In part 1, I asked if referring to an American as an Ami was derogatory in German. I read the many comments with interest and can only conclude that to some people it is, and to some it isn’t.
I was a bit dismayed to find that some people might take offense at what I called my blog. I certainly didn’t want to be the girl with the N-word blog. I went through moments where I briefly considered moving the blog again to avoid the conflict. In the end, I’ve decided that the blog stays here.
I don’t agree that Ami is the same as the N-word or other racial/ethnic slurs. Rainer tells me that it’s neutral, an informal (not low class) means of addressing an American. It can certainly be used in an insulting way, but is not inherently insulting in itself. Otherwise, why would sportscasters be tolerated who use the term Amis when giving play by play for a game involving the US team?
I know that there are people who feel differently than I do, and their reasons are valid. They have different life experiences than I do. I’m not trying to ignore their feelings or say they are of little consequence, I thought long and hard about what to do here. In the end, it came down to my life experiences. In five and a half years, I’ve never heard Ami used in an insulting way, and it was not until moving to Regensburg that I had a significant amount of native English speakers as friends. In Potsdam, I hung around mostly with a group of older, set in their ways, Berlinisch-speaking men who certainly did not censor their thoughts around me. Perhaps their are regional differences, with the former American zones being most affected. Perhaps it depends on what time period you lived in Germany, or who your instructors were. I’m sure if I lived through the RAF (Rote Armee Faktion) instigated terrorism, I would feel differently.
If Ami bothers you, then I hope you can see the irony in the blog’s address, or respect that I’m “taking Ami back.” If you can no longer stand to log on to the blog at this address, well, I’m sorry you feel that way, and I understand, but I’ve got to stick by my convictions.
I hope that all made sense, I’m completely exhausted at the moment, but I’ve kept two blog posts on hold to give this topic the attention I thought it deserved. And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
hear hear!
Good for you Christina, truth be told I never noticed it until you talked about it. Sure brought out a lot of discussion…ciao:)
Just to set the record straight, I never said I wouldn’t read your blog if you had this address, nor did I expect you to change it.
@rita: Yeah, I’m sick of talking about it now.
@rositta: It sure did!
@Martina: No, you didn’t
I did have several “email friends,” as I like to put it, who were not very pleased (or polite). In fact, because I’ve been so busy trying to get this blog to look okay on all the major browsers, I’ve been neglecting my google reader. It was one of these “friends” who brought PapaScott’s, and through it your, blog post to my attention.
Christina,
I think your “friends” sent me a few e-mails, too. The ones I received contained an “n” word, albeit not the one you were referring to.
Ich trag’s mit Fassung
By the way is there any way you can make your site “remember” me/visitors? Each time I comment I have to enter my name, e-mail, and website from scratch. Other sites remember who I am and have that information already in place the next time I visit.
I’m glad you decided not to change the name. I’m on of the ones who sort of felt that “Ami” *could* be used in a derogatory sense, because I have on occasion heard it used that way, but of course it doesn’t *have* to be and certainly can’t be compared to other racial slurs. It’s the intention that counts, and it was obviously not your intention to ruffle any feathers here. It’s YOUR blog, you call it what you want and we’ll keep reading.
whoo whoo! I like that, “taking Ami back”. I couldn’t think of a better place than here.
@martina: That’s on my To-Do list. I have to type my info in every time I comment too and it’s getting on my nerves. I think I’ll need to get a comment plugin…
@christina & hezamarie: Thanks