Offensive names get more attention

The Idaho House on Thursday unanimously approved legislation encouraging changes in place names that some people find offensive.

The voice vote came without debate. It forwarded to the Senate a resolution stemming from last year's debate over changing the names of 93 geographic features in Idaho that include the term "squaw," which is offensive to some American Indians.

It would not have the force of law, but the resolution urges individuals and local governments to recommend changes to the State Historical Society when they identify place names that might be offensive.

The Historical Society then would consider forwarding the recommendations to the U.S. Board of Geographic Names, which last September officially changed a mountain name containing a slur for Chinese people outside Pocatello to Chinese Peak.

The National Congress of American Indians is pushing for legislation to remove "squaw" from federal lands and property. Advocates of the change contend the word stems from a word for female genitalia, although some linguists dispute the claim.

The Idaho resolution seeks a broader assessment of potentially offensive names, including such geographic features as Molly's Nipple.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Answers

This really bugs me. Some places are named because of something historical happened - Like Bloody Run Creek - if that name is offensive to someone, they can asked it to be changed??? As for the word squaw, someone is going to have to prove to me that it means female genitalia. Maybe because I grew up partially in the southwest around Indians that used that term, I figured it was acceptable.

As for Molly's Nipple - maybe that is what it looked like :)

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Next on the list, changing the "Grand Tetons?"

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

i can see this leading to a resolution to change the shape of the state of Florida since it may be offensive to some that live here.

Not that it offends me, I think it should be longer. LOL

So, that mountain name, was it Chink Peak or something?

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Sometimes (not often) I feel that I should be a little more PC, but anyway my guess for the offending mountain name: Slant Slope?

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

20 miles north of here--Butner. No way I would live there. It's the home of the federal joint where Jonathan Pollard is held.

Makes me wonder what they're doing with old place names in Briatin, like Deadman's Cross.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Some years ago, political activists managed to convince Eskimos that the term "Eskimo" was insulting. Apparently that name was derived centuries ago by Europeans giving their pronounciation to a word used by more southerly Native Americans to designate the far northern people. The name means "eater of raw fish."

So according to the political activists, we newcomers to North America have been insulting the far northern people ever since we got here, which is now why we have the name Innuit (sp?).

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2002

But, they eat raw fish don't they?

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2002

Well, as a sashimi enthusiast, don't care if they do.

Speaking of sashimi, my personal favorites are (1) salmon, and (2) yellowtail. Anyone else care to weigh in?

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2002

Does canned tuna count?

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2002

Do Pepperidge Farm "Goldfish" count? (;

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2002

The snack that smiles back at you, until you bite their heads off.

I love that commercial. ROTFL

I don't think they count. They've been baked.

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2002

It's a real pleasure conversing with you two gourmets.

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2002

Peter, old friend, with my schedule and budget, I'm lucky when I get to eat one-pan meals at home, and boiled chicken breast + boil-in-the- bag rice is a frequent offering because I can toss both into a pan, boil them, and do something else while they're cooking.

Martha Stwart would not be happy here.

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2002

Well, Meemur, considering the fact that about ten of my weekly meals are microwaved Stouffer's, I don't think Martha would think much of me either.

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2002

LOL, Peter!

Actually, Stoffer's has some great offerings. At least I think they're the company that offers a wine sauce with one of the chicken dinners.

I just don't have fancy spices and oils and wines . . . I do a lot of dishes with chicken broth/water and this jar of stuff I got at the organic grocery called "no salt seasoning" or something like that.

If I did get a decent piece of salmon, I'd probably broil it and serve it with boil in the bag brown rice and some steamed veggies with a little "no salt seasoning" on the veggies -- another 15 minute dinner.

Ah, well. Things will slow down after tax season.

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2002

I went off raw fish dishes when I learned you can pick up some nasty intestinal parasites that way.

-- Anonymous, March 03, 2002

Look at it this way, OG: if you have enough internal parasites, you'll never be lonely! (:

-- Anonymous, March 03, 2002