There are lots of posts going around right now concerning the word “Ami”. Is it a derogatory term - when used to describe a US-American citizen? Here, and here, and here …
I don’t think it is just about the word “Ami”. What about the name “Kraut” for Germans, or “Jap” for Japanese, “Beaners” for Mexicans, or “Itaker” for Italians (used here in Austria), or many others (I can’t think of any more, or I could think of some that are used here in Austria, but I can’t spell them, so I won’t use them).
I honestly don’t think most people like to be referred to using a word denoting the country of their origin. I think their name is probably much nicer and more personal. Using such words is always a tad derogatory. All of them call to mind the many stereotypes associated with each ethnic group or nationality and using them automatically propagates those beliefs (positive or negative) and increases racism.
Now I don’t really want to turn this into a post about racism (here an good post from Bettina about that subject) but the connection between such terms and racism is a quick one for me and in an international environment like we have now, perhaps it is wise to avoid emphasising racial, ethnic or national backgrounds and instead concentrate on the person.
What do you think?
ami kraut jap beaner racism derogatory ethnic racial background
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November 22, 2007 at 1:22 pm
christian Spanring
It always depends on the context.
I really don’t like most of those “nicknames”, but in my experience cultural stereotypes usually match very well. It’s just natural that people living in different environments behave differently. Stereotypes just break it down to a sarcastic one-liner. But that doesn’t necessarily include racism. Racism is about value and hierarchy of humans, stereotypes is more about difference, in a sarcastic way though.
November 22, 2007 at 6:05 pm
Lisa
True, stereotypes don’t necessarily prelude racism, but they certainly lay the floor boards for thinking in blanket terms. Racism begins with the pigeonholing of ethnic groups and nations. Most of the reasons for this are, of course, subjective and unavoidably exclude those who are the “square pegs”. Stereotypical thinking precludes (for the most part) critical thought and leads to generalisations and loss of the individual.
November 23, 2007 at 3:19 am
Adrian
It’s my turn now. Thanks by the way for linking to my blog recently.
My experience in this case is that most people don’t care at all about what they are saying. They hear the term and use it without giving it a second thought. But most of the time it is truly disrespectful and it shows their (true) feelings about the other country’s citizen or government.
Another (funny?) term is Yankee. Some friends and family were picking on me that I’ve become quite a Yankee. Because they don’t know better I always have to tell them what the term really means. And as a “Texan” I feel insulted ;)
November 23, 2007 at 8:04 am
Anita
“Nicknames” enhance cultural stereotypes just as racial thinking enhances racism. I want to only be referred to by my name.
November 23, 2007 at 8:07 am
Lisa
@ Adrian: I would be insulted too, if somebody referred to me as “Texan” ;-)
November 24, 2007 at 6:51 pm
Thomas
I see stereotypes and racism in pretty much the same light. Christian is right when he says that racism is about values and hierarchy, but nevertheless, I agree that stereotypes lead to racial thinking.
But “ami” is pretty harmless.