The Chronicle: Colloquy: Responses

Mr. Schuster and Ms. Morigan are certainly correct. Now that the broader issues have been considered, let's get down to specifics, and details. I hope, then, they will answer a few questions for me.

1) How does a name given to a group (such as "Sioux") come to be the exclusive property of that group? Why do the people who bestowed the name not continue to own it?

2) Why, precisely, is the name "fighting Sioux," degrading to the Sioux who claim the name now" Is it because this is a stereotype which make the Sioux appear as savages? Is it invariably degrading for the Sioux to be know as "warriors" or "braves" for this reason? Are you saying that you may call yourself anything that you want to, but if others call you by that name it is thereby offensive?

: -- Melburn D. Thurman, none (posted 5/2, 4:15 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)

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