'Eskimo' candy offends indigenous Canadian
We read:
"An Eskimo-shaped sweet eaten innocently by Kiwis for decades has raised the ire of native Canadians who claim it is offensive in both shape and name.
A young Canadian tourist travelling in New Zealand, Seeka Parsons, says she was appalled by the sale of Eskimo sweets, an iconic marshmallow treat sold widely in corner stores across New Zealand.
The native Canadian said the word 'Eskimo' itself was an insult in her country, carrying with it negative racial connotations, and has long since been replaced with 'Inuit'.
Not only has the name of the lolly aroused painful memories, she believes the shape is an unfair stereotype of her people, the Taranaki Daily News reported.
Source
12 comments:
Here's my advice: Suck it up and deal with it.
-- Timesobserver
It seems that Canadian tourists are the one becoming offensive.
"Eskimo" is not "offensive" in Alaska and Siberia and many other places (like New Zealand). Inuit refers only to one group of at least three and just because Canadians think 'Eskimo' is offensive (for whatever reason) a tourist can't go to the other side of the world and complain about local usage - unless they are after "fame and fortune".
Well. If having a candy named after your people is offensive, what does than mean for “kiwi” fruit?
I would think that simply being Canadian is an insult.
Based on their location, you would think that eski..er Inuits would have thicker skin.
~ darko
Modern times.
People have so many modern convienences they have too much free time to dream up this silly shit.
It was probably better 200 years ago when all you had to worry about was living past 35.
I bet they sure wouldn't like my favorite college bar in Stillwater,OK at Oklahoma State Univ.
They sell the most T shirts of any place in the US.
Try going to "Eskimo Joe's" and get a great burger and T-shirt.
If New Zealanders don't like calling the kiwi fruit by that name, there is the alternate, and I think original name, of Chinese gooseberry.
Sorry, but if I have to be globally lumped into a general category of "White" then "Eskimo" is certainly applicable.
Here, here!
Most Kiwis do not take offense at the use of "kiwifruit" as a name of one of our greatest exports.. but just don't tell me you are eating a 'kiwi' (thats our national bird)
As a kiwi kid who grew up eating Eskimo candies, and Eskimo pies, it broadened my horizon to be thinking of those who lived in a country and environment that was so different than mine. I'd have been a little more ignorant if they had been called marshmallow men.
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