My Spring '09 recruitment!

[ellebud]

Please add: Marginalize or insults or defames a group of people. And the use of the word "unfortunate" is a credit to my mother who would use that word in the strongest possible way.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by honeychile

I find them equally offensive


Nor do I. I never heard the term until I was in high school, and even then, it was said very disparagingly.


VERY strange! I thought I had seen it all when it comes to vital documents! Yikes!


Seriously, for those of you all who think someone is flattered to be called a WASP, you are very mistaken. I can only imagine that using JAP would be so, too.

[/soapbox]

This is the state of California "Certificate of Live Birth" if you're interested, and right after the race or color box for my father, it asks what my father's present or last occupation was, and the next box is kind of industry or business. It has no place for the mother's profession. it also lists their birth places and social security numbers.

Originally Posted by BetteDavisEyes

I'm still trying to figure out if she was refering to JAPS (Jewish American Princess) or "japs" as in a deragatory remark towards the Japanese.

Either way, it's insulting as hell.

That's what I immediately thought too, but then again I was taught that it was a bad word when I was growing up. It was more widely used in the Continental US and not so much here, where the Japanese made up the majority of Hawaii's population for a long time.

[paulam]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

But some of her best friends are japs!

I have always despised that line, but here it seems very appropriate. The term JAP started out as a joke but became a real problem on campuses back in the late 70's and early 80's when Jewish women were taunted as they walked to class, to the dorms, to their sorority houses or just walked around. Not a joke anymore.

In my home, we always were told that Jewish fathers who had fought in WW11 pampered their daughters upon returning to the US because of the terrible atrocities committed upon young Jewish girls by the Nazis. It makes sense on some level. I know that some of these girls from my generation turned out to be very shallow and materialistic so I can see how the term JAP developed. But it is a very derogatory remark to attribute to an entire group of people. I certainly was never a JAP, although there were times when I wished I could have everything I wanted just by asking Daddy for it like some girls I knew. But my Dad was a wonderful, practical man who showed me how to appreciate what I did have and to work for what I wanted. There is nothing so satisfying as to earn your own rewards.

Speaking of jokes, this is so corny but I laughed anyway. A sorority sister sent this to me. I hope you'll laugh, too.

The Bee's Bar Mitzvah

Two bees met in a field. One said to the other, "How are things going?"

"Really bad," said the second bee. "The weather has been cold, wet and damp, and there aren't any flowers, so I can't make honey."

"No problem," said the first bee, "Just fly down five blocks and turn left. Keep going until you see all the cars. There's a Bar Mitzvah going on and there are all kinds of fresh flowers and fresh fruit."

"Thanks for the tip," said the second bee, and flew away.

A few hours later the two bees ran into each other again. The first bee asked, "How'd it go?"

"Great!" said the second bee. "It was everything you said it would be. There was plenty of fruit and, oh, such huge floral arrangements on every table."

"Uh, what's that thing on your head?" asked the first bee.

"That's my *yarmulke," said the second bee. "I didn't want them to think I was a wasp!"

*Skull cap worn by Orthodox Jews for the one or two who don't know what that is!

Paula M.
Sigma Delta Tau
ΣΔT
Patriae Multi Spes Una One Hope of Many People








Paula M.
Sigma Delta Tau
ΣΔT
Patriae Multi Spes Una One Hope of Many People

[ellebud]

thank you for the chuckle! I think that everyone needs one nowadays!

[fantASTic]

If the girls in that sorority refer to themselves as JAPs, then it is only fair that others be allowed to do the same. If they don't call themselves that, then they probably consider it offensive and it shouldn't be used.

[paulam]

Originally Posted by ellebud

thank you for the chuckle! I think that everyone needs one nowadays!

It is so silly but I couldn't help laughing! We all do need one now.

PaulaM
Sigma Delta Tau
Patrae Multi Spes Una
One Hope of Many People

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by paulam

It is so silly but I couldn't help laughing! We all do need one now.

PaulaM
Sigma Delta Tau
Patrae Multi Spes Una
One Hope of Many People

I would like to borrow it for an Orthodox friend of mine.

[sailboatgirl]

I think the term JAP is offensive. I am Jewish...my father treated me like a princess, but I am NOT a JAP.

Just my two cents.

Oh, and I loved the bee joke, too!

[ajmom3]

The term JAP is offensive but only to a point. It is an acronym for Jewish American Princess and used to describe a whiney, overindulged, rich (via parents) girl who is ultra materialistic, shallow and usually "elitist". That said, many true JAPS that I know secretly are proud to be considered in that category. There is a certain JAP uniform look as well (straight hair...usually chemically done, perfect sized bought and paid for nose, designer pocketbooks, tight expensive jeans paired with stilletto heals and too much gaudy but gold jewelry).

[ellebud]

....Jewish girls have, without intervention from various professionals, frizzy hair, big noses, overdone taste in jewelry, and too tight clothes? Hmmmmmmm