Date: Mon, 24 Oct 1994 18:31:27 PDT

From: "CAVEMAN -- San Bernardino, Calif. USA" cjcoker[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]CSUPOMONA.EDU

Subject: Re: offending idiot



I know I started the "offending idiot" thing with my apology to anyone I might

have offended, but what happened to "offending idioms" that were being posted.

I was rather enjoying them (in the privacy of my own home). IMHO, half the

problem with these terms are that *I* can talk about my family, but *YOU*

can't, hence African-Americans using the term "nigger" for example, while

"white" people cannot. == FOR EXAMPLE -- not meaning to offend anyone.

Personally, I enjoy "white" people jokes -- usually I would be classified

"white" as I don't look that American Indian -- I take jokes for what they

are, jokes. If I can't laugh at myself, I certainly have no business laughing

at others. I know that the jokes are offensive to others, however. I don't

find "Indian" jokes as funny as "white" jokes, although I have 3 "white"

grandparents and 1 "Indian" grandparent. (The two that met at Boulder Dam

were both white, BTW.) I find many things humorous, but I know I am more

"sensitive" to anything said about Indians, no matter who says them. I find

white people on the reservations to be offensive (without knowng so) much of

the time (see my genealogy is pror sentence) -- in ALL cases, before becoming

offended, CONSIDER the source! Somebody that was educated -- as I assume to

be the case with those on the list -- offends me less often that some who is

uneducated, even though they can say exactly the same thing to me. Maybe

this is human nature, or maybe my own quirk, but I take the educated person's

remark as a joke, and the uneducated person's as bigotry. 'course what's said

my influence whether I or not I consider a person educated.



Just another 2 cents worth . . . now, back in my cage.



Chuck Coker

CJCoker[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]CSUPomona.Edu