|
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290 |
Oh, dear, oh, my. When I pointed out that the people formerly known as Hottentots found that particular ethnonym offensive, I was not admonishing Bran to eschew it. I was just telling her, that in the unlikely event that she found herself face to face with a Khoisan, she might ixnay on the ottentothay. I realize that many people get all riled up when somebody points out that some other body finds some bit of language offensive. (Shouts of "cry havoc" and don't you dare legislate my language, unless of course it's ungrammatical.) I will digress, as is my dithering wont, into an anecdote. I was invited to a Thanksgiving dinner by a friend of mine that was being held at his parents house. I'd had never met them, but they seemed like a nice old couple once I had. At some point during the turkey dinner: the mom is all n-word this and n-word that, and because I'm a guest and there are no African-Americans present I let it slide, because I figure, she's old and set in her ways and nothing I can do will change any of that. During a later course I mentioned that the main ethnic slur I'd encountered in my tender youth was Oakie. The temperature in the room dropped 20 degrees Fahrenheit. My friend's mother stopped talking. Full stop. Later, he told me that he was amazed that his mom hadn't bitch-slapped me and walked me out to my car. I was shocked. I felt that a white lady who dropped the n-word with abandon wouldn't blink at a little grapes of wrath opprobrium. My bad.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 956
old hand
|
|
old hand
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 956 |
What is an oakie? and is it the same as the oakie from muscogee that merle sings about?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 876
old hand
|
|
old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 876 |
Oakie From Muskogee
We don't smoke marijuana in Muskogee;
We don't take our trips on LSD;
We don't burn our draft cards down on Main Street;
We like livin' right, and bein' free.
We don't make a party out of lovin';
We like holdin' hands and pitchin' woo;
We don't let our hair grow long and shaggy,
Like the hippies out in San Francisco do.
I'm proud to be an Oakie from Muskogee,
A place where even squares can have a ball.
We still wave Old Glory down at the courthouse,
And white lightin's still the biggest thril of all.
Leather boots are still in style for mainly footwear;
Beads and roman sandals won't be seen.
Football's still the roughest thing on campus,
And the kids here still respect the college dean.
And I'm proud to be an Oakie from Muskogee,
A place where even squares can have a ball.
We still wave Old Glory down at the courthouse,
And white lightin's still the biggest thril of all.
We still wave Old Glory down at the courthouse,
In Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA.
But, I have no idea why that's an insult.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
here's some background for the term Okie (note spelling), including original and current usage.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067
old hand
|
|
old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067 |
[i]...And I'm proud to be an Oakie from Muskogee,
...etc/i]
But, I have no idea why that's an insult. Well if you have no idea living in Western NY, I, living in Tasmania, am totally mystified also. Please elucidate dzhaimz!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
Political correctness is an invention of the last five to ten years. I suspect you may be showing your age there Bran. I'd say at least 15 to 20 years since that term became common currency. Time does seem to go faster as we get older doesn't it? Sigh.  supposedly once said: "When the end of the world is at hand I'll move to Holland, everything there happens fifty years later". Fifty is exagerated but yes, everything that is world-mainstream terminology and fashion becomes mainstream here 5 to 10 years later. ( Not bad Heinequotes) As for age and time: I don't want to mislead anyone and time runs and crawls simultaneously.  --( Verified and signed by old Oakhead (from Okie)(note spelling)of the Acorn Tribe.)
Last edited by BranShea; 06/20/08 02:26 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819
Pooh-Bah
|
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819 |
During a later course I mentioned that the main ethnic slur I'd encountered in my tender youth was Oakie. The temperature in the room dropped 20 degrees Fahrenheit. My friend's mother stopped talking. Full stop. Later, he told me that he was amazed that his mom hadn't bitch-slapped me and walked me out to my car. I was shocked. I felt that a white lady who dropped the n-word with abandon wouldn't blink at a little grapes of wrath opprobrium. So was she taking umbrage at the "O word" or did she simply resent the implied criticism of her own language?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067
old hand
|
|
old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067 |
[quote=The Pook][quote=BranShea]Heinrich Heine supposedly once said:
"When the end of the world is at hand I'll move to Holland, everything there happens fifty years later".
Fifty is exagerated but yes, everything that is world-mainstream terminology and fashion becomes mainstream here 5 to 10 years later. Move to Tasmania. It really is true here. 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290 |
What is an oakie?
A person from Oklahoma who went west in the days of the Depression in the US. It turns out I was wrong about my friend's mom's origins. She was an Arkie from Arkansas, but I suppose most Californians of the right vintage didn't make such fine distinctions in labeling the invaders. (I see that tsuwm has posted down south a link to the Wikipedia.)
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290 |
So was she taking umbrage at the "O word" or did she simply resent the implied criticism of her own language?
I think the former. As I hinted above, in response to olly, it may have been because she was from Arkansas and resented being called the o-word.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
|
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,330
Members9,182
| |
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
|
0 members (),
1,577
guests, and
1
robot. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
