Offensive to indians?
By dickkell
@dickkell (403)
United States
March 16, 2007 6:45am CST
Do Indians ever get offended when Americans call Native Americans Indians?
7 responses
@Karmalina (647)
• Australia
16 Mar 07
I think most people understand that the reason that Americans began referring to Indians as err.. Indians is because of a misunderstanding of some sort where a ship thought it was going to the West Indies or India or somewhere and landed in the US instead. I need to check up on my history, but I know that it was something like that. Bottom line is I think most people from India realize it was never meant to be offensive.
@oscarbartoni (2581)
• United States
27 Jun 11
Columbus sailed to what he thought was a short cut to India. He never set foot on what is now United States but rather on some islands. On the first island, he incounted natives that were hostile to him and he retreated only to go to an island that had friendly native, He found out that there was gold on that island and he told them to deliver gold to him or he would cut off their hands. He also too many of them as slaves.
@soumodeep (944)
• India
18 Mar 07
Obviously we get offended we are the real Indians, who are the native americans that they should be called Indians. They should be called native americans and not Indians.
We should be called Indians and not East Indians. So people living in NA should better correct themselves.
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
18 Nov 07
I'm native american, and I'm not offended by that term. Some are, true. But not all of 'em.
I don't dislike Indians (from India), so the term...even though it was a mistake by one of the men who discovered this country..it's not like it's a curse word, or a word from a Native language from her which was misused.
But then..I'm not easily offended to begin with, so..heh.
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
16 Mar 07
I guess it depends on the person. I have a son in law who is and he really doesn't care. But then again he is not really interested in his heritage. I have learned more from other members of his family. Actually my s-i-l sometimes refers to his children as little savages.
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
8 Apr 07
I saw a joke where an Indian in India got very upset because the Amerind (Native American) was called an indian. I think the various tribes would rather be called by their names, but generically, I find Amerind an easier reference (2 sylables) to Native American (6.)
@sunnyckell (483)
• United States
21 Mar 07
What kind of question is that? Do you mean Indians like from India or are you asking if Native American's get offended when Americans call them Indians? What do you think? What would drive you to ask such a question anyway? Are you from India? Are you Native American? And is the proper term for someone from India, Indian? Why is that when we were in school they called Native Americans indians and not people from India indians? Was it like that when you went to school?
