[HPforGrownups] Re: Bigotry or NOT?

[jlcaron at gmail.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 157689

>
> Mike:
>
>> African-Americans don't use the "N-word" when referring to
>> themselves, (the rappers have changed it to "niggah", which I don't
>> like either, but I'm not them). Jewish people refer to themselves as
>> Jewish not as "Jews", unless they want to put in some self-bigotry
>> or point out others bigotry.
>
> Sydney:
>
> I just don't think this is true.  I'm no linguist, but I do have a
> memory and have had a personal stake in this.  Around 10 years ago,
> you would be just as likely to use the word 'Jew' as 'Jewish'.  It
> would be a *little* old-fashioned for a young person now to say, "I'm
> a Jew", rather than "I'm Jewish", but it's wouldn't be *that* strange.
>  The avoidence of the word NOW I think is a reaction to rising
> anti-Semitism.  In the same way as during the civil-rights movement,
> people starting using "Black" instead of "Negro".

Jaime:

As a Jewish person, I have absolutely no qualms with being called a  
Jew. I have definitely called myself a "Jew" both in serious  
conversation and in joking. Nor have I ever come across or heard  
anyone take offense to being called a Jew if it's not in a negative  
connotation. It's all in the context. If someone says, "Jews are  
responsible for all wars," (Thanks, Mel) or "dirty Jew," I'm going to  
take offense. If someone says, "Jaime is a Jew," I'm going to say,  
"Yes, I am." In the same way, I'd say "she's a Christian," or "she's  
an American." It's a religious/racial statement, not necessarily a  
racist one. I think sometimes people can be a little hyper-sensitive;  
I have yet to find a person of the Jewish race who would be seriously  
offended if you called them a Jew. Hopefully if they didn't like it  
(which I can't fathom), they would polite tell you so. (But Mike, if  
you are such a Jewish person, I certainly welcome your point of view.)

As far as Hagrid v. Filch is concerned, it sounds very much like  
Hagrid just not thinking before he spoke. As it's been mentioned  
several times already, they don't seem to get along. But squib seems  
to be a perfectly acceptable term for a person in that situation.  
Mrs. Figg is called a squib at the Wizengamot, after all. I equate,  
as I said above, as just another term for someone. You can call me a  
Jew or a Jewish person and I won't take offense (though I'd prefer to  
be addressed by first name). You can call a Filch a squib or the non- 
magical offspring of magical parents but the latter is a bit of a  
mouthful.

Jaime