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forintegrity Donating Member (449 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 10:14 PM
Original message
STOP using the word refugee!!!
The American Heritage Dictionary: a refugee is a person who flees usually to another country for refuge

These are AMERICAN citizens!!!

Call them victims. That's what they are, victims of a natural disaster called Hurricane Katrina!

STOP THE REFUGEE STUFF, ALREADY....IT'S REALLY BEGINNING TO PISS ME OFF!!!

:rant:
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Maple Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 10:15 PM
Response to Original message
1. That's what they are
as upsetting as that is to you.

Refugees
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forintegrity Donating Member (449 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 10:17 PM
Response to Reply #1
7. No, they aren't
refugees refer to people from ANOTHER country
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Maple Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 10:25 PM
Response to Reply #7
17. It refers to anyone
who flees trouble and danger and death seeking refuge.

YOU are using it to refer to people from ANOTHER country.

Because, of course, nothing like this could ever happen in the USA

There is more than one meaning to a word ya know.

Although it could be argued that blacks inhabit 'another country'... you'll have enough to deal with when the govt establishes 'refugee camps' in America
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bananas Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 11:21 PM
Response to Reply #17
32. Merriam-Webster: "one that flees"
What's the fuss about?
Is there some negative connotation to "refugee" I'm missing?
None of the definitions given restrict it to people from a different country.

Merriam-Webster: "one that flees"
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=refugee
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Malikshah Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 10:16 PM
Response to Original message
2. Stop the threads on Semantics!!!!!
There. It had to be said for the umpteenth time. :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:


Oh. I win. I have more emoticons.
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The Magistrate Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 10:19 PM
Response to Reply #2
10. Is That How It Is Determined, Sir?
Thank you for the grin.

But you have the right of it, in my view. Ir is a small point at best, and most people understand the term simply as indicating people seeking, and in need of, refuge, from some calamity or other, whatever its technical definition.
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Malikshah Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 10:21 PM
Response to Reply #10
13. But of course, Magistrate--
Emoticons are as emoticons do.
An emoticon by any other name would be as pretentious.

I agree it is a small issue that diverts attention from issues of raising funds, speaking truth to power, and making sure the bastards pay.
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Kire Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 10:28 PM
Response to Reply #2
19. Amen
if we had "my posts" back, I'd link you to a previous thread where everybody finally agreed that "refugee" is okay

they are fleeing from political persecution

the barbarous neglect of FEMA IS political persecution
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seemslikeadream Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 11:07 PM
Response to Reply #19
28. What are you talking about?
I'd sure like to see that thread
You're not talking about this one are you?


STOP CALLING THESE PEOPLE REFUGEES.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4579276&mesg_id=4579276

Cause I don't see any sort of agreement here
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NYC Liberal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 11:09 PM
Response to Reply #19
29. No, they are fleeing from the HURRICANE.
There may be political persecution, but they are fleeing from the hurricane. Or the aftermath of the hurricane, whatever.
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valerief Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 10:16 PM
Response to Original message
3. The press was calling them insurgents for a while, too
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pitohui Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 10:16 PM
Response to Original message
4. evacuee?
Edited on Sun Sep-04-05 10:17 PM by pitohui
i did call myself a refugee today & i was corrected by a family member, apparently the correct term is evacuee


victim is a little over-used, i mean, some say i'm already a fashion victim

oh yeah, to the other poster, i did see a news story referring to "insurgents," i'm like wtf?
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TheFriar Donating Member (71 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 10:18 PM
Response to Reply #4
8. that's good (nt)
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bpilgrim Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 11:05 PM
Response to Reply #4
26. much more accurate, imho n/t
:hi:

peace
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TheFriar Donating Member (71 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 10:17 PM
Response to Original message
5. what do we call them?
Just asking. Refugee doesn't seem to apply, according to dictionary.com.
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journalist3072 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 10:19 PM
Response to Reply #5
11. I think the proper term should be "displaced Americans." eom
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beam me up scottie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 10:17 PM
Response to Original message
6. STOP telling people what to do!
And STOP being disingenuous!

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

refugee

SYLLABICATION: ref·u·gee
PRONUNCIATION: rfy-j
NOUN: One who flees in search of refuge, as in times of war, political oppression, or religious persecution.
ETYMOLOGY: French réfugié, from past participle of réfugier, to take refuge, from Old French, from refuge, refuge. See refuge.

http://www.bartleby.com/61/7/R0120700.html
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NYC Liberal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 10:20 PM
Response to Reply #6
12. "times of war, political oppression, or religious persecution"
This isn't a war, and there isn't "political oppression" or "religious persecution."
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rainbow4321 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 10:23 PM
Response to Reply #12
16. Genocide should count as something....n/t
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NYC Liberal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 10:27 PM
Response to Reply #16
18. That may have/be taking place
But they were and are fleeing BECAUSE OF the hurricane.

The government's lack of help is not WHY they are leaving.

"Refugee" is a term describing those that are fleeing for a very particular and specific reason, hence the definition above.
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beam me up scottie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 10:32 PM
Response to Reply #12
22. Did you skip the "as in" on purpose?
Or do you just not understand it?
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NYC Liberal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 10:59 PM
Response to Reply #22
23. No, I understood it quite well, thanks. nt
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Guaranteed Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 11:06 PM
Response to Reply #6
27. YES. Fucking SICK of that shit.
Unless you have a DAMNED good reason, STOP POLICING OTHERS' DICTION.

Why the FUCK do liberals do that?

You'd better be framing an issue a helluva lot better than this if you're going to keep telling people what words to use. FUCK that.
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LoZoccolo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 10:18 PM
Response to Original message
9. Did you post this before?
Tell the truth.
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forintegrity Donating Member (449 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 10:22 PM
Response to Reply #9
15. no
i didn't
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Kire Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 10:29 PM
Response to Reply #15
20. don't do it again
please
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rainbow4321 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 10:22 PM
Response to Original message
14. There are several definitions:
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=refugee


3 entries found for refugee.
ref·u·gee ( P ) Pronunciation Key (rfy-j)
n.
One who flees in search of refuge, as in times of war, political oppression, or religious persecution.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Main Entry: ref·u·gee
Pronunciation: "re-fyu-'jE
Function: noun
: an individual seeking refuge or asylum; especially : an individual who has left his or her native country and is unwilling or unable to return to it because of persecution or fear of persecution (as because of race, religion, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion)

Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.

refugee

n : an exile who flees for safety

Source: WordNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University

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Catherine Vincent Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 10:29 PM
Response to Original message
21. All the freeway signs in Houston and elsewhere have "Evacuees"
I prefer that than refugee.
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Occulus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 11:00 PM
Response to Original message
24. Operative word: USUALLY n/t
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NYC Liberal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 11:03 PM
Response to Original message
25. How about: we don't call them "refugees" or "evacuees" or "survivors"
How about we just call them goddamn PEOPLE!! :mad:
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PurityOfEssence Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 11:13 PM
Response to Original message
30. You are SO INCREDIBLY WRONG
People fleeing something in order to find refuge are refugees. If it annoys you that this country might be portrayed as disrupted and in crisis, then learn to deal with reality.

Those in flight, having run away from strife are specifically refugees. Face it.

Funny thing for a low-poster to get all twisty about...
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seemslikeadream Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 11:16 PM
Response to Reply #30
31. So do you believe the Black Caucus and the former mayor of NO are wrong?
Edited on Sun Sep-04-05 11:21 PM by seemslikeadream
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9176113/

http://www.startribune.com/stories/125/5593643.html

and it is not nice to comment on a members post count
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Guaranteed Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 11:36 PM
Response to Reply #30
34. Not questioning loyalty here, but in choosing between
"refugees" and " evacuees" in a situation like this, especially politically, I'll choose "refugees."

It's not up to us to play DOWN the situation that the people in New Orleans are facing.
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smartvoter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 11:29 PM
Response to Original message
33. 1. Selective definition. 2. We've got bigger issues to worry about.nt
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Ms. Toad Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Sep-04-05 11:47 PM
Response to Original message
35. Since at least one right wing talk show host
is complaining about the liberal media's use of the term refugees, it's obviously pushing a button with them. Generally, when a particular way of framing an issue pushes their buttons it's an effective frame (something the left side of the political spectrum doesn't always do well).

It is accurate, and it is certainly better than homeless, which was the term being used early in the week.
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