Arana writes: "Isn't it time for the language to move on?" How do you feel about this? Why?
I think that it is time that we move on from the language. Does Race, ethnicity, background or color ever give us any authority to judge people and essentially call them names? No, but we seem to think so. Language has always put people in boxes, and more specifically names such as black, Asian, etc.
In India, there was a group of people called the Dalits. These people, just because they were born into a family with a certain label or name such as these Dalits, or "untouchables" are treated like dirt, as the name implies. What does this have to do with us here in America? It is so extreme, but what we don’t realize is that we do the same thing, it may not be as common, or obvious. When we label people, we do the same thing, we may treat that person different depending if they are “black”, “Mexican” or “white”. It is not always in a bad way, but we usually do it whether we realize it or not.
On the other side of the argument, some people take pride in the names. many people from Mexican descent, African American, etc. take pride in calling themselves "Black" or "Mexican", or any other title that people may have. But, in my opinion, it also depends on the name that is being used. Some names can be degrading, while others are a symbol of national or personal pride. These names don’t always have to be related to race, ethnicity, or color, but often they do.
I think that if we would just put those physical differences aside, whether it be “black”, “Mexican” or whatever you consider yourself, we are all humans. And under all our physical differences we are all the same.
I think that it is time that we move on from the language. Does Race, ethnicity, background or color ever give us any authority to judge people and essentially call them names? No, but we seem to think so. Language has always put people in boxes, and more specifically names such as black, Asian, etc.
In India, there was a group of people called the Dalits. These people, just because they were born into a family with a certain label or name such as these Dalits, or "untouchables" are treated like dirt, as the name implies. What does this have to do with us here in America? It is so extreme, but what we don’t realize is that we do the same thing, it may not be as common, or obvious. When we label people, we do the same thing, we may treat that person different depending if they are “black”, “Mexican” or “white”. It is not always in a bad way, but we usually do it whether we realize it or not.
On the other side of the argument, some people take pride in the names. many people from Mexican descent, African American, etc. take pride in calling themselves "Black" or "Mexican", or any other title that people may have. But, in my opinion, it also depends on the name that is being used. Some names can be degrading, while others are a symbol of national or personal pride. These names don’t always have to be related to race, ethnicity, or color, but often they do.
I think that if we would just put those physical differences aside, whether it be “black”, “Mexican” or whatever you consider yourself, we are all humans. And under all our physical differences we are all the same.
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