[Artemisia] the "G" word one last time

[morgan wolf]

>________________________________
>From: "arwenmc at aol.com" <arwenmc at aol.com>
>To: artemisia at lists.gallowglass.org
>Sent: Thursday, November 3, 2011 10:33 PM
>Subject: [Artemisia] the "G" word one last time
>
>I'm feeling pretty alone on this one, so one more post on this and then I'm finished speaking my peace- to the relief of many I'm sure  :)
>
>Laurel College of Arms has ruled about offensive stereotypical names and offensive political terminology not being allowed.  If you want a Romani or related group as your persona please use good taste, do your research, and be respectful.   No one will argue that racism was widespread during period.  It does not belong in the SCA.  
>
>The word Gypsy is now considered by many, admittedly not all, people to be an ethnic and racial slur.  At the very least, it is a term loaded with negative racial connotations.  That is enough for me to edit my vocabulary.  I'm not making this up to stir the pot. I'm genuinely concerned about this issue because it is serious.  They have been a target of mass genocide, forced relocation and continue to be killed because of their ethnicity even today.  This is not just an SCA issue and I will not treat it lightly.  To the Romani people around the world this is not just a game of dress up and fantasy.  Here is a small sampling of what I'm referencing:
>
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_slurs#G
>http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005219
>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/20/romania-gypsies-dictionary-definition-change-_n_904986.html
>http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/250432/Rom
>http://www.peak.sfu.ca/the-peak/98-2/issue6/feature.html
>http://www.nrado.com/Home_Page.php
>
>I'm asking my fellow Artemisians to please give this and related issues due consideration.
>
>Thanks for bearing with me,  Esther

Esther, we go waaayyy back, and I hope you know I do and will always take what you say seriously and give it due consideration, and if someone tells me not to call them a "gypsy" because they find it offensive I will honor that request.  I am also fully aware that roughly 2 million of the Romani people were killed in the same Nazi-run concentration camps as the Jewish people.  What I seem to be missing a step on is how "gypsy" is considered a racial slur, as I've never seen nor heard it being used in a perjorative manner? 

Having said that, I do fully agree with you that anyone adopting a persona should thoroughly research said persona, and that we should all avoid using names that the recipients find offensive to the best of our ability.

Except for the Damn Normans.  They are just plain Evil.  If you doubt me, take my class, I have proof.
DISCLAIMER:  If anything I have written here offends anyone, feel free to address your concerns to me in private- don't take up Aerie space, and don't complain to my Pelicans, they are only responsible for the good things I do, screw ups are entirely mine.  Unless you're Norman, you can complain to Count Ralph, he'll tell you to take my class.

Morgan

Baron Morgan Blaidd Du,
GHA(2), CQC, PCA, CCH;
Protege and Ghillie to Baron Master James Ulrich MacKellar, OL OP;
and Baroness Mistress Rachel Ashton, OP