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Brian Chin's Weblog surveys the Web to spot what people are talking about ...
September 07, 2005The 'refugee' debateFor the past several days, there's been an ongoing debate in media circles about whether it's appropriate to describe the many thousands of people displaced by Hurricane Katrina as "refugees." By some dictionary definitions, they certainly qualify: says a refugee may simply be "one that flees to a place of safety," according to Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged. Other definitions, including the one used by the United Nations, stipulate that a refugee must flee across an international border or be otherwise "unable, or ... unwilling to avail himself of the protection" of his homeland. By those standards, they may not qualify. Beyond the official definitions, however, the word carries "socio-psycho-linguistic implications," as UW sociology professor Albert Black puts it. And news outlets across the nation are hearing from people who object to calling Katrina's victims "refugees." Several, including the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, have responded by banning the use of the word in this context. As P-I Managing Editor David McCumber put it in a memo to staff: To use the term "refugee" to describe someone taking refuge elsewhere after Hurricane Katrina does not to me seem in any way racist. But how I see it isn't the point. A significant group of people finds the word objectionable in this context, and there are several other perfectly good words to use -- evacuee, flood victim, etc. We will use those words. However, you may still see Katrina evacuees described as "refugees" here on SeattlePI.com. We get most of our stories about the aftermath of Katrina through an automated Associated Press feed which is not reviewed or edited by P-I staff before it appears online. And the AP does not plan to stop using the word: "The AP is using the term 'refugee' where appropriate to capture the sweep and scope of the effects of this historic natural disaster on a vast number of our citizens," said [AP] Executive Editor Kathleen Carroll. "Several hundred thousand people have been uprooted from their homes and communities and forced to seek refuge in more than 30 different states across America. Until such time as they are able to take up new lives in their new communities or return to their former homes, they will be refugees." If you have thoughts about the matter, please share them in our related SoundOff, or cast a quick vote in our daily poll before midnight. Category: Site insightsPosted by Brian Chin at September 7, 2005 09:25 AM Comments
"A Sense of Duty" traces Quang X. Pham’s uniquely spirited yet agonizing journey from the Vietnam War to the Gulf War, from his experiences as an uprooted refugee to his becoming a combat aviator, and his many incarnations in between. It reveals the turmoil of a family torn apart and reunited by the fortunes of war. It is an American journey like no other. "A Sense of Duty" traces Quang X. Pham’s uniquely spirited yet agonizing journey from the Vietnam War to the Gulf War, from his experiences as an uprooted refugee to his becoming a combat aviator, and his many incarnations in between. It reveals the turmoil of a family torn apart and reunited by the fortunes of war. It is an American journey like no other. "A Sense of Duty" traces Quang X. Pham’s uniquely spirited yet agonizing journey from the Vietnam War to the Gulf War, from his experiences as an uprooted refugee to his becoming a combat aviator, and his many incarnations in between. It reveals the turmoil of a family torn apart and reunited by the fortunes of war. It is an American journey like no other. "A Sense of Duty" traces Quang X. Pham’s uniquely spirited yet agonizing journey from the Vietnam War to the Gulf War, from his experiences as an uprooted refugee to his becoming a combat aviator, and his many incarnations in between. It reveals the turmoil of a family torn apart and reunited by the fortunes of war. It is an American journey like no other. Alright, your blogs hitting the big-time when comment spam shows up. Congratulations! Posted by: Wow at September 7, 2005 02:19 PMPeople who think of "Refugee" as a rascist comment are uneducated hate mongers. These people are to busy makeing a big deal out of a simple and technically correct word to see the big issue that these people still need help. I mean really this is not a U.N. issue so why would we use a U.N. dictionary unless to nit-pick. It's a common sense thing people only say things like that to get attention...and belive it or not but stupid stu·pid I believe pointless comes into play in this one. People who think of "Refugee" as a rascist comment are uneducated hate mongers. These people are to busy makeing a big deal out of a simple and technically correct word to see the big issue that these people still need help. I mean really this is not a U.N. issue so why would we use a U.N. dictionary unless to nit-pick. It's a common sense thing people only say things like that to get attention...and belive it or not but stupid stu·pid I believe pointless comes into play in this one. People who think of "Refugee" as a rascist comment are uneducated hate mongers. These people are to busy makeing a big deal out of a simple and technically correct word to see the big issue that these people still need help. I mean really this is not a U.N. issue so why would we use a U.N. dictionary unless to nit-pick. It's a common sense thing people only say things like that to get attention...and belive it or not but stupid stu·pid I believe pointless comes into play in this one. Post a comment
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