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Xithras

(16,191 posts)

64. Why would "istan" be deemed racist? It's certainly redundant.

Mon Mar 9, 2015, 02:02 PM

Mar 2015

-"istan" is simply the Persian word for "place of" or "land of". The portmanteau of "Sandistan" would simply man "Land of Sand". Sandlandistan is a bit more redundant, translating to "Land of Land of Sand". Balochistan translates to "Land of the Balochs". Uzbekistan translates to "Land of the Uzbeks". Pakistan actually has two different meanings. "Paki" is derived from the Persian word for "pure", so Pakistan literally means "Land of the Pure". It was also selected because it contains the first letters of Punjab, Afghania, Kashmir, and Sindh, which were the major parts of India carved off to create Pakistan. It can be taken to mean "Lands of Punjab, Afghania, Kashmir, and Sindh".

Last I checked, there was nothing inherently racist about using loanwords from another language.

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I missed the memo...why all the draft/conscription threads? [View all] HereSince1628 Mar 2015 OP

Trial balloons. perhaps? djean111 Mar 2015 #1

It's a topic that comes and goes, so many people find it interesting HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #15

Those of us who had skin in the game... 99Forever Mar 2015 #41

Back then, I lost two friends to kidney cancer - agent orange. My grandson is almost 20. djean111 Mar 2015 #44

People are already dying contrary to public opinion. 99Forever Mar 2015 #47

Best way to ensure we only go to war when we have to. JoePhilly Mar 2015 #2

The party that imposes the draft -- any draft former9thward Mar 2015 #6

Best way to keep them from being sent to dumb GOP wars. JoePhilly Mar 2015 #10

LBJ had no problem sending draftees to a dumb war. former9thward Mar 2015 #14

You could be exempted from that war. Get a deferment. JoePhilly Mar 2015 #22

Then why was anyone drafted? former9thward Mar 2015 #34

I do not care why they got deferments at any time in the past. JoePhilly Mar 2015 #56

Drafting young men/women keeps them from being sent to dumb wars? Huh. And all this time I thought uppityperson Mar 2015 #52

Having a draft available as a way to select people to go to a war ... JoePhilly Mar 2015 #57

Still wouldn't work. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Mar 2015 #9

Fine with that. JoePhilly Mar 2015 #11

So it's a response to a perceived threat of war? HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #16

All wars. JoePhilly Mar 2015 #21

It's amazing to see that attitude expressed so casually in a country that literally denied me the Bluenorthwest Mar 2015 #35

Pretty fucking amazing, isn't it? djean111 Mar 2015 #46

Yea, cause that's what I said. JoePhilly Mar 2015 #55

Are we still so blood thirsty that someone on the planet has yuiyoshida Mar 2015 #38

I'm for return of the draft LiberalElite Mar 2015 #54

Send him somewhere to do something. JoePhilly Mar 2015 #58

ok there are other things a person could do but LiberalElite Mar 2015 #59

No basic for him, he works at the VA, handling paperwork. JoePhilly Mar 2015 #60

Yes agreed - no more "I had other priorities" LiberalElite Mar 2015 #61

Some people are eager to send my kids off to die for the MIC. nt City Lights Mar 2015 #3

I have no idea. KMOD Mar 2015 #4

I think it's because the media has been reporting polls saying the American public... Spazito Mar 2015 #5

The American people supported the Vietnam War at the beginning. former9thward Mar 2015 #8

Are you sure about that? That's not how I remember it. Are your referring to the mythical Stardust Mar 2015 #18

If it was BS Nixon would not have been elected. former9thward Mar 2015 #31

His first election, he vowed to end the war. The second, remember Nixon's "dirty tricks?" Just Stardust Mar 2015 #63

Nixon won the last election in a landslide. former9thward Mar 2015 #65

Post hoc ergo prompter hoc LanternWaste Mar 2015 #67

The draft where those with money and connections could 'buy' their way out of... Spazito Mar 2015 #19

+ 1 JoePhilly Mar 2015 #23

So you would ban volunteers? former9thward Mar 2015 #32

Volunteers could still volunteer during the previous draft... Spazito Mar 2015 #39

OMG former9thward Mar 2015 #42

LOL, you do realize the difference re rotation and tours of duty, right? Spazito Mar 2015 #45

The military is big enough. former9thward Mar 2015 #48

LOL Spazito Mar 2015 #49

No that is not the point. former9thward Mar 2015 #50

Yes, yes it is exactly the point n/t Spazito Mar 2015 #51

I remember -early- on people were still in "stop the commies" mode HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #24

So fear of more Sandland wars maybe HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #17

Sandland wars? Spazito Mar 2015 #20

"Sandlandistan" is the way vets at the VA in Milwaukee refer to HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #25

Ahhh, thanks for the explanation... Spazito Mar 2015 #26

We call it the sandbox.... giftedgirl77 Mar 2015 #33

Why would "istan" be deemed racist? It's certainly redundant. Xithras Mar 2015 #64

I don't know, but in the past people complained when I used it. HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #66

Eh, not really. Xithras Mar 2015 #68

and so it comes back full circle... HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #69

Haven't they all been from one poster? Erich Bloodaxe BSN Mar 2015 #7

Well, my thread on Selective Service John Poet Mar 2015 #12

People seem to want to invade Iraq again gwheezie Mar 2015 #13

Some days this board just seems like an open range for wedge issue trial baloons. Iggo Mar 2015 #27

I suppose there's that possibility, fracture lines run through and around us HereSince1628 Mar 2015 #28

You missed the scandal "du jour"!!! Hillary never registered for the draft!!!!!!!! Sarcastica Mar 2015 #29

It's in the rotation, along with Olive Garden, Smoking, Pit Bulls, Leashes For Children, MADem Mar 2015 #30

DON'T FORGET... yuiyoshida Mar 2015 #40

Ha ha ha! MADem Mar 2015 #43

Most people here are fine with a de facto economic draft. bluedigger Mar 2015 #36

It's way too easy to commit other peoples' kids to war. Paladin Mar 2015 #37

Because some think they can easily persuade congress to have a fair and equitable draft. uppityperson Mar 2015 #53

circumcision, olive garden, breast feeding, sports illustrated swimsuit issue, draft. nt. Warren Stupidity Mar 2015 #62