San Diego council bans the word 'minority'
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- The City Council eliminated San Diego's "minority"
population Monday, ruling the word is disparaging and voting unanimously to
ban it from city documents and discussions.
"When you see all people as children of God, you then see all people as your
brothers and sisters," said Mayor Dick Murphy.
The city's Rules Committee recommended the ban last month.
In supporting it, Councilman George Stevens said people sometimes expect less
of those who are labeled members of minority groups. Fellow Councilman Ralph
Inzunza Jr. said the term no longer applies because the latest U.S. Census
figures show some areas don't have one predominant racial group.
Several people who favored the ban also spoke at Monday's council meeting.
"To have that term really made me feel inferior," said Robert Ito, who
identified himself as a fourth-generation Japanese-American.
Only one person opposed eliminating the term.
"Each of us is born a minority of one and shall die that way," said Pacific
Beach activist Al Strohlein.
The action follows the lead of the San Diego Unified School District, which
approved a policy in 1988 of avoiding the use of the words "majority" and
"minority."
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