Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

whttevrr

(2,347 posts)
32. But... the link says otherwise...
Mon Sep 16, 2013, 11:35 AM
Sep 2013
Squaw means the totality of being female

Squaw is NOT an English word. It IS a phoenetic rendering of an Algonkian word that does NOT translate to "a woman's private parts." The word "squaw" - as "esqua," "squa," "skwa," "skwe" and other variants - traditionally means the totality of being female, not just the female anatomy. The word has been interpreted by modern activists as a slanderous assault against Native American women. But traditional Algonkian speakers, in both Indian and English, still say words like "nidobaskwa" = a female friend, "manigebeskwa" = woman of the woods, or "Squaw Sachem" = female chief. When Abenaki people sing the Birth Song, they address "nuncksquassis" = "little woman baby."


It seems it is a particularly 'American' thing to equate the feminine with a negativity that is not really present in the 'Native American' vernacular.

Is it at all possible that there is something else going on here that is causing your outrage?

It just seems a little bit over reactive.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Pale skin is not an American value. Scuba Sep 2013 #1
Well, she's studying to be a doctor, and Lawd knows, THAT's not an "American Value" (tm) MH1 Sep 2013 #2
Translation: "She's an elitist and probably believes in climate-science." DetlefK Sep 2013 #4
I can't believe that there were HappyMe Sep 2013 #3
"Luckily" for Republicans, they don't seem to know a lot about the rest of the world... stevenleser Sep 2013 #5
I hadn't thought of the HappyMe Sep 2013 #7
They also don't seem to know... Chan790 Sep 2013 #38
I remember when she won, some conservative bloggers accused her of being a Hezzbollah operative. SummerSnow Sep 2013 #44
WoW... whttevrr Sep 2013 #45
DO WANT Blue_Tires Sep 2013 #66
Someone should ask those two southern governors for malaise Sep 2013 #6
Waiting for Bobby Jindal, Nikki Haley, & Dinesh D'Souza to come out BumRushDaShow Sep 2013 #8
It will be very interesting to see if/how those three address it. stevenleser Sep 2013 #11
I the 20s , ethnic Czechs, Poles, etc., in East Texas (and elsewhere) ashling Sep 2013 #12
You'll be Rip Van Winkle waiting for them. SummerSnow Sep 2013 #34
As someone who is under Jindal's Reign of terror Katashi_itto Sep 2013 #51
He took the name "Bobby" from the Brady Bunch! KamaAina Sep 2013 #62
Which Republicans are you referring to? tkmorris Sep 2013 #9
More grassroots Republican/Conservative comments than anything, so far... nt stevenleser Sep 2013 #10
Radio Talk show host Todd Starnes stevenleser Sep 2013 #25
says who Chaco Dundee Sep 2013 #13
Hi Chaco Dundee! NYC_SKP Sep 2013 #14
You are my DU Hero of the Day. THAT'S how to talk about things! nolabear Sep 2013 #16
Thanks! NYC_SKP Sep 2013 #18
I apreciate your thoughts Chaco Dundee Sep 2013 #49
I'm the one who alerted, after looking up the term. stevenleser Sep 2013 #29
You should check out the link that was provided by NYC_SKP here whttevrr Sep 2013 #35
Thanks for that. nolabear Sep 2013 #36
I did not mean to offend anybody Chaco Dundee Sep 2013 #50
+1000 sinkingfeeling Sep 2013 #31
thank you for your confidence Chaco Dundee Sep 2013 #52
I cannot fucking believe that this post bitchkitty Sep 2013 #15
Yeah, "squaw" joined the list of outrageously offensive words Nye Bevan Sep 2013 #17
Here you go: NYC_SKP Sep 2013 #19
Hey, no fair, Nye Bevan Sep 2013 #21
Speaking as a pale-faced woman, bitchkitty Sep 2013 #23
But... the link says otherwise... whttevrr Sep 2013 #32
The person/group at whom a comment is directed gets to decide though, not other groups. stevenleser Sep 2013 #40
He did say that it was his wife he was describing. whttevrr Sep 2013 #43
your opening statement is correct Chaco Dundee Sep 2013 #58
I did not compare what you said to use of the N-word stevenleser Sep 2013 #59
k. Chaco Dundee Sep 2013 #60
Yeah... ya did... whttevrr Sep 2013 #69
No... I didn't... stevenleser Sep 2013 #70
thank you Chaco Dundee Sep 2013 #56
Your welcome... whttevrr Sep 2013 #68
I know your name calling seems more acceptable than theirs but it IS name calling. nolabear Sep 2013 #39
really Chaco Dundee Sep 2013 #55
Interesting and informative article. panader0 Sep 2013 #24
thank you Chaco Dundee Sep 2013 #54
oh my Chaco Dundee Sep 2013 #53
Welcome to DU. Try to ignore some who seek to re-define native Americans' sinkingfeeling Sep 2013 #37
thanks Chaco Dundee Sep 2013 #57
The strange thing is treestar Sep 2013 #20
Message auto-removed Name removed Sep 2013 #22
A toast to diversity! yuiyoshida Sep 2013 #26
GOP going mad. Los Angeles Sep 2013 #27
Welcome to DU gopiscrap Sep 2013 #42
Thank-you ! Los Angeles Sep 2013 #63
You're welcome gopiscrap Sep 2013 #64
I'm surprised to hear there are still groups left they haven't pissed off. William769 Sep 2013 #28
They're working on getting around to them. It's hard figuring out who all of them are when... stevenleser Sep 2013 #30
I have some relatives in Cherokee North Carolina I would love to introduce them to. William769 Sep 2013 #33
Yeah no kidding, like I've said before if you're a woman, lgbt, person of color, gopiscrap Sep 2013 #46
Agreed. William769 Sep 2013 #47
***Breaking News*** SummerSnow Sep 2013 #41
yeah just about gopiscrap Sep 2013 #48
I don't know how I stumbled on this post but... BWAHAHA! freshwest Nov 2014 #72
Is there anyone left they haven't pissed off yet? Bohemianwriter Sep 2013 #61
Give em time. Vanje Sep 2013 #65
They're after the "purple with pink polka dots" vote JHB Sep 2013 #67
Aside from this, Jamaal510 Sep 2013 #71
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Republicans are now worki...»Reply #32