean to be facetious but it strikes me as weird that the only one that people pull out as being "wrong" is the black vs African American. Maybe wierd is a strong word....interesting is a better word.''JMO

__________________
GO NAVY WRESTLING!!BEAT ARMY!!!
RJB 3/18/60 - 5/22/04
We miss you, sweet brother
God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!

http://mylifeundertheabaya.blogspot.com/

{{shakes head at your political standpoint}}
Minority controls Majority. What part of that feels so right?

In the Republic in which we live, under the democratic rules that govern us, what then makes that right AFTER the MAJORITY has spoken and (let parents vote - they're the ones paying the taxes there) that majority requested that there be a celebration? I'm not putting Baby Jesus in your arms. They're decorating with lights, greenery, garland, & tinsel for a festive atmosphere for pete's sake just like they would for Prom/Homecoming/any other school function that requires spirit. And now that's suddenly wrong because the new Hindu neighbors that just moved to America are sending their child to this school? I'm not buying the whole "diverse" population thing as the excuse changes needed to be made.

Just like You and I both know that in a classroom party at any given public school there will not be a living nativity presented. It 's a party with punch, cookies, cupcakes, book swap and BINGO.


I know how you're bent on religion but really? seriously?
What do you have against Santa?


X

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Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

That has nothing to do with it. That's just a red herring. It's the separation between church and state. If a private Christian school wants to have a Christmas party, that's their business.

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

Isn't there a like button here?

__________________
GO NAVY WRESTLING!!BEAT ARMY!!!
RJB 3/18/60 - 5/22/04
We miss you, sweet brother
God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!

http://mylifeundertheabaya.blogspot.com/

My kids are 40ish and they never had a Christmas party at school, nor does my grandson. They had and he has holiday or winter parties. There are red and green decorations, blue and silver decorations and probably other color decorations. They had a great time and all the kids went. No one had to go sit in the library. Halloween a different story. There were one or two parents who objected and their children ended up in the library or someplace "safe". How sad for them.

The majority does not rule when the rights of the minority are trampled. If you want your child to have a Christmas party then do so at home or at your church. The season can be celebrated in other ways. In ways that do not make people feel left out or excluded.

Christians today seem to have a well-developed martyr complex. If they can't have their parties the way they want to, if they can't have prayer in public schools, if they can't have a creche on the lawn of city hall, if they can't tell people who they can sleep with and how, if they can't tell a person that they can not have an abortion, if they can't put down other religions with impunity, then there is going to be chest pounding and outrage. Our government was set up to protect the minority from the majority.

No, but I wish there was! Few posts in here I'd love to "don" with a like!

(~*~ fa la la, la la la, laaaaa laaaa laaaaa! ~*~)

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Hmmm..I wonder if it has to do with the area?

I'm in the 40ish genre and my schools had them every year. Now I admit I spent several years at a Catholic school, but I also went to a public school. The public school parties were just as big, fun, etc. as the Catholic school ones.

Oddly enough, there were a few Jewish kids in our class - they had fun, no parents complained, no child felt left out, demeaned, humiliated, or religion(s) shoved down their throats - we all just had fun. It seems a little sad to me that those days are gone.

I really think those kids and parents had no offenses is because...well...no one TOLD them to be offended. It didn't occur to them that anyone or anything was "politically incorrect" because...it wasn't.

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Well, I'm 50ish and had Christmas parties up until about 5th grade in public school. Then, they finally realized it was inappropriate. My Jewish friend did feel weird, demeaned, and like Christmas was shoved down her throat. Singing "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel" and "Oh, Hanukkah" didn't balance out the overwhelming emphasis on Christmas.

My brother-in-law, who's Jewish, also felt left out. But maybe that's just 'cause the Christian kids used to bully him for being Jewish year 'round.

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

The way I am taking your post, you yourself are using African American as "black". When someone says "the AA woman" you can't tell me they think of a white woman. It is used as a color. THAT is my problem with it. I have no problem referring to someone by their lineage "Polish American", etc. But, not when it is used as a color describer. Not all black people ARE African Americans.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

Exactly, AIA!

Not all black people are AA. Not at all!

There are black populations in South America. If any of those people move to the US, will that make them AA?

What about Tiger Woods? He's often referred to as being AA by people who don't realize that's not his geographical heritage at all. They're assuming he migrated from someplace SOLELY based on the color of his skin.

Where do "Asian" and "Hispanic" fit in, I wonder?

Sigh. I do not have an answer for you except that I can assure you that if Tiger Woods has to answer on a census servey...he will answer AA. As will I. I do not consider it something awful to do so. I don't think that people who are identified as AA by others consider it something to not be proud of or take it as an insult. It seems to be people who are not people of color who have a problem with it. Why is that?

I did not migrate from anywhere except from the PNW to the South and on my way to Saudi Arabia. I was born in America...my ancestors came from Africa, Spain, Ireland and Mexico. But, if I am asked.....because of how I look....I will say that I am AA. There are laws that say that if I have any blood in me that is AA, I am AA. I could say that I am multi racial but usually there isn't a space for that on many census surveys....I think soon there will be as it seems that there are more and more people intermingling.....I wonder what I will be called then?

Anyway, I can't answer your questions about why people want to be called AA....all I can say is that is the way it is and you can call people what you want to. I wonder if there are any people who are "black" who at one time way back didn't come from Africa......I don't know and don't pretend to know.

I know that I would appreciate if people that I meet would not try and tell me what it is that they should call me....it is like when I tell someone that something sounds offensive to me, they try and change my mind and tell me it shouldn't be offensive to me. I don't understand that. I should know what I want to be called, I should know what offends me and I should know what would constitute offensive language or actions.....not that that has happened here at this time...just a thought I am having this early morning. So, if it doesn't seem PC to you, but it does to the people it affects, then you might have to accept it or I guess you don't, and then you might be considered impolite. JMHO. YMMV

__________________
GO NAVY WRESTLING!!BEAT ARMY!!!
RJB 3/18/60 - 5/22/04
We miss you, sweet brother
God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!

http://mylifeundertheabaya.blogspot.com/

Thanks usnamom. I thought, like you, that no one described as AA would take offense. But then I was working with a guy who I assumed was AA. I forget how it came up, but someone else referred to him as AA and he said, I'm not AA, I'm Jamaican. So, it left me thinking its not appropriate to just assume someone is AA based on appearance.

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

As to the difference in polite and PC, here's my perception...

"Polite" has to do with culturally accepted customs and manners, most of which are 'rules' that exist to keep others from feeling uncomfortable or embarrassed, or as gestures of kindness.

Examples:

Not making a public spectacle of someone who has food in their teeth, but rather discreetly letting them know so they can fix it is the 'polite' way to help them.

Allowing others to 'go first' is polite, as it conveys the message that you're being selfless and willing to put the needs / wishes of others ahead of your own. It's a measure of caring and respect.

Not interrupting someone else shows that you value them and their thoughts.

Etc.

PC, from my perspective, is more about some 'issue' that someone chose to highlight, often for their own benefit, and about which they made some proclamation... usually that the ones who are not addressing the issue in the way that they want are being wrong, thoughtless, etc.... and demanding that the situation be handled differently.

And then others who also fit the demographic being highlighted take up the battlecry.

Polite is about what someone 'extends' to others.

PC is about what someone 'demanded' be done to/for them. There seems to usually be an underlying 'accusation' that others haven't been treating someone (or a demographic) the 'right way', and an insistence that a change be made because the typical way is 'offensive'.

Those who had done it the 'typical' way likely did not do so with malice or anything - it was just 'culture'. They may resent the implication that they had been 'wrong' or 'impolite' in the way they had been addressing the issue since they may not have meant anything bad. They feel 'accused' of a motive that they didn't posses. Then they resent the 'accusal', and don't comply with the 'new way' with any warm and fuzzy feelings towards the one who demanded the change.

There doesn't seem to be animosity associated with 'polite', because it's what someone chose to extend of their own accord.

There is often animosity associated with "PC", because it began with what felt like an accusation - "You're a bigot for doing things such-and-such a way!" - that may not have matched the intent of the accused.

ETA: Not every 'demanded' change is bad. In fact, some of them are the right thing to do, and sometimes the one who feels 'accused' really was being a bigot... and maybe, because their attitude was just part of 'culture' for them, they didn't recognize it. My explanation isn't to say that PC is always right or wrong - just that it usually stems from someone saying, "You've treated me / us this way and we're not going to take it anymore!", rather than someone deciding of their own accord, "I'll do this to / for you because it's the kind thing to do."

Manners don't come naturally. You might think they do because you were taught so long ago, but your parents had to teach you (demand that you) be polite. Kids don't know on their own what is and isn't polite.

Similarly, adults often don't know what people from other backgrounds and cultures find offensive. In the States it's considered fine to give someone the OK hand gesture. In Brazil, it's an obscene gesture. If I'm with Brazilians and I give them the OK hand gesture because I don't give a damn that they consider it obscene am I being rude or UnPC? I say rude. If I use it because I don't know any better, I've made a social gaffe and will know better next time. Just as a kid who doesn't hold the door for the person behind him isn't intentionally being rude, he's just ignorant about what's considered polite. Unknowingly being impolite or "unpc" = ignorant. Knowingly being "unpc" or impolite=rude.

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

Its interesting that you should say that because we have been through some cultural awareness training over the last few months preparing for our move to Saudi. My husband brought up that he also gave the thumbs up sign or the OK sign to someone when he was in Brazil a few years ago on business and they were offended....he was mortified and never did it again once he found out about it......we learned that we should never cross our legs in Saudi and show the bottom of our shoes to a Saudi and to try and not use our left hands to point or take things from them as well. I would never have thought about either but once I knew it would offend someone there, I made an honest effort when I was there a few weeks ago.

That is polite. It is what people should do when they do something that offends someone or a culture. Like when someone is using a word that is offensive......it can't be argued that it isn't considered an offensive term in your neck of the woods or you have never heard it used before in an offensive way.....Therefore no one should be offended....

Just some thoughts.....I am not pointing the finger here.....just thinking or typing out loud.

It was fascinating when we were in Saudi a few weeks ago getting our villa settled. The country is beautiful and the people are gracious. Kuwait was barren and in the middle of nowhere and Bahrain was so cosmopolitan. There is a ton of money there...and they spend it....I have started a blog on my facebook page and hope to transfer the entire thing to a blog somewhere as soon as I have some time.....or maybe when the boy comes home in a few weeks, he can help me do what I want to do with it.....

Oh, and this is JMO and of course, YMMV

__________________
GO NAVY WRESTLING!!BEAT ARMY!!!
RJB 3/18/60 - 5/22/04
We miss you, sweet brother
God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!

http://mylifeundertheabaya.blogspot.com/

Wow! Maybe because I was in a smaller school it made a difference, but if anyone had acted like that, they would have been sent to the principal's office and the parents called. Even in the public school, we didn't treat each other like that.

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I understand and get all of that. The point I am trying to make is how I see AA used to describe a skin color. When you say AA, you are making the assumption that they are from Africa somewhere along their lineage. Not all black people are, are they? As another poster said, what about Jamaican's? Personally, I just see AA used as a PC way to describe a person's skin color. I don't see anything wrong with saying black or white, as long as it is not done in a demeaning or derogatory fashion (whitey, blackey, etc).

I see your point and respect that, just don't agree with all of it.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

AIA, how would you describe people of Asian descent? Or Hispanic?

One thing I don't think anybody has touched on here is that African-American ONLY describes a black-skinned person of African descent who is a citizen of the USA.

What would we call a black person who lives in London and is a citizen of England? An African-Brit? Or might he be a Jamaican-Brit? And what if he then moves to Holland???? lol

Do we have "Asian-Spaniards"?

"He's a Chinese-Peruvian!"

So is the rule that the first word identifies the region of the world most commonly associated with the race of the person in question, and the second word identifies their citizenship?

I felt this was too much to cut and paste but it's very interesting. Scroll down to the section with the photo of Mrs. Obama, headed Political Overtones", and read that section and the following three sections as well.

African American - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I grew up with the use of Colored, then Negro, then Black, and I had forgotten the Afro American period, but I remember it now, and currently African American.

Maybe I'm just getting old and grouchy, and want someone to make up their mind. And after reading this, it seems there is also no agreement in the AA community either.

Well for me personally polite vs. politically correct are two different matters of discussion. For starters having manners and being polite towards each other has changed so much. When I was a child, children were taught to be seen and not heard. Never ever were you cross with your parents. We were taught from a young age to say thank you and please. I sincerely wish more parents today would enforce better manners at home.


Now with being politically correct, I feel that term has gotten out of hand. I almost feel , like while I live in the United States of American, it is really not, we are a huge melting pot of so many different religions and ethic backgrounds. What I always remember was being told by my grandparents were, when they first came to this country, how difficult it was, how hard it was, also that they had to change their names and learn the English language. Also when we were younger and went to school, we talked about Santa . Now in the schools you can only say Holiday.I would never dream of calling someone fat, or make fun of a disabled person, yet people do it everyday.

First, I have never seen someone with black skin... People in the Carribean are part African, whether they want to be or not.....They may not be African American but they do have relatives from long ago from Africa.

But it doesn't matter what people are called....if the government and people want to be called African American, they should be called that.....just as I do not call people from the Middle East "towelheads" or "terrorists" or whatever...I call them Arabs or Egyptians or Middle Easterners....I do pay attention to what they want to be called and do not question it because I expect the same respect. I don't want to call people who are of the caucasian race white if they want to be called Irish Americans or Polish Americans...Why? Because it is polite, not politcially correct, but polite.

The definition of polite for me is trying to make another person feel comfortable in any given situation and this falls under that category. If it makes someone uncomfortable, what skin is it off my nose to be polite and spend a nano second to make that person feel comfortable? I do not worry about the political correctness of it all. I wouldn't call someone fat because it may make them feel uncomfortable. I would rather say that they were heavier than normal or I wouldn't say anything at all about it...as a matter of fact, I wouldn't say anything at all if I was describing someone who was over weight about their weight. I have/would say that they had red hair, drove a chevy, had freckles and had four children.

I was raised in the military and lived in a very diverse community while growing up. We didn't look at race or color or creed, the lines were drawn according to your fathers rank. But my parents worked hard to make us not be about my father's position.

I wasn't so lucky to raise my boys like that. We lived in an area where they were the only minorities in the city. It was good for them...they learned how to deal with people who may or may not know how to deal with someone who looked different. My boys are all different shades of very pale tan to a coffee cream color and one of my boys was a tow head until puberty. Three had straight hair and one had ringlets that were adorable. They looked different and people didn't know how to take them....there were lots of stares and questions about "what exactly are they". But it was all good. My kids have no problem with people of other cultures. One boy married a girl who is half filipino and chinese and the other boy married a red headed Irish girl from upstate New York. My youngest son is dating a girl who is Japanese at the Naval Academy and my oldest just broke up with a long time girl who is African American. My granddaughter is blue eyed and red haired...but she is considered AA because she has AA blood in her....she is the true definition of multi racial but she will still have to put on the census report that she is AA.

When my youngest was getting his drivers license here in SC, the woman didn't want to allow him to mark AA on his license paperwork because she said "If the police are looking for AA Alex R. they won't be looking for someone who looks like him". Her manager allowed him to mark whatever the heck he wanted to after a talk with me.

I don't know where I was going but I do know that it doesn't seem to matter what you call someone by name as long as you are trying to understand where they are coming from. If they want to be called AA, then do so. It really depends on how much you want to make someone feel, I guess. If they ask not to be called AA but prefer to be called Black, then OK. But the government would not be so kind.....You are AA if you are not Caucasian, Asian, Hispanic or Hispanic but not from Mexico. I think in some cases there is now a category for Other and perhaps that is where those who are from Jamaica would be most comfortable but I think that when it was illegal for interracial marriages, they didn't diferentiate between those who had dark skin from a Carribean country and those who were born in Alabama who had slaves for great great great grandparents. KWIM?

(just as an aside, I thought we were talking about people in the US who were called AA and not those in other countries...I do not know what they are called in England....)

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GO NAVY WRESTLING!!BEAT ARMY!!!
RJB 3/18/60 - 5/22/04
We miss you, sweet brother
God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!

http://mylifeundertheabaya.blogspot.com/

From a Census Bureau report.

"In October 1997, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced the revised standards for federal data on race and ethnicity. The minimum categories for race are now: American Indian or Alaska Native; Asian; Black or African American; Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; and White. Instead of allowing a multiracial category as was originally suggested in public and congressional hearings, the OMB adopted the Interagency Committee's recommendation to allow respondents to select one or more races when they self-identify. With the OMB's approval, the Census 2000 questionnaires also include a sixth racial category: Some Other Race. There are also two minimum categories for ethnicity: Hispanic or Latino and Not Hispanic or Latino. Hispanics and Latinos may be of any race.

The new categories were used by the Census Bureau for the Census 2000 Dress Rehearsal in spring 1998, and will be used on the Census 2000 questionnaire. The new standards are effective immediately for new and revised data collections by federal agencies, and all federal agencies must implement the new standards by January 1, 2003.

How Does the Census 2000 Question on Race Differ from the 1990 Question?

The most profound change to the question on race for Census 2000 is that respondents are allowed to identify one or more races to indicate their racial identity. There are 15 check box response categories and 3 write-in areas on the Census 2000 questionnaire, compared with 16 check box response categories and 2 write-in areas in 1990. The three separate identifiers for the American Indian and Alaska Native populations (American Indian, Eskimo, or Aleut) used earlier have been combined into one category - - American Indian or Alaska Native - - with instructions for respondents who check the box to print the name of their enrolled or principal tribe. The Asian and Pacific Islander category has been split into two categories Asian, and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander. There are six specified Asian and three detailed Pacific Islander categories shown on the Census 2000 questionnaires, as well as Other Asian and Other Pacific Islander which have write-in areas for respondents to provide other race responses. Finally, the category Some Other Race, which is intended to capture responses such as Mulatto, Creole, and Mestizo, also has a write-in area. All of the responses collected in Census 2000 can be collapsed into the minimum race categories identified in the 1997 revisions to the standards on race and ethnicity issued by the Office of Management and Budget, plus the category Some Other Race.

Other changes include terminology and formatting changes, such as spelling out "American" instead of "Amer." for the American Indian or Alaska Native category; and adding "Native" to the Hawaiian response category. In the layout of the Census 2000 questionnaire, the Asian response categories were alphabetized and grouped together, as were the Pacific Islander categories after the Native Hawaiian category. American Indians and Alaska Natives can report one or more tribes. In addition, the question on Hispanic origin is sequenced immediately before the question on race."

So usnamom, people have the ability to use multiple answers to the race question. That means your granddaughter can answer whatever her background is. If she is 3/4 White, then she can put that alone or put White, and Black/African American, and whichever other choice fits her. If she is half and half then I assume she could pick one that she most identifies with or put two others that represent the majority of the half. On a side note, if your granddaughter is as good looking as your sons, then look out world.

I wonder what people do, who don't know their ethnic and/or racial history?

Thanks, my grandbaby is adorable if I may say so myself.....she favors her father every third day and her mother the rest of the time....

It is changing what people are recognized by mostly because of being politically correct. Wanting to include all people instead of putting them in such narrow boxes, I guess. I just know that in this little corner of the world, it has been interesting to be of "questionable, ie not a recognizable or easily identifiable race". Our youngest has been told he can't belong to the Black Student Union and had the counselor at the high school tell him he shouldn't check AA. Sigh.

And just so I can brag...here is my grandone, Violet.....

__________________
GO NAVY WRESTLING!!BEAT ARMY!!!
RJB 3/18/60 - 5/22/04
We miss you, sweet brother
God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!

http://mylifeundertheabaya.blogspot.com/

Sorry that is so big....I am out of practice posting pictures and I can't figure out how to size it.

__________________
GO NAVY WRESTLING!!BEAT ARMY!!!
RJB 3/18/60 - 5/22/04
We miss you, sweet brother
God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!

http://mylifeundertheabaya.blogspot.com/

Well not only do you produce stunning children, your children are evidently doing so as well. She is a darling. How old is she now? I just love the smell of babies. Except when they are carrying a load of course.

As for the size, it makes it easier for these poor eyes to see her. I actually use a magnifying glass for some of the fonts on some sites. That's a great big "pita".

I call a black person, a black person instead of African American. I'm not worried about it.The only time I have ever had to refer to "black person" when talking to a black person was when they wanted to date me.I just straight out told them that I'm not racist but that I just wasn't attracted to black men.They did not seem to have a problem with the fact that I referred to them as "black".

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Thanks for saying how cute she is...after four boys, having a little girl is so much fun! Even though they live all the way across the US in CA, I see her every day by Skype. She is eight months old now and starting to crawl. Her father will be deploying in a few months to Afghanistan and her mother will be moving to the East Coast to be with her parents or to Quantico to wait the deployment out. So in theory, they will be closer but I will be in Saudi Arabia for most of the next year, closer to where my son will be but I can't go see him and far away from everyone else! Go figure!

__________________
GO NAVY WRESTLING!!BEAT ARMY!!!
RJB 3/18/60 - 5/22/04
We miss you, sweet brother
God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!

http://mylifeundertheabaya.blogspot.com/

Awwww, what an adorable little pumpkin!

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Not to be snarky or anything but I have to say that that Black guy dodged a real bullet, didn't he?

I am glad that you didn't go out with someone that was of color....it is good to know what you will and won't do for yourself. Once I told a friend of mine who said she would never date a Caucasian man...."Why are you going to cut out at least half of the population? You do realize you may be missing your soul mate!" She ended up marrying a very nice Caucasian man and they lived happily ever after so far......

__________________
GO NAVY WRESTLING!!BEAT ARMY!!!
RJB 3/18/60 - 5/22/04
We miss you, sweet brother
God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!

http://mylifeundertheabaya.blogspot.com/

I must admit that I have met a few black men that I really liked a LOT but the thought of kissing them just made me queasy,lol. I would not feel bad if a black man felt the same way about a white woman,to each their own preference.

I once dated someone that said they did not want to continue to date me because I had blue eyes and they thought they were green,lol. Didn't bother me a bit.The first question my present bf asked me when we first began to chat was "Are you fat'? LOL!

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Usnamom your grand-daughter Voilet is simply a angel, so precious and I totally love her hame, enjoy her always with the best of health wishes.