I also don't want to read any more of Michael's replies, particularly on this issue (but also on others: see the comparing shadow swings to groping, etc). Several people have asked him to stop, but he won't. But I don't think "this list isn't working" just because some of us think one person is rude.
Maybe others disagree, and find his comments helpful. Great! To each their own. But I can't figure out a way to block receiving his emails without also blocking quite a bit of other traffic on this list. Has anybody else been able to do so? Moderators, would this be a feature that could be added? On Mon, Apr 4, 2016 at 9:43 AM, Ron Blechner via Callers < [email protected]> wrote: > I'm really tired of personal attacks here on Shared Weight, and a high > percentage comes from one person. > > I've asked Michael Fuerst to not contact me again. I've already cut down > my usage, but if we can't trade ideas without having them called "bizarre" > and "absurd", then this list isn't working. > On Apr 4, 2016 1:56 AM, "Michael Fuerst" <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Ron: >> >> "we're comparing our having fun traveling to various dances to the >> widespread persecution of an ethnicity (the worst being the Holocaust)." >> >> Maybe you do. No one else uses such bizarre logic. >> Conbtradancers as a group are about as left of center and >> non-discriminatory in their beliefs as any non-political group gets. >> Your suggestion is absurd >> >> >> Michael Fuerst 802 N Broadway Urbana IL 61801 217 239 5844 >> >> >> On Sunday, April 3, 2016 8:38 PM, Ron Blechner <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >> >> That article had a few interesting *new* points, for me. >> 1. That Roma are in the US, not just Europe, and face continued >> discrimination. >> 2. That Roma in the US often don't speak up about their identity out of >> fear of discrimination. >> 3. That perhaps the use of "gypsy" as a term isn't as bad as non-Roma >> self-identitying as "dance gypsies". Roma wander because they are >> persecuted or can't find work. When we talk about "dance gypsies" beig >> wandering from place to place, we're comparing our having fun traveling to >> various dances to the widespread persecution of an ethnicity (the worst >> being the Holocaust). >> On Apr 1, 2016 10:03 AM, "via Callers" <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >> I was thinking that very thing, but didn't have any experiences. >> Something I read recently pointed out that Romani people in Spain proudly >> refer to themselves as "Gitano" which translates to Gypsy. >> This is issue is not as cut and dry as many of us would like it to be. >> Thanks for sharing this story. >> >> ****************************************************************************************************** >> Amy Carroll >> [email protected] >> 206-330-7408 >> http://www.calleramy.com/ >> >> >> On April 1, 2016 at 9:02 AM Rich Sbardella <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >> There are still at least two sides to this argument. Although I am using >> the term less and less, I want to relate a recent experience. >> >> I was dancing in one of MA biggest contra venues as a caller walked the a >> dance with a "two eyed" turn. A dancer in my line became more than a >> little upset, yelling it "it's a gypsy". Turns out the dancer is Romani, >> and the term "gypsy" is one he proudly owns. >> >> I do not think the Roma people as a whole have come to a consensus. >> (For example, The Gypsy Kings proudly use the term as a reference to their >> heritage.) >> >> Rich Stafford >> >> >> On Fri, Apr 1, 2016 at 4:56 AM, Michael Fuerst via Callers < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >> Ms Carroll: >> >> Quite frankly a fairly useless article for us. >> Ms Raessi is "a Romani/Métis researcher and activist" so it seems >> logical that she dislikes the term gypsy. >> She lists alleged myths stereotypes about Romani people >> Every ethnic group has an associated set of myths and stereotypes. >> Every ethnic group tries to purge the negative stereotypes and retain the >> positive aspects of their heritage. >> Ms Raessi writes "many people find that using this term is wrong because >> it perpetuates misinformation about our origins" >> This makes little sense. Anyone person bigoted enough to entertain >> any of her alleged stereotypes has no idea about the origins of Romani >> people. >> >> Ms Raessi writes "...the term has been used as a racial slur and is >> loaded with stereotypes ..." >> Yes the word gypsy has been used to deprecate Romani people but over the >> years it evolved to mean a free-spirited or nomadic person. >> Other ethnic slurs (such as kike, chink, jap or nigger) have not >> similarly evolved, and thus their use remains offensive. >> This article discusses some English words or idioms that evolved from >> ethnic slurs: >> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/24/offensive-words-_n_4144472.html >> >> The ongoing discussion during the past year of the word gypsy has >> included claims that some persons of Romani descent embrace gypsy and its >> positive aspects of current usage, most don't care, and some hate the >> word. And of course only those who object will speak out. >> As long the common usage of gypsy keeps evolving towards a free-spirited >> or nomadic person, keeping it in the contra lexicon seems appropriate >> >> >> Michael Fuerst 802 N Broadway Urbana IL 61801 217 239 584 >> >> >> On Thursday, March 31, 2016 11:32 PM, via Callers < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> http://bellydanceu.net/culture/520/ >> "What's wrong with the Word 'Gypsy'?" >> >> ****************************************************************************************************** >> Amy Carroll >> [email protected] >> 206-330-7408 >> http://www.calleramy.com/ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >> >> >> >> > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > > -- David Casserly (cell) 781 258-2761
