[mplpost] "Limey" racial slur?

[lcopple@igs.net]

Hi Pat

Its accurate.  Tony was in the British Navy before he emigrated 
here (and married me).  I also asked him if limey is offensive and 
he laughed and said 'no' its about the same as being called a 
Canuck.  Mind you it may depend on how sensitive the English 
person being spoken about is. 

Cheers
Laurie-Ann 
http://www.ncf.ca/~eh202/window.html

On 17 Jan 2004, at 18:46, Pat Moore Music wrote:

> I happen to have a guest in my house from Britain.  I asked him if he
> felt Limey was a racial slur.  He said "certainly not".   Where does
> it come from?  His response: During the Napoleonic war, it was the
> British who discovered that eating limes prevented scurvy when on ship
> for extended periods of time.  The British naval crew became nicknamed
> "limey" because of their habit of eating limes.
> 
> is this accurate?  I don't know, but it sounds good to me.
> Pat
> 
> patmoore@patmoore.net
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Richard Flohil" <rflohil@sympatico.ca>
> To: <maplepost@icomm.ca>
> Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2004 5:47 PM
> Subject: [mplpost] "Limey" racial slur?
> 
> 
> > Wrote Stephen L:
> >
> > >
> > >Richard, leaving aside the rest of your posting, let me ask you to
> > >watch your language. You may or may not have  thought about your
> > >use of the word "limey", but you chose to use it. I (and I know
> > >there are others) take this word as an ethnic slur, perhaps even a
> > >racial insult.
> >
> > I have no comment, since I AM a Limey, born and bred in the UK
> > (English mom, Dutch dad), and at the  risk of further possible
> > political incorrectness I feel I can call myself one. Just as Afro
> > Americans, in their own communities, cheerfully refer to themselves
> > by the N word. And if you don't believe me, buy any current rap
> > record!
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Richard
> >
> > --
> >
> > Richard Flohil & Associates
> > 60 McGill St., Toronto ON M5B 1H2
> > 416 351 1323
> > rflohil@sympatico.ca
> >
> > "Always borrow from pessimists; they don't expect it back." - Les
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> 
> 
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Laurie-Ann Copple, radio host
Window of Opportunity, CKCU 93.1 FM
61 Highmont Court
Kanata  ON  K2T 1B2
http://www.ncf.ca/~eh202/window.html
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