This is just for Silvio510!

[edblysard]

Odd, I didnt think the word negro would cause a problem.

Black dosnt fit, he isnt, he is dark creamed coffee in color, but then, I am a rudy cream color, so I am not really " white".

For me, the terms black and white carry not only a lot of racial seperation, but the connotations of good and bad.

White knight saves the day battling the black knight, black associated with evil or bad, ill will, things of that nature.

I was trying to describe him, not set him apart in a sense of race, I meant negro more in the medical term.
Negro being someone who has dense, dark and tightly curled hair, and heavly pigmented skin.

I could have called him African- American,(hes not, his people are from Madrid)

I could have refered to him as colored, which also has a lot of racial overtones, especially way down south here.

I try not to describe people by the "color" of their skin, and as poitically correct as "black" currently is, it just dosnt sit well with me, nor does it describe him.

Had I used the word black, would the description have been more accurate?

In fact, I just realized instead of negro, I could have used the term, "negroid in physical character".

Black, throught its use as a descriptive word, brings to mind people of African descent, as its usage in the media and the political sense seems primarly aimed at that group, and its overuse has left the mental image of a African as the typical "black" person.

They are not, of course, the only people with the physical traits or darkly pigminted skin associated with that word, there are Cubans, Hatians, quite a few of the Caribean peoples, and several the Polynesians.

This guy looks more Egyptian than anything else.

Sorry, thorugh an attempt at economy in words, I used a single word to describe someone, when it appears I shoud have used several sentences to be more accurate.
The closest I can come is a darker Anwar Sadat, as this guy has the same fine, thin facial features.

To those offended, I offer my most sencere appology.

I was not attempting to define this man by race, but by physical appearances.

Had I not used a word like that, the image of a shirtless man, covered with pink splotchs, with a mohawk that is black at the roots, orange on top, leaping around the side of the candy machine, all hunched over, screaming "bright light, bright light", and the kid hitting the doors before the box he was holding hit the floor wouldnt have made too much sense or been anywhere near as funny.

So I know next time, and I am not being a smart aleck, what word do you guys recommond I should have used?

Stay Frosty,
Ed

[edblysard]

Odd, I didnt think the word negro would cause a problem.

Black dosnt fit, he isnt, he is dark creamed coffee in color, but then, I am a rudy cream color, so I am not really " white".

For me, the terms black and white carry not only a lot of racial seperation, but the connotations of good and bad.

White knight saves the day battling the black knight, black associated with evil or bad, ill will, things of that nature.

I was trying to describe him, not set him apart in a sense of race, I meant negro more in the medical term.
Negro being someone who has dense, dark and tightly curled hair, and heavly pigmented skin.

I could have called him African- American,(hes not, his people are from Madrid)

I could have refered to him as colored, which also has a lot of racial overtones, especially way down south here.

I try not to describe people by the "color" of their skin, and as poitically correct as "black" currently is, it just dosnt sit well with me, nor does it describe him.

Had I used the word black, would the description have been more accurate?

In fact, I just realized instead of negro, I could have used the term, "negroid in physical character".

Black, throught its use as a descriptive word, brings to mind people of African descent, as its usage in the media and the political sense seems primarly aimed at that group, and its overuse has left the mental image of a African as the typical "black" person.

They are not, of course, the only people with the physical traits or darkly pigminted skin associated with that word, there are Cubans, Hatians, quite a few of the Caribean peoples, and several the Polynesians.

This guy looks more Egyptian than anything else.

Sorry, thorugh an attempt at economy in words, I used a single word to describe someone, when it appears I shoud have used several sentences to be more accurate.
The closest I can come is a darker Anwar Sadat, as this guy has the same fine, thin facial features.

To those offended, I offer my most sencere appology.

I was not attempting to define this man by race, but by physical appearances.

Had I not used a word like that, the image of a shirtless man, covered with pink splotchs, with a mohawk that is black at the roots, orange on top, leaping around the side of the candy machine, all hunched over, screaming "bright light, bright light", and the kid hitting the doors before the box he was holding hit the floor wouldnt have made too much sense or been anywhere near as funny.

So I know next time, and I am not being a smart aleck, what word do you guys recommond I should have used?

Stay Frosty,
Ed

[Mookie]

Maybe ask him what he prefers?

Mook

[Mookie]

Maybe ask him what he prefers?

Mook

[edblysard]

Thats part of the problem, after several discussion about many diverse subjects, we never broached the subject.
His color dosnt seem to be a issue with him, and never was with me, so it never came up.
I have heard him refer to (space left blank) men as blacks, and he seemed to be refering to another group, excluding himself from said group.
Next chance I get, I will ask him.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[edblysard]

Thats part of the problem, after several discussion about many diverse subjects, we never broached the subject.
His color dosnt seem to be a issue with him, and never was with me, so it never came up.
I have heard him refer to (space left blank) men as blacks, and he seemed to be refering to another group, excluding himself from said group.
Next chance I get, I will ask him.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[Anonymous]

Ed ... about Anwar Sadat ...

His assassination set Middle East Peace back decades if not longer. I truly admired him, he was a good leader, a good man. I think much more of him than I did his Israeli counterpart. Don't be offended here about Mr. B. But the other nations just don't seem to learn. YOU DON'T MESS WITH GOD'S CHOOSEN PEOPLE. Isn't is funny how such a small nation can stand tall amoung such other larger nations! It isn't rocket science--there is a power watching over them. Sure they have bad things happening to them and always will until ...

[Anonymous]

Ed ... about Anwar Sadat ...

His assassination set Middle East Peace back decades if not longer. I truly admired him, he was a good leader, a good man. I think much more of him than I did his Israeli counterpart. Don't be offended here about Mr. B. But the other nations just don't seem to learn. YOU DON'T MESS WITH GOD'S CHOOSEN PEOPLE. Isn't is funny how such a small nation can stand tall amoung such other larger nations! It isn't rocket science--there is a power watching over them. Sure they have bad things happening to them and always will until ...

[Anonymous]

Ed ... about the word colored ... reminds me of a story (here we go again--Jim and his stories)

One of my best college friends was Eric--Eric was black. I had seniority among student and could choose my room and my roommate. Every student wanted an "end room" because they were 1/2 again as large as the normal rooms. So naturally I choose one. Eric was of course my roommate. Not because we had to be but because we wanted to be. I was a basketball team manager and Eric was a player. The other team manager was Amy. One day Amy was showing a possible b-team recruit around the gym and came across me doing something (what I don't remember) she introduced he and I and made the statement that Eric my roommate was colored. I looked at her and told her Eric was NOT COLORED. She looked at me like I should be committed. Her mouth dropped to the floor. She was dumbfounded. [:0] [:0] [:0] Then I told her that Eric was black. She just didn't know what to say to that, so she just continued her tour. Later that day I told Eric about the conversation and he about fell out. It became a joke between he and I that he was a "rainbow person". [:D] [:D] [:D]

[Anonymous]

Ed ... about the word colored ... reminds me of a story (here we go again--Jim and his stories)

One of my best college friends was Eric--Eric was black. I had seniority among student and could choose my room and my roommate. Every student wanted an "end room" because they were 1/2 again as large as the normal rooms. So naturally I choose one. Eric was of course my roommate. Not because we had to be but because we wanted to be. I was a basketball team manager and Eric was a player. The other team manager was Amy. One day Amy was showing a possible b-team recruit around the gym and came across me doing something (what I don't remember) she introduced he and I and made the statement that Eric my roommate was colored. I looked at her and told her Eric was NOT COLORED. She looked at me like I should be committed. Her mouth dropped to the floor. She was dumbfounded. [:0] [:0] [:0] Then I told her that Eric was black. She just didn't know what to say to that, so she just continued her tour. Later that day I told Eric about the conversation and he about fell out. It became a joke between he and I that he was a "rainbow person". [:D] [:D] [:D]

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Thats part of the problem, after several discussion about many diverse subjects, we never broached the subject.
His color dosnt seem to be a issue with him, and never was with me, so it never came up.
I have heard him refer to (space left blank) men as blacks, and he seemed to be refering to another group, excluding himself from said group.
Next chance I get, I will ask him.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

Just some random thoughts on "race"
Firstoff let me say that I never refer to myself as "white", "pinkskin" as the adorian charecter on "enterprise" decribed humans is probably more true desciption of caucasians. With my freinds and in-laws who are of the non-Irish persuasion the issue of "color" is non-existant unless we are talking about that subject specifically.

"color" is subjective, I've meet a lot of people who refer to themselves as "black americans" because they have no ties to africa, but others who prefer the term "african-american" to signify that their ancestors did come from africa, just as I could use the the term "irish-american" to describe my families origins. Although if I took that to be completely true I would have to say " irish-english-scottish-swedish-american) but there aint no way I'm hanging that moniker over my head.

I think the only black friends that I know who actually came from an african nation (morrocan-american, example) will use that reference. That raises an interesting point, can egyptians or lybians refer to themselves as "african-americans"? there on the african continent? and that brings a real interesting example of a "white" from south africa who refers to himself as an "african-american", and he's right, hes from africa, his whole family is, and now he a US citizen.

Personally I think these "labels" are stupid and just used to politically and socially divide people. I prefer to just simply think of us as "Americans" since that is most of us were born. I try to aknowledge that color differentiants the way people percieve each other but those differences have more to do with cultural differences than anything racial, therefore one skin tone is irrelivant to me. We have cultural differences, political differnces, but really no racial differences. DNA has proven that we all are 99.9999999999% (i think its to at least ten decimal places) the same.

P.S. my favorite "race" is the Indy 500

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Thats part of the problem, after several discussion about many diverse subjects, we never broached the subject.
His color dosnt seem to be a issue with him, and never was with me, so it never came up.
I have heard him refer to (space left blank) men as blacks, and he seemed to be refering to another group, excluding himself from said group.
Next chance I get, I will ask him.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

Just some random thoughts on "race"
Firstoff let me say that I never refer to myself as "white", "pinkskin" as the adorian charecter on "enterprise" decribed humans is probably more true desciption of caucasians. With my freinds and in-laws who are of the non-Irish persuasion the issue of "color" is non-existant unless we are talking about that subject specifically.

"color" is subjective, I've meet a lot of people who refer to themselves as "black americans" because they have no ties to africa, but others who prefer the term "african-american" to signify that their ancestors did come from africa, just as I could use the the term "irish-american" to describe my families origins. Although if I took that to be completely true I would have to say " irish-english-scottish-swedish-american) but there aint no way I'm hanging that moniker over my head.

I think the only black friends that I know who actually came from an african nation (morrocan-american, example) will use that reference. That raises an interesting point, can egyptians or lybians refer to themselves as "african-americans"? there on the african continent? and that brings a real interesting example of a "white" from south africa who refers to himself as an "african-american", and he's right, hes from africa, his whole family is, and now he a US citizen.

Personally I think these "labels" are stupid and just used to politically and socially divide people. I prefer to just simply think of us as "Americans" since that is most of us were born. I try to aknowledge that color differentiants the way people percieve each other but those differences have more to do with cultural differences than anything racial, therefore one skin tone is irrelivant to me. We have cultural differences, political differnces, but really no racial differences. DNA has proven that we all are 99.9999999999% (i think its to at least ten decimal places) the same.

P.S. my favorite "race" is the Indy 500

[dharmon]

In the race block I usually just put "human"

[dharmon]

In the race block I usually just put "human"

[dharmon]

But in the interest of keeping this about trains, I saw another CN unit in San Diego this morning. This time lashed up with a UP, SP and BNSF consist. Couldn't tell types from the distance, but was one of the 4 axle units with wide cab.

[dharmon]

But in the interest of keeping this about trains, I saw another CN unit in San Diego this morning. This time lashed up with a UP, SP and BNSF consist. Couldn't tell types from the distance, but was one of the 4 axle units with wide cab.

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

But in the interest of keeping this about trains, I saw another CN unit in San Diego this morning. This time lashed up with a UP, SP and BNSF consist. Couldn't tell types from the distance, but was one of the 4 axle units with wide cab.

Probably trying a merger on for size! Here come the rocks again!

Moo

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

But in the interest of keeping this about trains, I saw another CN unit in San Diego this morning. This time lashed up with a UP, SP and BNSF consist. Couldn't tell types from the distance, but was one of the 4 axle units with wide cab.

Probably trying a merger on for size! Here come the rocks again!

Moo

[vsmith]

Would they call it:

CanadianNationalBurlingtonNorthernSantaFeUnion& SouthernPacific, or CNBNSFU&SP????

Do ya think they would run out of room painting that on the side of the engine, and what would the color scheme be? My mind boggles....

[vsmith]

Would they call it:

CanadianNationalBurlingtonNorthernSantaFeUnion& SouthernPacific, or CNBNSFU&SP????

Do ya think they would run out of room painting that on the side of the engine, and what would the color scheme be? My mind boggles....

[dharmon]

It would be the same as the result of all the previous mergers --- Union Pacific


Reminds me of an article I read following the UP-SP merger. I think it was the Houston Post interviewing an unnamed SP employee disgruntled with the merger....said the name of the new RR would combine both names....Union from UP and Pacific from SP.

[dharmon]

It would be the same as the result of all the previous mergers --- Union Pacific


Reminds me of an article I read following the UP-SP merger. I think it was the Houston Post interviewing an unnamed SP employee disgruntled with the merger....said the name of the new RR would combine both names....Union from UP and Pacific from SP.

[Anonymous]

ED, my apologies, i didn't mean to cause such a rucus. What i would have done i would have used the term "dark skin".

Generally neither N word is used in Canada, thats why i jumped and wondered if that word was in standard use in the USA

again my sencere apologies, i didn't mean to accuse you to such an extent.

[Anonymous]

ED, my apologies, i didn't mean to cause such a rucus. What i would have done i would have used the term "dark skin".

Generally neither N word is used in Canada, thats why i jumped and wondered if that word was in standard use in the USA

again my sencere apologies, i didn't mean to accuse you to such an extent.

[Anonymous]

I have to agree with vsmith but dont worry Ed, I'm not one for being politically correct. Besides, I have 2 favorite races. TALLADEGA & DAYTONA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[:o)][8D][:D][:)][:p]

[Anonymous]

I have to agree with vsmith but dont worry Ed, I'm not one for being politically correct. Besides, I have 2 favorite races. TALLADEGA & DAYTONA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[:o)][8D][:D][:)][:p]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

It would be the same as the result of all the previous mergers --- Union Pacific


Reminds me of an article I read following the UP-SP merger. I think it was the Houston Post interviewing an unnamed SP employee disgruntled with the merger....said the name of the new RR would combine both names....Union from UP and Pacific from SP.

I thought they were going to call the after merger RR the Pacific Union & Southern. ( the PUS road ) [:o)][8D][8D] LOL

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

It would be the same as the result of all the previous mergers --- Union Pacific


Reminds me of an article I read following the UP-SP merger. I think it was the Houston Post interviewing an unnamed SP employee disgruntled with the merger....said the name of the new RR would combine both names....Union from UP and Pacific from SP.

I thought they were going to call the after merger RR the Pacific Union & Southern. ( the PUS road ) [:o)][8D][8D] LOL

[edblysard]

Hi Kev,
Didnt take it as an accusation at all.
Down south, darkie, dark skinned, and colored people, along with the word *** are racial slurs.
The word ***, as ugly as it is, is a bastardation of the words niggard and niggardly, both words meaning stingy in though, action and expression.

And, for the most part, I have found that the word dosnt fit most of the "black" people I know, who tend to be generous and open, and expressive in thought and action.
As a young child and young man, I was raised in several different places, in a culture that applied no special recognition of a persons skin color.
I like Dans answer to the "boxed question of race" and agree, the correct word is human.

But at certain times, having to apply a descriptive term is necessary, especially in areas such as police work, where identifying a person by the color of their skin helps eliminate subjects from a search, or include subjects in the same search.

Jim was correct in that genetically, most sub speices of humans are less then 1% different in our genetic codes and markers.

For the most part, with the exception of certain inherieted dieseses and defects, that 1% is what determines the color and texture of your hair, the color of your eyes and skin, height, weight and outward appearence.

For legal purpose, the courts require an exclusion rate of 98.98% in paternity cases, meaning 98.98% of a given segment of the population have been eliminated as the parents of the child in question.

Heres another problem.
What do you call the Myans, and other central and south American indians?

Are they Latinos, or Hispanic, the two politically correct words used to describe people from south of the border with brown skin and dark hair?
Their neither Latin or Spanish in origin.

What the politically correct term for them?

I am proud in that my wife and I have managed to raise three truly "color" blind daughters.

They describe people not by their skin color, but by their actions.

When they talk about their friends, you never here them say" thats my black friend, or thats my hispanic friend", you just hear them call them friends.
which is exactlly what we were shooting for.

Its a tough path to navigate, because a term that might be acceptable to one person is a insult to another person.

Should I take offense if someone referes to me as a skinny white guy with silver gray hair?
Should I insist they refer to me as a German Jew/Welsh Scott-American?
After a certain point, at least in my mind, it becomes silly.

So, for want of a better descriptive term that is not politicaly dangerous, I guess the term "black" will have to suffice.

Was up at the yard today, getting my boots out of my locker, and ran into my "negro" friend.
Explained the delimia I have found myself in, and asked him what term, if any, he perfered.

See Jenny, I can take and follow suggestions!

He said he is not black, wasnt too fond of negro, but that it could apply, but if someone had to describe him based on his racial background, then "Dark Spainish" was fine with him.

Oh, my Dark Spainish friend said he thinks he will dye the orange part of his hair bright green, he is having way too much fun with this.

Railroaders do have a warped sense fun.
Dont sweat the load, Kev, if someone took offense, sorry on my part, that wasnt my intent.
Your question was a legit one, after all, if we cant discuss things in a open outright manner, freely and frankly, then we end up right back in the same mess that started the problem in the first place.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[edblysard]

Hi Kev,
Didnt take it as an accusation at all.
Down south, darkie, dark skinned, and colored people, along with the word *** are racial slurs.
The word ***, as ugly as it is, is a bastardation of the words niggard and niggardly, both words meaning stingy in though, action and expression.

And, for the most part, I have found that the word dosnt fit most of the "black" people I know, who tend to be generous and open, and expressive in thought and action.
As a young child and young man, I was raised in several different places, in a culture that applied no special recognition of a persons skin color.
I like Dans answer to the "boxed question of race" and agree, the correct word is human.

But at certain times, having to apply a descriptive term is necessary, especially in areas such as police work, where identifying a person by the color of their skin helps eliminate subjects from a search, or include subjects in the same search.

Jim was correct in that genetically, most sub speices of humans are less then 1% different in our genetic codes and markers.

For the most part, with the exception of certain inherieted dieseses and defects, that 1% is what determines the color and texture of your hair, the color of your eyes and skin, height, weight and outward appearence.

For legal purpose, the courts require an exclusion rate of 98.98% in paternity cases, meaning 98.98% of a given segment of the population have been eliminated as the parents of the child in question.

Heres another problem.
What do you call the Myans, and other central and south American indians?

Are they Latinos, or Hispanic, the two politically correct words used to describe people from south of the border with brown skin and dark hair?
Their neither Latin or Spanish in origin.

What the politically correct term for them?

I am proud in that my wife and I have managed to raise three truly "color" blind daughters.

They describe people not by their skin color, but by their actions.

When they talk about their friends, you never here them say" thats my black friend, or thats my hispanic friend", you just hear them call them friends.
which is exactlly what we were shooting for.

Its a tough path to navigate, because a term that might be acceptable to one person is a insult to another person.

Should I take offense if someone referes to me as a skinny white guy with silver gray hair?
Should I insist they refer to me as a German Jew/Welsh Scott-American?
After a certain point, at least in my mind, it becomes silly.

So, for want of a better descriptive term that is not politicaly dangerous, I guess the term "black" will have to suffice.

Was up at the yard today, getting my boots out of my locker, and ran into my "negro" friend.
Explained the delimia I have found myself in, and asked him what term, if any, he perfered.

See Jenny, I can take and follow suggestions!

He said he is not black, wasnt too fond of negro, but that it could apply, but if someone had to describe him based on his racial background, then "Dark Spainish" was fine with him.

Oh, my Dark Spainish friend said he thinks he will dye the orange part of his hair bright green, he is having way too much fun with this.

Railroaders do have a warped sense fun.
Dont sweat the load, Kev, if someone took offense, sorry on my part, that wasnt my intent.
Your question was a legit one, after all, if we cant discuss things in a open outright manner, freely and frankly, then we end up right back in the same mess that started the problem in the first place.
Stay Frosty,
Ed