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Thus concluded a post by incognitus:

> Utverdi, Bozhe . . .


Utverdi, bozhe, sv'atuju sobornuju v'eru v uniantnim khriastianom vo vik vika ;-)

Fotij, chtets i soblaz'en

I think far too many people are hypersensitive. We might all be better off as a society and a Church if those folks would get their feelings off their sleeves and act like adults. Yes, Africans were brought to this country in chains -well over 100 years ago. There is no one alive today who was, however. In fact, one elderly lady I know insists on being called "black." She says she is just as American as I am and doesn't know a d**n thing about Africa. I like her attitude, because no one will ever make a victim out of her.

Agreed! Well said, Charles...

Hypersensitivity (especially being hypersensitive on behalf of others) is what begins the slippery slope of tolerating everything for fear of hurting someone's feelings. Which is more respectful? A person making a respectful, charitable statement in which he refers to someone as black, or the same black man who addresses his friends as "n**ger"? Do we then condemn the first because he did not use the "preferred mode of address" of the second? Do we force everyone to use the term "African American"? Oh...except the white South African immigrants who really ARE African-American... :rolleyes:

In all seriousness...provided the term is correct and the speaker means no disrespect by it...there is no point getting offended by the label. As to the Oriental Orthodox, well, they are not as theologically unified a group as the Eastern Orthodox, and it is simply more accurate to say "the Miaphysites" or "The Nestorians" than to make statements about the "Oriental Orthodox" without clarfying which group you mean. PROVIDED that this is done in a respectful manner, and as part of a post that would need to differentiate.

Gaudior, feeling very anti-PC, and thinking it's past time for some respect, not more political correctness.

Shlomo ByzanTN,
So are you saying that those of us who are Maronites, Melkites, and the like are being hypersensitive? How about the fact that those of us who are members here correct people who call us Roman Catholics, because the Patriarch of the West is not our Patriarch?

Also, look at what you wrote: "In fact, one elderly lady I know insists on being called 'black.'" The point is, that this woman has determined for herself what she will be called not by you. Also, it does not make one a victim to ask to be respected. Part of respect is to address people how they wish. But if it does not bother, you then I will revive the Maronite terms for people who follow the Byzantine Tradition just for you. So you understand, they are not swear words, but the they are on par with the words we have for Turks.

Since you are not a victim they should not bother you.

Poosh BaShlomo,
Yuhannon

Shlomo Gaudior,

You seem to forget that the term "Black" came about because the African-American community stated that is what they wanted to be called. They felt that "Colored" and "Negro" was not acceptable. But since you feel so charitable go around for a couple of days and call all the African-Americans you meet "Colored". I can not wait to see the benine reaction you will get.

Poosh BaShlomo,
Yuhannon

Yuhannon, I suspect you are a splendid fellow, but a bit too sensitive. Maronites are rare in this part of the country, but I am familiar with them and their history. It's a proud history, so they have no reason for over-sensitivity, since it's not warranted. You may call me anything you like, since it's only a word. What you call me can not harm me, take anything away from me, or give you power over me. Like my elderly friend, I don't play the victim game, either.

I don't call them anything...I treat them like people, without a label. Further, I would not use the word coloured, as it is not very precise...it was used, when it was used, to refer to anyone with a hint of a tan...from Indians, to Arabs, to Africans and African Americans. Just like "Caucasian" was applied to whites, becaue some researcher decided that white people were indiginous to the Caucases.

Gaudior, who asks that you lighten up a bit.

Actually, Gaudior, My ancestors came from Northern Europe. I tend to have a bit of a pinkish cast and never tan. I guess "white" would be a misnomer. How about a Byzantine-Hillbilly-Northern European-American?

FAR better than say, "pinko" which has its own meaning...

Gaudior, with tongue firmly in cheek

Nah, all the birds around my house have right wings, only.

Dear Incognitus:

I still remeber using the old Basillian translations wherein the word "pravo-virnykh" was used instead of pravo-slavnykh." Ah, those were the days....

Yours,

hal

Shlomo ByzanTN,
I am not overly sensitive, but am very respectful of others, but maybe I have a better upbringing.

As to Maronite history, of course we have a proud history, because my people did not let the Byzantines sell us out and murder us.

Now days people like to denounce "PC"ness in order to be polite biggots, but guess what, it is still biggotry. But seeing that you are in the South it does make sense that you would support biggotry.

Poosh BaShlomo,
Yuhannon

Hmm ... so are you saying that everyone from the South supports bigotry?

If your upbringing were that much better, you wouldn't need to call attention to it, now would you? I don't believe there have been any Byzantines in around 500 years, unless you are talking about Byzantine Catholics. Last time I looked, we were only a threat to ourselves, not to the Maronites. If you were in Lebanon 900 or more years ago, the Byzantines might be a valid concern, but not now. I think worrying about the Palestinians would be a more pressing issue for you today. And you really should study U.S. history a bit more. East Tennessee, where I live, supported the North in the U.S. Civil War. My ancestors helped burn the bridges so the Confederacy could not use them. This is a hilly, mountainous area that was not suitable for plantations, so there were very few slaves here. The black population is still small compared to the rest of the South. In my lifetime, that population has been treated rather well in this area. In fact, we have a black aristocracy of sorts that is well educated, and highly cultured, largely as a result of a couple of excellent black colleges that have been around for well over 100 years. From my travels in the Deep South, I would have to say you would find more discrimination in some large Northern cities than in the South today.

I agree with Yuhannon that some who denounce today�s political correctness are really polite bigots. Yet there is much political correctness that needs denouncing. Yuhannon gives us an example of politically correct bigotry that needs condemning with his accusation that because one is a Southerner he or she is a bigot. I am a Southerner. I know he is wrong. And I am very saddened at this example of bigotry from someone who usually is very charitable.

Yuhannon, I ask you to be more charitable in the future.

I suggest to byzanTN that, yes, a response to Yuhannon�s post was in order but your response was not itself a model of charity.