Is the term Indian offensive?

This has always bothered me. Why are Native Americans called Indians? I always figured it was because when Colombus "discovered" America, he thought he was in India. So he called them Indians. And weve passed his ignorance down for generations. But the thing that confuses me is that they call THEMSELVES Indians... And they arent offended. So, is it ok to say if theyre ok with it? Im confused.

 is different from

I believe in this context it's referring to indigenous people, not people from the country India (It might not be indigenous, but it's a word that can be abbreviated to 'Indian')EJ902

I think the term Indian to refer to Native Americans should fall into disuse mainly because it was based on a mistake in the first place. Since the US isn't in fact India as Columbus had initially thought when he coined the term for Native Americans, we shouldn't continue calling them Indians.  I don't care so much about the PC aspect of the terms, but rather the correctness.

-Byshop

probably, it is pretty stupid to call somebody from the american continents by a name given to people oceans awayyoshi-lnex

[QUOTE="yoshi-lnex"]probably, it is pretty stupid to call somebody from the american continents by a name given to people oceans awaynynthninja

Indians originate from india

Americans originated in America

get it?

[QUOTE="nynthninja"][QUOTE="yoshi-lnex"]probably, it is pretty stupid to call somebody from the american continents by a name given to people oceans awayyoshi-lnex

Indians originate from india

Americans originated in America

get it?

There is an interesting side point here. Does the term "Native Americans" really apply either since the existence of their people pre-dates this continent being referred to as North America?

-Byshop

There is an interesting side point here. Does the term "Native Americans" really apply either since the existence of their people pre-dates this continent being referred to as North America?

-Byshop

Byshop

The pplz in India is also known as Indianzz :? HarrisKrishna

This has always bothered me. Why are Native Americans called Indians? I always figured it was because when Colombus "discovered" America, he thought he was in India. So he called them Indians. And weve passed his ignorance down for generations. But the thing that confuses me is that they call THEMSELVES Indians... And they arent offended. So, is it ok to say if theyre ok with it? Im confused.

Witchsight

This has always bothered me. Why are Native Americans called Indians? I always figured it was because when Colombus "discovered" America, he thought he was in India. So he called them Indians. And weve passed his ignorance down for generations. But the thing that confuses me is that they call THEMSELVES Indians... And they arent offended. So, is it ok to say if theyre ok with it? Im confused.

Witchsight

[QUOTE="im_very_kind"] who cares if theyre offended? it means the same thing. when i address an "african" i say yo black when i address a hispanic mexican i say "mexican" thesse are deemed innappropriate but have the same meaning. pollitical correctness HAS to stop.Witchsight

[QUOTE="Witchsight"]

This has always bothered me. Why are Native Americans called Indians? I always figured it was because when Colombus "discovered" America, he thought he was in India. So he called them Indians. And weve passed his ignorance down for generations. But the thing that confuses me is that they call THEMSELVES Indians... And they arent offended. So, is it ok to say if theyre ok with it? Im confused.

im_very_kind

No one gets offended if you call them "black", but there is another word that is unacceptable.

Some people look like idiots walking on egg-shells though, when they call people "African-American" or "Asian-American", when the person was born in America.  You're not a hyphenated American unless you were born in another country and claim residence in America.  If you're black and you were born in America, you're an American, if they need to be more specific, you're an American who's black.  If they need it even more specific, you're an American with African ancestry.

White people aren't called European-Americans are they?  Only the ones who came over from Europe in their lifetime are, like Vlade Divac or Wally Sczcerbiak.

I think you should use the term Native American since that doesn't seem to offend anybody.  I think it would be rediculous for somebody to be offended by Indian but it can cause some confusion.

"Who's up for some indian food?"

Also is anybody else sort of sick of the all peaceful, all enviro-friendly Native American stereotype.  Several NA tribes were as diverse as people can come some were wasteful and war mongrels while others were hippies, but not all tribes had the same customs.
jrhawk42

Yeah, the Aztecs were supposed to be brutal.

Granted, they weren't native to the parts of America where the United States is now at, but they were an aboriginal group of the American continent.

[QUOTE="Witchsight"]

This has always bothered me. Why are Native Americans called Indians? I always figured it was because when Colombus "discovered" America, he thought he was in India. So he called them Indians. And weve passed his ignorance down for generations. But the thing that confuses me is that they call THEMSELVES Indians... And they arent offended. So, is it ok to say if theyre ok with it? Im confused.

im_very_kind

So did you pass geography class? I'm guessing not, but here's a newsflash, Indians come from India. Calling a Native American an Indian isn't the same as calling an African black, it's more like calling somebody who is asian white or........Indian as you seem to call people despite them not being indian.

P.C. needs to exist becouse of people like you, I don't think you ever stop to think "hey N.A.s aren't from india" or stop to think that you might be hurting people by calling them by certain names, and it's that lack of empathy that makes it absolutely nessasary.

[QUOTE="im_very_kind"][QUOTE="Witchsight"]

This has always bothered me. Why are Native Americans called Indians? I always figured it was because when Colombus "discovered" America, he thought he was in India. So he called them Indians. And weve passed his ignorance down for generations. But the thing that confuses me is that they call THEMSELVES Indians... And they arent offended. So, is it ok to say if theyre ok with it? Im confused.

yoshi-lnex

So did you pass geography class? I'm guessing not, but here's a newsflash, Indians come from India. Calling a Native American an Indian isn't the same as calling an African black, it's more like calling somebody who is asian white or........Indian as you seem to call people despite them not being indian.

P.C. needs to exist becouse of people like you, I don't think you ever stop to think "hey N.A.s aren't from india" or stop to think that you might be hurting people by calling them by certain names, and it's that lack of empathy that makes it absolutely nessasary.

But "Native" Americans aren't really native to America, they were nomadic.

But then again, the only people who are completely native are some of the African tribes that never moved as a people, since people originated from Africa.

This has always bothered me. Why are Native Americans called Indians? I always figured it was because when Colombus "discovered" America, he thought he was in India. So he called them Indians. And weve passed his ignorance down for generations. But the thing that confuses me is that they call THEMSELVES Indians... And they arent offended. So, is it ok to say if theyre ok with it? Im confused.

Witchsight

But "Native" Americans aren't really native to America, they were nomadic.

But then again, the only people who are completely native are some of the African tribes that never moved as a people, since people originated from Africa.

SunJian18

You realize that the entire continent is referred to as North "America" and not just the USA, right?

-Byshop

[QUOTE="SunJian18"]

But "Native" Americans aren't really native to America, they were nomadic.

But then again, the only people who are completely native are some of the African tribes that never moved as a people, since people originated from Africa.

Byshop

You realize that the entire continent is referred to as North "America" and not just the USA, right?

-Byshop

Yes, but since all originated in Africa one must conclude they somehow migrated there from some place other than the continent of America, North AND South America withstanding.

[QUOTE="Witchsight"]

This has always bothered me. Why are Native Americans called Indians? I always figured it was because when Colombus "discovered" America, he thought he was in India. So he called them Indians. And weve passed his ignorance down for generations. But the thing that confuses me is that they call THEMSELVES Indians... And they arent offended. So, is it ok to say if theyre ok with it? Im confused.

im_very_kind

Well "Indian" In its proper use means Peaople Of God. And considering Indians live in the way of the land, and of their god, why would they be offended. You should really look into these things before getting so worked up over nothing. Calling them Indians would in fact be the highest compliment to them.
Crimson_Faith

I think that's a bit of a reach. You're applying your own ideals to another people and assuming that they -shouldn't- be offended by them because it's a positive comparison.

-Byshop

Yes, but since all originated in Africa one must conclude they somehow migrated there from some place other than the continent of America, North AND South America withstanding.

SunJian18

Well if you wanted to go -that- far back we could just call everyone African and be done with it. :P

-Byshop

[QUOTE="Crimson_Faith"]

Well "Indian" In its proper use means Peaople Of God. And considering Indians live in the way of the land, and of their god, why would they be offended. You should really look into these things before getting so worked up over nothing. Calling them Indians would in fact be the highest compliment to them.
Byshop

I think that's a bit of a reach. You're applying your own ideals to another people and assuming that they -shouldn't- be offended by them because it's a positive comparison.

-Byshop

LMAO at your sig, I didn't read it until just now.