It's just sad that the generation ahead of us set up that conotation for the word Jap. I believe it's human nature to shorten things up to make things quicker, etc. It's easier to say Swede than Swedish, etc.

Brit is short for Britain, Aussie is short for Australian. I would even say when typing, other people might have written "that's a Germ car" and everyone would know what he meant. And when describing a car, like I did, I said that it was a Jap car. Not to be mean. Jap is short for Japanese. The Japanese have a stellar image to us later Americans, definitely, the country of Japan produces quality cars. I certainly wasn't saying "that was a @E# damn Jap car". That would be easily distinquished as rude and offensive. The former use should initially be overlooked in my opinion and in the long run can help change the old meaning into something to be proud of.
Once again, I think the generations ahead of us made that word a "no use" word. We just can't use it; although it's natural and generic

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JHaburay

1972 280se 4.5 "princess"
1986 2.3-16v first 100 (099) USA

Tough, even tougher to handle it with class when it happens. Kat's a genuine gentleman.

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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

Exactly, I don't see how being sensitive towards potentially racially (or ethnically, or gender-ly, or whatever) words is any different than exercising some basic manners in a social context. You might hate having to say "please, pass the salt" at a social gathering, or "excuse me, may I make a comment" at a business meeting, but it's all sort of expected because it makes personal interactions so much easier and pleasant. And to some degree that kind of stuff reflects on people's character.

I agree that it's sad, but one thing to keep in mind is that it's not just mean words we're talking about here. The term "Jap" connotes an entire history of seriously unequal treatment towards a group of people based on skin color and ethnic origin. Don't forget that, during WWII, large groups of Japanese-American citizens were deprived of liberty and property, and forced to live in camps surrounded by barbed wire for the majority of the war. They were portrayed as less than human by some in the media and in the military (remember the phrase "Kill Japs, kill Japs, kill more Japs"?), and none got recognition or restitution for their loss of basic civil rights until over 40 years later.

This all sounds overly dramatic. But when I hear that word carelessly tossed about, it is either a reminder of a time when Japanese Americans were blatantly discriminated against, or an indication that the person using the word doesn't know the history and doesn't care.

That being said, the fact that you ARE concerned about it speaks volumes about your sensitivity to the issue.

I did not know all that. Wow!
It's sad though, cause it's a pretty cool word.

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JHaburay

1972 280se 4.5 "princess"
1986 2.3-16v first 100 (099) USA

It's amazing how so many people get worked up over a word, or hell, I'lll digress, how many people get worked up over a sports team, or the missing suburbanite of the week, who don't pay attention to actual, physically harmful things going on in the country and the world.

Political correctness is a smokescreen for distracting from the things that matter, IMHO.

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http://webwench.net/albums/new83-300...1700.thumb.jpg
1983 300D-T
348,000 miles

for perspective, my father-in-law is a 100% Japanese. He is an eighty nine yr. old WWII veteran. He was attacked by the Japanese while in Hawaii during the infamous Pearl Harbor assault. He still refers to them as the Japs just the same as his WWII buddies did. Though he is 100% Japanese, he considers himself to be 100% American. He does not allow himself to be labeled in an hyphenated fashion.