Well, if you were a first nations person, and the government just kept referring to you as a 'visible minority', lumping you in with immigrants from all over the world, I can see where it could be contrued as discriminatory. Wouldn't you rather be referred to as a first nations person if that's what you are? But context has a lot to do with the appropriateness of a term too. How else is the government supposed to address the broad issue of racism, other than to say use a blanket statement to cover all minorities? It's an interesting issue.
Term 'visible minorities' may be discriminatory, UN body warns Canada
- Thread starter CBC News
- Start date
Well, if you were a first nations person, and the government just kept referring to you as a 'visible minority', lumping you in with immigrants from all over the world, I can see where it could be contrued as discriminatory. Wouldn't you rather be referred to as a first nations person if that's what you are? But context has a lot to do with the appropriateness of a term too. How else is the government supposed to address the broad issue of racism, other than to say use a blanket statement to cover all minorities? It's an interesting issue.
Oh nowwww....I don't think you really thought about...I think you are TELLING me you thought about it just to shut me up...
I think it's important...well...you know my opinion...I already expressed it...
Should that type of description be on a census? I realize this is a UN thing and the UN is not liked but I've seen some extremely rightwing folk asking for this type of language to be removed from policies, and perhaps the first step to this would be removing reference to "visible minorites" in government databases.
Actually, being Irish, I'm called a mick now and then. Big deal. I've been in places where my size makes me stick out like a lone dandelion in a lawn. Limelight ain't my favorite place to be but I can get over it. Actually for that matter, anyone can call me pretty much anything they want except dishonorable, dishonest, etc. That'd bother me somewhat. But I know what I am and who I r. So, I have no alternative than to think if someone is overly sensitive to something they need to boost their self-knowledge some.
No. I had thought about it before I made my first post in this thread. I just told you that I'd thought about it as a joke.Oh nowwww....I don't think you really thought about...I think you are TELLING me you thought about it just to shut me up...
I think it's important...well...you know my opinion...I already expressed it...
Nothing. Why does someone have to be identified as a visible minority in a government database?
Something else...just because we don't have something off the top of our heads doesn't mean something can't be created. I mean, someone had to invent the term visible minorities...
The thing is, I think it is one thing for the guy down the street, or your buddy to use this, that or the other term...but the federal government has to approach these issues with a great deal of sensitivity. They set the tone for the nation, and if they are using unacceptable terms or terms that discriminate, or terms that sets a certain part of the population apart in a negative way, then, well...it's important that they alter their rhetoric. Whether it tranfers over to the general publics lexicon, that's another story altogether. But, if I got a tax form or something that asked for my race or background and the check box that I were to fill in said "cracker", I might be offended. So, it's good that the government and other organizations, international groups, are thinking about these things so that the most productive, useful, acceptable language is being used in an official, professional capacity.
The thing is, I think it is one thing for the guy down the street, or your buddy to use this, that or the other term...but the federal government has to approach these issues with a great deal of sensitivity. They set the tone for the nation, and if they are using unacceptable terms or terms that discriminate, or terms that sets a certain part of the population apart in a negative way, then, well...it's important that they alter their rhetoric. Whether it tranfers over to the general publics lexicon, that's another story altogether. But, if I got a tax form or something that asked for my race or background and the check box that I were to fill in said "cracker", I might be offended. So, it's good that the government and other organizations, international groups, are thinking about these things so that the most productive, useful, acceptable language is being used in an official, professional capacity.
Nothing? Oh, that'd go over well. We'd have "The Ministry Responsible for Nothing Affairs", "The Minister Responsible for the Status of Nothing", etc.
,
,
,
,
,
,
Gotcha.
By golly. You make sense once in a while.Something else...just because we don't have something off the top of our heads doesn't mean something can't be created. I mean, someone had to invent the term visible minorities...
The thing is, I think it is one thing for the guy down the street, or your buddy to use this, that or the other term...but the federal government has to approach these issues with a great deal of sensitivity. They set the tone for the nation, and if they are using unacceptable terms or terms that discriminate, or terms that sets a certain part of the population apart in a negative way, then, well...it's important that they alter their rhetoric. Whether it tranfers over to the general publics lexicon, that's another story altogether. But, if I got a tax form or something that asked for my race or background and the check box that I were to fill in said "cracker", I might be offended. So, it's good that the government and other organizations, international groups, are thinking about these things so that the most productive, useful, acceptable language is being used in an official, professional capacity.
Perhaps we don't need them.Nothing? Oh, that'd go over well. We'd have "The Ministry Responsible for Nothing Affairs", "The Minister Responsible for the Status of Nothing", etc.
,
,
,
,
,
,
Gotcha.
We could have the Ministry of Silly Walks. :wave:
Yes, and it all makes possible lunatic managementl decisions like that found at the Toronto Star in a city that labels itself the multicultural capital of the world. No suspect in a crime is ever identified by race. The public is encouraged even in the most egregious cases of murder and rape to look for someone with a coat on and perhaps a hat. Now that's the embodiment of concern for public safety. Language should never be the possession of a group or organization. Let free speech and sanity rule.
You're twisting it into something it isn't. I don't think there is a law enforcement department in North America that wouldn't warn the public what color of skin or hair or eyes a criminal has if they know.