We got the Civil Rights Commision Called on US

[Imprl59]

I can't imagine anything more racist than suggesting someone change their name to a something that sounds more American. I'm just floored by this post.

Steve B.

[MoonChild2007]

Reverse racism I love it. She is all offended about the asian name but yet she wants him to have an "american" name. She is aware that he is from ANOTHER COUNTRY right?

But right, everybody in america HAS to be american

This reminds me of the time, this crazy woman was complaining that she had to press 1 for English because she is american and that she is much better than people who speak another language. Frankly, I didn't bother fighting with her cause frankly, she is not worth my time.

[Can I Help Your A$$?]

Is this Canada? I mean, the fun SC's can have making complaints with them--they're scary these days!

[edible_hat]

That boy should change his name 'cuase he's in America now and he should have an american name, one that is not so racist.

So change his name to Kettle. Then page him like this:

"Kettle to the front, a customer named Pot said you're black."

[Soulstealer]

I have a name that Americans can't seem to say properly no matter how many times I try to help. At one point I thought about changing it because living for so many years in the States it annoyed me, unfortuantly the ones I liked weren't American and would probably not be easy to prounounce either

I get how your stock boy feels, sometimes a foreign name causes problems outside your home country. I've tried nicknames but these days it feels weird to be called anything but my name, even if it is mispronounced. So yay for your DM making sure to let him know that his name is just as valid.

[Fandangoose]

Are you sure the word wasn't "gook"?

"Gook" is a slur against Asians. "Spook" is a slur against African-Americans. Just for the record, I hate racism with a passion, as I'm sure most folks do. Why are people so afraid of those who are different than themselves?

[ThePhoneGoddess]

I had a good friend when I lived in Santa Fe, he was an old neighbor of mine. He was in his late 50's, a black guy originally from Washington DC who'd lived in San Francisco for many years. He regularly referred to himself and other black people as 'spooks'. I assumed it to be something they used on themselves, I had no idea it was considered offensive.

[Anriana]

My partner is Asian. His mom's name is Kunthiros, with a hard K. She picked Debbie as an American name, and most other people in his family have "Asian" names and "American" names as well. Yeah, the names aren't American in origin, but what else should they be called? "English names?" Most of them aren't of English origin either. "Western names" sounds dumb.

That said, it is ridiculously obnoxious to even suggest that someone has an obligation to pick an American name because you don't like their birth name.

[JustADude]

"Western names" sounds dumb.

Yeah, and they're not "Western" names either. I mean, that's like Clint, John, Tex, Luke, Hank, etc.




Seriously, though, I've hardly had any trouble pronouncing most names except for the Orient region of Asia, excluding Japan and China. That's my problem, though, and stems from a lack of exposure to the pronunciation rules for those languages. I'm not going to even suggest someone to use a different name for my sake, unless it's something completely unsalvageable. For example, the name "Fuk Yu" can be solved simply by calling the person "Yu" and "Won Suk" by calling the person "Won" (or Wonton, if you're close friends who can joke like that), but "Fuk Suk"... yeah... not so easy.

[friendofjimmyk]

Some of the responses to the OP are making me think of that scene in Clerks 2 where he wants to bring back a certain phrase because he doesn't believe its a racial slur.

My grandmother, who is a full blooded Cicilian woman, absolutely HATES the term "WOP". She doesn't mind "dago" too much, but let her hear "WOP" - even on television and she gets upset.

(WOP means Without Papers)

Even my first name is not "american" if you want to get all technical, its Scottish - I think. My last name is Spanish.

When I got married, my husband's grandfather asked how to spell my maiden name, I spelled it out for him - its not really a hard one at all - and he stated, "Boy, I bet you can't wait to get married to get rid of THAT name". I'm sure he didn't mean any harm, but I was offended. I just let it slide.

[MoxisPilot]

Some of the responses to the OP are making me think of that scene in Clerks 2 where he wants to bring back a certain phrase because he doesn't believe its a racial slur.

My grandmother, who is a full blooded Cicilian woman, absolutely HATES the term "WOP". She doesn't mind "dago" too much, but let her hear "WOP" - even on television and she gets upset.

(WOP means Without Papers)

Even my first name is not "american" if you want to get all technical, its Scottish - I think. My last name is Spanish.

When I got married, my husband's grandfather asked how to spell my maiden name, I spelled it out for him - its not really a hard one at all - and he stated, "Boy, I bet you can't wait to get married to get rid of THAT name". I'm sure he didn't mean any harm, but I was offended. I just let it slide.

"It's okay! I'm taking it back! "

...I'm such a Randall-nerd.

[dawnfire]

Coon is a racial slur?

here is aus it's a brand of cheese and a not bad on either

[Primer]

I'm showing my age here, but...

I think it's great that so many of these slurs are losing their place in the collective awareness of society! I recognized all of them for what they once were, and am happy that slowly they will be no more.

Any more, and I will be in fratching territory.

[Fungus]

This lady needs to be voted off the planet.

[BlaqueKatt]

but "Fuk Suk"... yeah... not so easy.

I think that would be fook Sook long u sound