- comment
John Alexander Golden - body
- Honestly? It's about respect. The name of our party is the "Democratic Party", not "Democrat Party". Yeah, because of the form of our party's name it's weird that members of the Democratic Party are called Democrats, but that's weird-ol' English for ya.
It'd be like someone spelling your name Shawn Kenny even when they know it's not spelled that way, it's just rude. Not the biggest issue on the table by any means but it'd go a long way towards a little more civility in politics :-)
- comment Shaun Kenney
- body
- That's just it though -- people butcher my name all the time: Shawn, Sean, Kenny, Kennedy (the extra "e" does that), Keeney...
I just politely correct them and move along with life. No big deal.
It just seems like such a severe reaction to a simple item to take offense over "Democrat Party". The punishment is in the correction, IMO.
- comment John Alexander Golden
- body
- People butcher mine all the time, too, (usually the first name, but I actually got Johnalix Goblin once), when they don't know me. Not a big deal, you correct it and move on.
The Democratic Party has been around for a good long while now. And if you're in politics, you've probably heard of us. ("We're kind of a big deal." :-) ). People who purposely use "Democrat" knowing that it's wrong, that's whats outright rude.
- comment Jason Kenney
- body
- I think it comes down to whether you want to be defined by your members or your ideals. Are you a party of people who believe in the ideals or are you a party of the ideals? Is the Party a body to be described with an adjective or is it a noun?
Both words essentially mean the same thing. One who advocates democracy or describing one who advocates democracy.
A Democratic Democrat is a bit redundant, I guess.
But it's a bit nitpicky to try and seperate the two.
- comment Not Not Jay Hughes
- body
- For the most part, I think this whole preoccupation with being called the Democrat Party and the Democratic Party can get a bit silly. Maybe even Vivian (whom I deeply respect) may have let this get a little too far under the skin and reacted a bit too quickly. We all have times where we let our emotions and irritations get the better of us.
Having said that.....
You would NOT believe the number of people who mangle pronouncing my last name and how absolutely irritating it is to me!!!!!!! My last name "Hughes" is pronounced "hues" like when referring to colors, i.e. different hues of green. It seems pretty simple to me. However, my surname is of (mostly) cymric-celtic origin and it's the double constant "gh" that probably throws people off.
People have called me Mr. Hugh-glee, Mr. Huge-iss (I kinda like that one, to be honest), Mr. Huggies, Mr. Huge-lees (another one I kinda like)....anyway, you get the idea. Several years ago at a work conference, after having been called Mr. Huge-iss for around the 10th time in one day, I started correcting people by saying: "it's pronounced Mr. HUGE...the "h" and the "s" are silent" I got endless amounts of mirth that day here myself called Mr. Huge over and over again.
Democrats...oops...I mean Democratic-type senient beings, I feel your pain when it comes to having your name mispronounced. But look at the bright side, at least people are paying attention to you...even if they're mispronouncing your name.
Probably this whole thing could be prevented if only our public schools were teaching children to speak good.
P.S. There's a small quantity of satire embedded in one of these sentences. See if you can find it!
- comment F.T. Rea
- body
- Shaun,
Pretending one doesn’t know why a deliberate jab is irritating is what? What brand of provocation is that?
A man decides for himself what his name is, and how it is pronounced. As a child I was taught that came under the heading of “doing unto others...”
Still, there are some obnoxious people who won’t call boxer Muhammad Ali by the name he decided to take in 1964. What do you think of the hardliners who, 43 years later, insist on calling him “Cassius Clay?” Then, too, I wonder how many of the same sticklers about original names also deny actor John Wayne the name he took for himself, and insist on calling him “Marion Morrison?”
During the 1982 war between the UK and Argentina, when one called the islands it was fought over “the Falklands,” he was seeing the dispute through British eyes. If one called the same offshore territories “the Malvinas,” he was viewing the conflict from Argentina’s standpoint.
Names are important.
By the way, this whole Democrat/Democratic thing doesn’t go very far back. I can’t remember it before about 15 years ago.
-- Terry
- comment Doogman
- body
- It's the intent Shaun and you know it - so does everyone else that makes that 'mistake'... again and again. It's provocation for it's own sake and it's quite pathetic. Most folks grow out of it.
- comment Charles
- body
- Democratic Party. It's there name. Stop being childish.
Yes, Shaun, people would get your name wrong. But if a regular poster to your blog consistantly called you Shwrong Kenney, I think after a while you'd be pretty upset with it, and you certainly wouldn't just dismiss it as a trivial error.
I'm sorry, but those pushing this "Democrat Party" phrase remind me of my 10-year-old holding his finger an inch from his sister and saying "i'm not touching you".
Grow up. We can embarrass the democrats by simply explaining their positions on issues, or just quoting what they say.
This goes for all the "cute" names people make up for politicians they don't like too. Let's debate in the sphere of ideas, not wallow in the mud of name-calling.
- comment Jason Kenney
- body
- Well it's not the "Republic Party" when it represents republic ideals, is it? So maybe it's a case of people thinking Republicans are in the Republican Party and Democrats are in the Democrat Party.
Not saying some folks aren't doing it maliciously, but why is this such an issue?
- comment Maura in VA
- body
- You're being deliberately obtuse, Shaun.
You know very well that the name of the party is the "Democratic Party".
Plain and simple. That's the name. Republicans deliberately use an incorrect name because some of your linguistic experts and Frank Luntz types have found that focus groups have less positive reactions to the term "Democrat Party" versus the term "Democratic Party".
And of course it's a grammatical issue as well. "Democratic" is the correct adjectival form modifying "party". Like far too many people nowadays misusing the nominal or noun form as an adjective, Republicans are making a grammatical error by saying "Democrat Party" rather than "Democratic Party". "Republican" can be used as either a noun or an adjective. "Democrat" is only a noun, with the adjectival form being "Democratic".
But you knew that. You're not uneducated. Just deliberately obtuse in defense of a practice of your party that you simply know is wrong.
It's the equivalent of people insisting your name be spelled "Sean" because they don't like to spell it "Shaun". "Shaun" is your name, and it's disrespectful to purposely write that your name is "Sean" even though I know it's not your name and not what you want to be called.
It's the "Democratic Party". Period.
- comment Shaun Kenney
- body
- Well, that I gotta respond to Maura!
Sometimes, and I believe this to be the case in this instance, the punishment is in the correction.
As for the rest, I just don't understand (or perhaps lack the depth) the offense.
If my son persisted in calling a lollipop a wowwypop, I wouldn't take offense. Similarly, if he persisted in saying 2+2=57, I wouldn't take that as an insult to my intelligence. If he calls me "dada" rather than Dad, I don't take that as disrespect to my authority as a father...
Perhaps good people can just disagree on this. I for one do not have a problem confusing Democrats with the Democratic Party, so if that's any consolation or sign...
My US$0.02 anyhow.
- comment Shaun Kenney
- body
- If my son persisted in calling a lollipop a wowwypop, I wouldn't take offense. Similarly, if he persisted in saying 2+2=57, I wouldn't take that as an insult to my intelligence. If he calls me "dada" rather than Dad, I don't take that as disrespect to my authority as a father...
The point being, his mispronounciations or misconceptions are more a reflection on his education (maturity?), and nothing else.
Furthermore (and I alluded to this in my post), it's not uncommon to affiliate members of a party with the party name. Since calling people Democratics is odd, it only stands to reason that a Democrat would be a member of a Democrat Party.
It really can be an innocent mistake, and there really are people who just need to have it explained to 'em!
- comment Doogman
- body
- Yep - and there are people who have to have it explained to them that minorities DO have the right to vote and people DO have the right to criticise the governemnt. You know, people that don't GET the whole Democratic Thing at ALL. Makes sense they wouldn't get the party's name right.
Of course these are also the people that think wearing a white sheet and burning crosses are acceptable.
- comment Mike
- body
- You know ... if the Dems are so insistant that we refer to their party as the "Democratic Party", perhaps we should start referring to them individually as they should then be properly referred ... "Democratics".
Members of the Republican Party aren't referred to as "Republics" pr "Republicisits". We call them "Republicans" as the name is the "Republican" Party.
Well ... logically following the flow of grammar, the same should follow for "Democratics". They ARE the "Democratic" Party, afterall.
So, henceforth, members of the "Democratic" Party shall no longer be referred to as "Democrats" (as the party is not the "Democrat" Party), but as "Democratics", after the "official" name of their party.
What do you think? Too much overuse of quotation marks?
Sheesh!
14 Comments:
It'd be like someone spelling your name Shawn Kenny even when they know it's not spelled that way, it's just rude. Not the biggest issue on the table by any means but it'd go a long way towards a little more civility in politics :-)
I just politely correct them and move along with life. No big deal.
It just seems like such a severe reaction to a simple item to take offense over "Democrat Party". The punishment is in the correction, IMO.
The Democratic Party has been around for a good long while now. And if you're in politics, you've probably heard of us. ("We're kind of a big deal." :-) ). People who purposely use "Democrat" knowing that it's wrong, that's whats outright rude.
Both words essentially mean the same thing. One who advocates democracy or describing one who advocates democracy.
A Democratic Democrat is a bit redundant, I guess.
But it's a bit nitpicky to try and seperate the two.
Having said that.....
You would NOT believe the number of people who mangle pronouncing my last name and how absolutely irritating it is to me!!!!!!! My last name "Hughes" is pronounced "hues" like when referring to colors, i.e. different hues of green. It seems pretty simple to me. However, my surname is of (mostly) cymric-celtic origin and it's the double constant "gh" that probably throws people off.
People have called me Mr. Hugh-glee, Mr. Huge-iss (I kinda like that one, to be honest), Mr. Huggies, Mr. Huge-lees (another one I kinda like)....anyway, you get the idea. Several years ago at a work conference, after having been called Mr. Huge-iss for around the 10th time in one day, I started correcting people by saying: "it's pronounced Mr. HUGE...the "h" and the "s" are silent" I got endless amounts of mirth that day here myself called Mr. Huge over and over again.
Democrats...oops...I mean Democratic-type senient beings, I feel your pain when it comes to having your name mispronounced. But look at the bright side, at least people are paying attention to you...even if they're mispronouncing your name.
Probably this whole thing could be prevented if only our public schools were teaching children to speak good.
P.S. There's a small quantity of satire embedded in one of these sentences. See if you can find it!
Pretending one doesn’t know why a deliberate jab is irritating is what? What brand of provocation is that?
A man decides for himself what his name is, and how it is pronounced. As a child I was taught that came under the heading of “doing unto others...”
Still, there are some obnoxious people who won’t call boxer Muhammad Ali by the name he decided to take in 1964. What do you think of the hardliners who, 43 years later, insist on calling him “Cassius Clay?” Then, too, I wonder how many of the same sticklers about original names also deny actor John Wayne the name he took for himself, and insist on calling him “Marion Morrison?”
During the 1982 war between the UK and Argentina, when one called the islands it was fought over “the Falklands,” he was seeing the dispute through British eyes. If one called the same offshore territories “the Malvinas,” he was viewing the conflict from Argentina’s standpoint.
Names are important.
By the way, this whole Democrat/Democratic thing doesn’t go very far back. I can’t remember it before about 15 years ago.
-- Terry
Yes, Shaun, people would get your name wrong. But if a regular poster to your blog consistantly called you Shwrong Kenney, I think after a while you'd be pretty upset with it, and you certainly wouldn't just dismiss it as a trivial error.
I'm sorry, but those pushing this "Democrat Party" phrase remind me of my 10-year-old holding his finger an inch from his sister and saying "i'm not touching you".
Grow up. We can embarrass the democrats by simply explaining their positions on issues, or just quoting what they say.
This goes for all the "cute" names people make up for politicians they don't like too. Let's debate in the sphere of ideas, not wallow in the mud of name-calling.
Not saying some folks aren't doing it maliciously, but why is this such an issue?
You know very well that the name of the party is the "Democratic Party".
Plain and simple. That's the name. Republicans deliberately use an incorrect name because some of your linguistic experts and Frank Luntz types have found that focus groups have less positive reactions to the term "Democrat Party" versus the term "Democratic Party".
And of course it's a grammatical issue as well. "Democratic" is the correct adjectival form modifying "party". Like far too many people nowadays misusing the nominal or noun form as an adjective, Republicans are making a grammatical error by saying "Democrat Party" rather than "Democratic Party". "Republican" can be used as either a noun or an adjective. "Democrat" is only a noun, with the adjectival form being "Democratic".
But you knew that. You're not uneducated. Just deliberately obtuse in defense of a practice of your party that you simply know is wrong.
It's the equivalent of people insisting your name be spelled "Sean" because they don't like to spell it "Shaun". "Shaun" is your name, and it's disrespectful to purposely write that your name is "Sean" even though I know it's not your name and not what you want to be called.
It's the "Democratic Party". Period.
Sometimes, and I believe this to be the case in this instance, the punishment is in the correction.
As for the rest, I just don't understand (or perhaps lack the depth) the offense.
If my son persisted in calling a lollipop a wowwypop, I wouldn't take offense. Similarly, if he persisted in saying 2+2=57, I wouldn't take that as an insult to my intelligence. If he calls me "dada" rather than Dad, I don't take that as disrespect to my authority as a father...
Perhaps good people can just disagree on this. I for one do not have a problem confusing Democrats with the Democratic Party, so if that's any consolation or sign...
My US$0.02 anyhow.
The point being, his mispronounciations or misconceptions are more a reflection on his education (maturity?), and nothing else.
Furthermore (and I alluded to this in my post), it's not uncommon to affiliate members of a party with the party name. Since calling people Democratics is odd, it only stands to reason that a Democrat would be a member of a Democrat Party.
It really can be an innocent mistake, and there really are people who just need to have it explained to 'em!
Of course these are also the people that think wearing a white sheet and burning crosses are acceptable.
Members of the Republican Party aren't referred to as "Republics" pr "Republicisits". We call them "Republicans" as the name is the "Republican" Party.
Well ... logically following the flow of grammar, the same should follow for "Democratics". They ARE the "Democratic" Party, afterall.
So, henceforth, members of the "Democratic" Party shall no longer be referred to as "Democrats" (as the party is not the "Democrat" Party), but as "Democratics", after the "official" name of their party.
What do you think? Too much overuse of quotation marks?
Sheesh!
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