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NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
7. I thought about that too!
Mon Sep 16, 2013, 03:33 PM
Sep 2013

I go to Hawaii for work every year, Molokai this past May and Oahu in November, and have several friends including native Hawaiians.

My personal experience agrees with the Wikipedia entry, that it can be used as a racial eptithet but also finds usage in casual and friendly ways.

In some searching of the word "squaw" I learned that there have been efforts, some successful, to rename places in response to complaints about the word.

http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue2/2003/05/07/125330-napolitano-won-t-rush-to-rename-sites-with-squaw-names/

I think that's probably a sad thing, but I'm still not sure.

Thanks for the reply!

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

I think that calling anyone, especially a indigeous American, a "squaw" is derogatory randr Sep 2013 #1
I found an interesting discussion about the word at another site. Will add link to OP. NYC_SKP Sep 2013 #3
Absolutely no personal experience but... TreasonousBastard Sep 2013 #2
I'm a white person, SheilaT Sep 2013 #4
I think it's a fascinating question. Wouldn't it be particularly sad if... NYC_SKP Sep 2013 #5
Very good thread. Downwinder Sep 2013 #6
I thought about that too! NYC_SKP Sep 2013 #7
I have relatives on Kauai. Downwinder Sep 2013 #10
"Hoale" strikes me as either SheilaT Sep 2013 #13
It sparked a killing at a Waikiki McDonald's. Downwinder Sep 2013 #14
Not the best neighborhood, not representative of most of the population, right? NYC_SKP Sep 2013 #17
You are not familiar with the Deedy trial? Downwinder Sep 2013 #18
I wasn't until now. Looks like a very senseless shooting. NYC_SKP Sep 2013 #19
an exellent guess Chaco Dundee Sep 2013 #8
Thank you very much for checking in on the question. NYC_SKP Sep 2013 #9
I thank you Chaco Dundee Sep 2013 #11
Most likely it had no negative connotation in SheilaT Sep 2013 #12
ojibwe here. unionthug777 Sep 2013 #15
Thanks! NYC_SKP Sep 2013 #16
It is an insult! CountAllVotes Oct 2013 #20
I read about the name change. NYC_SKP Oct 2013 #21
I knew about this issue CountAllVotes Oct 2013 #22
Governor Janet Napolitano in 2003: NYC_SKP Oct 2013 #23
I have a friend that is Navajo CountAllVotes Oct 2013 #24
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