This passage relates to a previous blog about the use of the term "Nip" in the novel: "Nip is the word used by Sergeant Sean Daniel McGee, U.S. Army, Retired, to refer to Nipponese people in his war memoir...It is a terrible racist slur." (212)
I thought this passage was particularly interesting because it reminds me of our society's preoccupation with trying to be really politically correct. I know people who are afraid to offend others, so they're hyper-sensitive about using the correct terminology: African American instead of black (which actually offends some people if they're not descended from Africans), Jewish instead of Jew...and so on. A lot of people I know aren't offended by being called black or a Jew, though, because that IS what they are and by trying to be politically correct, I think a lot of terms become overgeneralized. On the other hand, those names aren't derogatory, whereas "chink" and "nip" are.
I've always thought it to be terribly ironic that certain members of a certain minority population can call a fellow member that derogatory name, but other people (especially white people) absolutely cannot. If it is so derogatory, why use it at all? Just because you belong to that group doesn't mean you should advocate the use of that word. Thus, the question, "On the other hand, people call British people Brits, and Yankees Yanks, all the time. Calling a Nipponese person a Nip is just the same thing, isn't it? Or is it tantamount to calling a Chinese person a Chink?" (212)
I feel like the whole political correctness thing is really rampant in today's society. It's hard, because there are two sides of it: clearly you don't want to ever offend someone by calling them something they dislike/don't identify with, but there is also a point when political correctness goes a bit too far. This passage is dealing with racist slurs, so it's a bit different, but I definitely see where you're coming from with your questions. It's a tough line to walk.
Political correctness is a very sticky issue. I feel some people are overly sensitive whereas are blatantly insenstive. Now sarawrs, I am one of those people who says "African American" instead if "black" and I do feel uncomfortable saying black. I cannot imagine why except that I have just said it that way since I was a kid. (I also have a problem saying "cop" for that same reason...) Anyway. But, KKT, you pose an interesting question. There truly is an odd double standard nowadays where race is concerned. I have always wondered why there is a black student union or a gay straight alliance, but if someone wanted to raise a white club people would be up in arms all over the country. Now, I am in no way advocating a white club, I just think it is interesting how the race line is drawn with these sort of things. It always makes me walk on eggshells. I never know what is right to say.