It’s nearly impossible to greet the day without hearing of someone with an axe to grind.
Just yesterday morning, I was listening to a weekly gardening show on the radio when the topic gravitated towards Gypsy Moths. Gypsy Moths are a serious threat to trees and shrubs in North America. According to the show’s host, Gypsy Moths are insatiable eaters; one fully grown caterpillar can eat up to a square foot of tree leaves in just one day.
This defoliation process can significantly damage a tree, and if the infestation is bad enough, strip the entire tree of leaves within a matter of days. And that is pretty bad.
Thinking I was quite fortunate to not have a Gypsy Moth infestation in my yard, a few callers later introduced the radio horticultural world to someone I would call a “whiner.”
This caller expressed outrage about the host referring to the Gypsy Moths by name. Yep. No kidding. She pontificated about the word “gypsy” being a slur, offending anyone who was a nomadic European Romani.
It seems as though these people originated in India, migrating into Europe. Being referred to as a gypsy is akin to being called someone with street smarts who are constantly searching for their next grift. Con artists, these now-settled Americans are generally grouped with traveling nomads who move from town-to-town scamming unsuspecting people out of money, hence the word “gypped.”
In my opinion, if the shoe fits, wear it. However, this radio caller was angry that the gypsy moniker was applied to a moth. Of course neither the host nor the caller assigned the name to these destructive insects. Yet, she felt it necessary to berate the host thereby demonstrating her superior moral authority.
Too bad she failed. You see, some other anointed gasbag felt compelled to introduce a better name for the Gypsy Moth as “Spongy Moth.” Let’s keep our fingers crossed sponges don’t take issue now.
That got me to thinking about other brilliant ways total strangers attempt to foist their personal principles on the rest of society, if for nothing else than for an imaginary gold star.
Growing up, my grandmother had old, heavy, dark furniture positioned upon oriental rugs. Those rugs were colorful examples of art sewn into patterns with wool yarn that were kaleidoscopic. They certainly brightened up the area, adding a sense of elan to an otherwise drab room.
Once again, those hand-made oriental carpets have been deemed offensive because of their name.
Upon examination, according to sleepbloom.com, “The term ‘oriental rug’ can be seen as outdated and sometimes offensive. It typically refers to a specific style of rug. However, using ‘Oriental’ to describe people lacks cultural sensitivity.”
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| One example of an Oriental rug |
Sleepbloom.com further states, “Critics argue that using ‘Oriental’ perpetuates stereotypes and aligns with colonial perspectives. These viewpoints can create a disconnect between the vibrant cultures that produce these rugs and the general public’s understanding of them. Replacing ‘Oriental rug’ with more specific terms, like ‘Persian’ or ‘Turkish rug,’ offers a more respectful acknowledgment of the unique artistry involved in rug-making.”
You bet.
It so happens that Australian Santa Clauses were forced to revolt, in 2007, for the right to say “Ho, Ho, Ho.” Per medium.com, a firm that supplied Santa characters for Christmas “told trainees that ‘ho, ho, ho’ could frighten children and be derogatory to women. Why? Because it was too close the American slang for prostitute.” Correct.
Next, we stumble upon the horrendous word, “homosexual.” That horrible linguistic unit is deemed unusable due to the fact that homosexuals would rather be referred to as “gay.” I don’t know why, and don’t particularly care.
Then there are the homeless, who take a shine to “outdoor urban dwellers.”
The insane prefer “reality challenged,” as opposed to Democratic Representative, I suppose.
Sex change has become “gender reassignment.” Preferential treatment is now known as “affirmative action.” Robbery is much more succinct in the words “wealth redistribution.” And wanted criminal has been suddenly transformed into “person of interest.”
Dishonest people like the words “ethically challenged.” I see a more precise verbal description in the word “politician.”
You can almost imagine Chuck Schumer using the words “quantitative easing” to really mean “printing money for which we really don’t have the backing.”
We’ve come a long way since the days when a word was a word, while being descriptive without fluff. I believe it’s time to throw this juggernaut of psychopathy into reverse for the sake of clarity without window dressing to prevent hurt feelings.
Cultural appropriation is flattering, not offensive.
Finally, if you’re too thin skinned, remain indoors.
