I know you can't be faulted for following the usage of practically the whole USA, but the practice of calling white people "Caucasian" really annoys me. It's supposed to be more "politically correct" than simply saying "white", but the identification of white people with the Caucasus (i.e. the area of Eurasia between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea) is based on an extremely racist theory of anthropology from the late 18th century. So it's not only factually incorrect (except when applied to people from Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, southern Russia, and the surrounding areas), it's also morally far worse than saying "white". You might as well say "non-niggers".
If you don't like "white", then "ethnic Europeans" or something like it is probably the best option.
</rant>
If you don't like "white", then "ethnic Europeans" or something like it is probably the best option.
</rant>
Thank you for pointing this out. The category is "White and Caucasian," those are not synonyms.
Also, "white" and "black" are not dirty words.
Lately I'm getting the impression that the Europeans here are better versed in the niceties of the English language than Americans.
EDIT: And now I read (briefly) the article you linked. Didn't know that! How ironic that the history of the word means "lightest" while the Caucasian people are quite dark skinned.
This message last edited by Aeryn on 23/04/2012 at 03:32:05 PM
This would be an interesting poll question...
- 19/04/2012 09:48:24 PM
661 Views
I'm mexican. *NM*
- 19/04/2012 09:51:18 PM
189 Views
Well I'm white Anglo-Irish with a bit of French, Spanish and Scottish mixed in.
- 20/04/2012 09:49:12 PM
495 Views
I could not correctly be described as Caucasian. I have no connection to the Caucasus.
- 22/04/2012 09:24:36 PM
647 Views
Caucasian is plain incorrect to describe "white"
- 23/04/2012 03:28:53 PM
489 Views