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WTE SEE where the Toronto Japanese Canadian Citizens Association has launched a campaign to eliminate the racial epithet "Jap" from our communications media and daily usage. The JCCA has published a pamphlet listing the reasons why this term should not be used.
We support , this campaign and think that it should be broadened to obliterate all name-calling such as "kike", "wop", "chink", "Chinaman", or "nigger".
These terms are vulgar, offensive and derogatory. Right-thinking, fair-minded and educated Canadians do not include them in their vocabulary. They are a shameful remnant from an earlier era when our country was made up of many unassimilated immigrant groups.
But that era is gone. Today we are Canadians all—including the newcomers—proud of our cultural heritage and entitled to dignity.
Chinese and Japanese Canadians consider the term "Jap" and "Chinaman" a racial slur. These words carry a long and bitter history of derogatory connotations. In the days of anti-Oriental riots and as recently as World War II, the term was used as an insult. It became the favorite expression of bigots and racists, intent on ridding the West Coast of the fictitious "yellow peril." They hurled these invectives at Canadians of Oriental ancestry to express their feeling of hate and contempt.
Although we have come a long way since then, occasionally the offensive expression still creeps up in ordinary conversation—either through lack of understanding, innocence or other reasons. To the person at the receiving end, it stings like a whiplash.
So please don't call us "Chinaman." Help us put this term to rest permanently. It has no place in our language.
The Editor.
CHINATOWN NEWS
The Chinese-Canadian Newsmagazine
459 E. Hastings Sr., Vancouver 4, B.C.
Published by the Chinese Publicity Bureau Ltd. Subscription rates: Domestic $2.00 a year; U.S., Mexico and other foreign countries $3.00. Single copy 15c. Phone 254-2533. Authorized as second class mail. Post Office Department,
CHINATOWN NEWS, OCT. 3, 1965
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