Card Collectors Bulletin Feb.1, 1945 Whole #34

[vargha]

Geez, "Nip" is short for "Nippon" (what the Japanese call their country) and "Jap" is short for Japan. Seems pretty mild to me, Barry. I suppose some of our soldiers on the Bataan death march may have had a word or two that was a tad harsher than those. I'm guessing the people of Nanking probably had some stronger words as well.

[E93]

Originally Posted by vargha

Geez, "Nip" is short for "Nippon" (what the Japanese call their country) and "Jap" is short for Japan. Seems pretty mild to me, Barry. I suppose some of our soldiers on the Bataan death march may have had a word or two that was a tad harsher than those. I'm guessing the people of Nanking probably had some stronger words as well.

Does knowledge of the etymology of a racial slur make it ok? Does the existence of worse racial slurs make it ok? Obviously 1945 was a different time from 2011, but this is a strange battle to choose to fight.
JimB

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by E93

Does knowledge of the etymology of a racial slur make it ok? Does the existence of worse racial slurs make it ok? Obviously 1945 was a different time from 2011, but this is a strange battle to choose to fight.
JimB

Jim- I felt the same way but chose not to respond. I am reading the Bulletin in 2011, and while I understand the common use of those words in 1945, they are unacceptable today. That's all I meant, no more. The N-word was commonly used in this country a century ago, but we would find it distasteful if we saw it in print today.

Hope this thread doesn't turn into a nasty debate; I was just making an observation. I understand the horrors soldiers went through in WWII but my comment was about word usage.

[Hot Springs Bathers]

Barry & Jim- Please do not misunderstand my post. I agree with both of you I can't understand people using any type of racial, religious or any other type of slur. It has always seemed a lazy man's may for thinking he is better than someone else.

My statement was more an explanation of Mr. Carter's usage in the 1945 newsletter. My Dad only began talking about WWII after the age of 80. His feelings were colored by what the Japanese did to captured Marines and the native islanders. Notice I did not use the word prisoners. Apparently there were none.

I am happy that we are all more understanding today, there are very few human divisions among nationalities and religions. Today I find the only people who are unreasonable and impossible to talk with are Alabama and Texas football fans. They have very little sense.

[Kawika]

Originally Posted by vargha

Geez, "Nip" is short for "Nippon" (what the Japanese call their country) and "Jap" is short for Japan. Seems pretty mild to me, Barry. I suppose some of our soldiers on the Bataan death march may have had a word or two that was a tad harsher than those. I'm guessing the people of Nanking probably had some stronger words as well.

Visit the 442nd Regimental Combat Team clubhouse in Honolulu sometime and make your case to the oldtimers there. You will be cut in half by the stink eye you'll receive from these venerated Japanese-American warriors.