Comments on Land of Bean: What's in a name?

I'm no advocate of being easily offended. I t...

2011-12-12T19:56:30.894-05:00

I'm no advocate of being easily offended. I think that it's good to have a thick skin...

At the same time, I think that referring to the people who suffered at the hands of the Europeans as something they're not is a little disrespectful. Especially now that the present day Americans are battling against illegal immigrants.

I don't find it offensive, but I do think that...

2011-12-01T16:27:40.602-05:00

I don't find it offensive, but I do think that the term is silly. They're not from India, so they're not Indian. And if we're clarifying ethnicity, I find it confusing that I am labeled by the "color" of my skin but other groups are labeled by their supposed "region of origin." If your family has lived in America for more than 1 generation, I consider you to have American heritage, not African American heritage. I guess you would need a tab on the checklist that said "Italian/Swedish/German family from 100-200 years ago" for my tab. That just gets confusing.

I think the term American Indian has also been ado...

2011-11-30T15:04:29.611-05:00

I think the term American Indian has also been adopted by some, and was the term that the storyteller that came to N.'s preschool used. I also think a lot of Native Americans identify strongly with their particular tribe, though that gets complicated when you're trying to teach more general concepts to kids. (though maybe the whole idea is not to generalize??)

I'm totally late commenting, but oh well! My ...

2011-11-28T11:38:09.617-05:00

I'm totally late commenting, but oh well!

My husband is Native American. Like, 25% so, a direct descendant of Pocahontas, blah, blah, blah. Neither he nor any members of his family are in any way offended by the term "Indian," but they do usually say Native American simply for clarification reasons.

As for confusion by Indians, my daughter's best friend is Indian and has no problem explaining things when it comes up. Doesn't bother her one bit!

Having some Indian in my background, I do not find...

2011-11-26T13:42:43.684-05:00

Having some Indian in my background, I do not find the term offensive. What I do find offensive is the movement to shove political correctness down everyone's throat. I believe this country has gone too far. It seems that the people in this country are way to quick to take offense at anything and everything. I don't like the term African American, or Hungarian American or anything - American. When you moved to this country you became an AMERICAN.......period.

I've noticed the word "Indian" used ...

2011-11-23T23:21:15.218-05:00

I've noticed the word "Indian" used in my boys' various Thanksgiving worksheets and projects. I was surprised as well. I say Native American, but I think I'm okay with "Indian" so long as the portrayal of the "Indians" is a positive one.

Hmmmm.... I'd also be wondering what the littl...

2011-11-23T20:19:41.277-05:00

Hmmmm.... I'd also be wondering what the little girl (and her parents) think of using the word "Indian" to describe Native Americans.

I'm like you, I don't see "Indian" as being derogatory. But I guess I do use "Native American" more often than "Indian".

I think it's an interesting question. The ter...

2011-11-23T09:51:58.185-05:00

I think it's an interesting question. The term "Native American" is probably the only one of those pc-imposed terms that I don't take offense to, though having Native American ancestors, I am also not offended by the term Indian. I refuse to use terms like African-American, etc because really, we're all Americans. I personally do not go around saying I am Hungarian-American. I think the term Native American doesn't go out of its way to separate people like other hyphenated names. I'd like to hear what an "Indian" Indian has to say.