Glenn said:
From a Brit to an American I don't think it's offensive. I think usually it's just a joke or a lighthearted term of endearment. But I think that the way that some people in the southern US use it to contemptfully refer to people from the northeast it can be considered offensive. I'm just guessing, though. I've never actually seen anyone get offended by being called a "Yankee."
I'm generally not offened by this word, but the way mecharmor23 is using it seems to me be very derogatory. The way this person expresses their rant shows it was meant to be offensive.
If the Yank has the right to use insulting words such as "J*p", "N*p", "chi*k", "yellow man" etc, then I as a deeply offended asian have the right to at least use the word Yank in return.
Who in the world said anybody has the right to use such demeaning terms. Yes, in America people have the right to free speech, but that doesn't make it ok to use such offensive slurs towards a group of people. If someone calls me a "honkey," that doesn't give me the right to retaliate back at them with a racial slur. I don't lower myself to that level, and hey racism exists everywhere in this world. However, you do not have to tolerate this type of abuse, and I most certainly do not.
Anyways, to get back to the subject of the states states being divided, I believe that is absolutely true, and it may not change anytime soon. Now, I am going to sound critical here, but don't get it twisted I love my American people. However, I believe there are far too many closed minded Americans, who focus only on what is going on in the US, and are oblivious to what's going on in the rest of the world. These people have little knowledge about other cultures or values, and they are not very likely to be open to a different point of view (They are more or less stuborn). Many of these people think that since currently have have the biggest economy, military, and higher Power Purchasing Parity(Standard of living) we will continue to be on top of everything forever. They are going to be in for some very big suprises down the line, because the dollar is still gradually devaluating, and eventually we are not going to be the biggest economic power anymore, because China is going to take that over. This doesn't mean that we will become a poor nation, it is just going through a cycle. China will eventually come to the same status that we are at now, and thus the cycle will keep on rotating.
My point is as Americans, we are probably the least likely to know what's going on in the world compared to Europeans, Asians, Middle Eastern, etc. We need to change that around and make ourselves more knowledgeable with an "International Perspective" and not just a domestic one. That is one of the main causes of 9-11, we weren't really inept to what was happening outside the US, and caught off gaurd as we were, this tradegy was bestowed upon us. I just feel if you have a better understanding on what is happening in the world, then you will probably be able to have a better understanding of other cultures as well. A better understanding for people will decrease racism and fear of other cultures. Will this ever happen, I couldn't tell you, but if people had a broader perspective, they wouldn't be as closed minded I think.....
