"Rusty Hook" wrote in message
...
Ken Janik wrote:

"The English word "squaw" was borrowed from the Algonquian language
family of a few Indian tribes in Canada and New England and first
appeared in the American vocabulary around 1634.1 It has been used in
literature and historical documents for much of this country’s history.
The Massachusett/Algonquian word means "young woman."

snip

You've fallen victim to actually believing the crap that the
loony left spouts...


For a link that has pretty good description of the word and its history:

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000317.html

For the benefit of those who do not follow the link, Squaw is not an
obscene word after all,

And it never has been. And that wasn't much of a secret. And it's never
been a racial slur. And that's no secret either.

but it is offensive most of the time,

Well, that's pretty hard to quantify. These days it is becoming offensive
to more and more people.....largely as a result of the sterling work done by
halfwits like Sanders, Peek, Harjo and Fortenberry, and the credulity of
people who should know better.....but "most of the time" is still debatable,
I think.

similar to words like Negress or Jewess;

In some respects, to be sure. In others it bears a resemblance to Frau,
Senora, Mrs., etc.

it is better to avoid its use whenever possible.

Somebody should inform the Navajo.

Here's an idea: Why not just say "woman" or "wife" it that is what you
mean to say?

That's exactly what Joe did. Um.....or are we objecting to his display of a
token of his heritage?

Anybody here ever see a big, ugly, nasty looking brute with a long greasy
beard and a ponytail loitering outside a Victoria's Secret store wearing a
T-shirt that says, "If you can read this the bitch fell off"?......and then,
just as you're about walk up and chastise the cad, out of the store walks a
big, ugly, nasty looking brute with a long greasy ponytail and more than a
hint of a moustache, wearing a T-shirt that says, "The Bitch"?

Wolfgang