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The U.S. Census Bureau Gave Up Names of Japanese-Americans in WWII (2007)

scientificamerican.com

71–80 of 90 posts

Re: The U.S. Census Bureau Gave Up Names of Japanese-Americans in WWII (2007)

#71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Middle Eastern" is not a race though. I'm Turkish and we are very Caucasian. :)

It should fit in nicely with "hispanic" which runs the gamut from white to black.

Seems like a minor nitpick, but Hispanic is considered an ethnicity, not a race.

You can be black and Hispanic. And my favorite...according to the federal government, it is entirely possible to be "Hispanic - White and Black."

At which point we can all agree that discussions of race are almost always more confusing than helpful.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Source: worked on some USDA reports.

Re: The U.S. Census Bureau Gave Up Names of Japanese-Americans in WWII (2007)

#72

If this bothers you, what are you doing about it? Is your company retaining data that can be used against your customers? Is it implementing tech (end-to-end encryption, data minimization, anonymization, decentralization, etc.) to reduce their exposure? Don't wait until someone shows up with a NSL, claiming all Muslims are terrorists and therefore spying on everyone who believes in Islam or is suspected of being a fr…

FWIW, there is currently city-level opposition to some of the upcoming administration's round-up threats. While not the Muslim part of it, NYC Mayor deBlasio has already promised protection of undocumented NYers.

http://abc7ny.com/politics/mayor-says-if-trump-tries-to-depo...

Re: The U.S. Census Bureau Gave Up Names of Japanese-Americans in WWII (2007)

#73

If this bothers you, what are you doing about it? Is your company retaining data that can be used against your customers? Is it implementing tech (end-to-end encryption, data minimization, anonymization, decentralization, etc.) to reduce their exposure? Don't wait until someone shows up with a NSL, claiming all Muslims are terrorists and therefore spying on everyone who believes in Islam or is suspected of being a fr…

Throw a wrench into the works if this happens: report a bunch of your conservative Christian customers as Muslims. It'll suck for them but it serves them right anyway.

(Make sure to leave the country before the authorities figure out what happened.)

Re: The U.S. Census Bureau Gave Up Names of Japanese-Americans in WWII (2007)

#74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the GP meant civilian Americans chopping other Americans heads with katanas. Also isn't the katana mostly stabbing weapon? Slicing someone in two requires too much effort IMO.

From the little kendo I did, it's both, but mostly slashing. You wouldn't so much slice them in two as open them up from shoulder to hip, if you can. If you're going for the neck though, the basic technique is throat-stabbing, not slicing the head off. If the enemy has good armor, I guess you'd have to go stabby, I can't imagine a katana can slice through good steel plates (or mail, really). But 1) the spear is the s…

>The amazing thing about katanas is not that they're better than european swords (they're not), it's that they were able to make good weapons at all out of shit-tier iron.

How are they not better? I'm pretty sure European swords never had that neat feature of higher hardness at the blade than at the back side, giving the sword better strength while still staying sharp on the cutting edge.

Katanas are really different swords from medieval European swords, designed for an entirely different type of fighting. European swords are a product of the type of warfare they waged, which involved a lot of metal armor with knights. A katana wouldn't work too well here, so European swords are designed to crush armor and to be good at stabbing straight through the armor. Katanas were designed to use against unarmored or lightly-armored foes (I think Japanese samurai armor was basically leather), and are designed to be used in slashing motions more. I'd say that for their purpose and their style of fighting, katanas are definitely better. But against heavily armored opponents, they're just not the right weapon.

Re: The U.S. Census Bureau Gave Up Names of Japanese-Americans in WWII (2007)

#75

Why is anyone surprised? If we should've learned anything from the last couple of weeks, it should be that it turns out that despite recent progress, America hasn't strayed far from its roots. The powers of government have long been used as a weapon against various groups over our history. All that's happened recently is the removing of the mask.

Hate, oppression, and slavery: the original "great" American values the rubes can't get enough of. Staying true to our roots, indeed.

Re: The U.S. Census Bureau Gave Up Names of Japanese-Americans in WWII (2007)

#76
post #53
post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There certainly are genetic differences around the world, but they line up only vaguely with race. If race were about genetics, then there would be a ton of different races in Africa, and we'd probably lump all other people under one "non-African" race. My favorite way to illustrate the arbitrary nature of race is to ask what the race is of our current (alas, soon to be former) president. Typically the answer is "bla…

The answer to your question is 'black' because of political correctness. This is a great example of why it's pernicious - as it robs us of ability to describe the world. There is actually a more appropriate term - 'mulatto' which was specifically created to describe people born to black / white parents. Today it's considered 'dated and offensive', so we don't have a 'polite' and 'correct' way to describe the ethnicit…

You know, every time I hear somebody complain about "political correctness" they follow it up by saying something really ugly and inaccurate. Then they complain, "gee, isn't it too bad that people don't let us use these dated terms anymore?". The reason we don't use the term "mulatto" is that there are a whole bunch of wrong assumptions rolled into that word. That there is any such thing as mixed vs pure race, for instance. The distinction is wrong. I mean, yeah it takes away your ability to describe the world a certain way, but it's because that way of describing the world is historically linked with murder, genocide, and slavery!

Re: The U.S. Census Bureau Gave Up Names of Japanese-Americans in WWII (2007)

#77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It should fit in nicely with "hispanic" which runs the gamut from white to black.

Seems like a minor nitpick, but Hispanic is considered an ethnicity, not a race. You can be black and Hispanic. And my favorite...according to the federal government, it is entirely possible to be "Hispanic - White and Black." At which point we can all agree that discussions of race are almost always more confusing than helpful. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Source: worked on some USDA reports.

If the cops put out an alert for a Hispanic, or a black person I'm pretty sure you'd be able to identify them. Is it genetically scientific? Of course not! But other people will also categorise that person the same way, thus allowing their "racial" group to be targeted. Race might be a bullshit term, but we clearly assign people to such groups so it's just as valid as any other construction we've come up with (like the difference between a Canadian and an American).

Re: The U.S. Census Bureau Gave Up Names of Japanese-Americans in WWII (2007)

#78
post #59

Why is anyone surprised? If we should've learned anything from the last couple of weeks, it should be that it turns out that despite recent progress, America hasn't strayed far from its roots. The powers of government have long been used as a weapon against various groups over our history. All that's happened recently is the removing of the mask.

> "should've learned anything from the last couple of weeks, it should be that it turns out that despite recent progress, America hasn't strayed far from its roots. What do you mean by that? > The powers of government have long been used as a weapon against various groups over our history. All that's happened recently is the removing of the mask. Agree with the first part. Can you expand on how what happened recently…

Not OP but (some) white people are openly talking about how great Hitler is. It used to be just reserved to neo-Nazi gatherings and their occasional protests. I'm assuming that's what's meant by the mask.

Re: The U.S. Census Bureau Gave Up Names of Japanese-Americans in WWII (2007)

#79
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "should've learned anything from the last couple of weeks, it should be that it turns out that despite recent progress, America hasn't strayed far from its roots. What do you mean by that? > The powers of government have long been used as a weapon against various groups over our history. All that's happened recently is the removing of the mask. Agree with the first part. Can you expand on how what happened recently…

Not OP but (some) white people are openly talking about how great Hitler is. It used to be just reserved to neo-Nazi gatherings and their occasional protests. I'm assuming that's what's meant by the mask.

> white people are openly talking about how great Hitler is.

That's terrible, but why would they be talking about it lately and not before? I don't think there was ever a time without loonies. Do you mean talking on the news about it?

A co-worker told me there is this weird Hitler obsession in India for some reason (he is from India). Searched for "India Hitler cafes" and was completely flabbergasted. Was expected it to be a joke some sort...

Re: The U.S. Census Bureau Gave Up Names of Japanese-Americans in WWII (2007)

#80
post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not OP but (some) white people are openly talking about how great Hitler is. It used to be just reserved to neo-Nazi gatherings and their occasional protests. I'm assuming that's what's meant by the mask.

> white people are openly talking about how great Hitler is. That's terrible, but why would they be talking about it lately and not before? I don't think there was ever a time without loonies. Do you mean talking on the news about it? A co-worker told me there is this weird Hitler obsession in India for some reason (he is from India). Searched for "India Hitler cafes" and was completely flabbergasted. Was expected it…

Or at least talking around minorities and mixed company (i.e. politically correct liberals and what not) about it. I have no idea what white people have been plotting when minorities aren't around (this is a joke people).
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