In a Salon article by Juan Cole about problems the McCain campaign is developing with Arab-American voters in swing states like Michigan and Ohio, I was struck by this paragraph as being indicative of the aging candidate’s use of offensive language relating to large groups of citizens:
The minority of Arab-Americans who are Muslim have been disturbed at McCain’s constant use of the adjective “Islamic” when referring to terrorists. (Muslims use the word “Islamic” to refer to the ideals of their religion, and so might refer to a “Muslim criminal,” but an “Islamic criminal” would be a contradiction in terms.) McCain’s campaign says he will continue to use the word. (This obstinacy recalls his vow in 2000 to continue to use the word “gook” when referring to the Viet Cong, a term that offended Asian-Americans. At length McCain relented and dropped the slur.)
This seems to be a problem of personality which opens the door to many potential problems in the future. As we become a more and more diverse population – something the success of Obama in gaining support for his nomination among Democrats makes clear – it will be more and more incumbent on leaders to recognize and adjust to changes in accepted language. We have come a long way since my childhood in the fifties in recognizing the unfortunate use of scandalous pejoratives relating to African Americans, Hispanics, Italians, Native Americans, the Irish and so many other ethnic and immigrant groups.
McCain’s use of language that offends particular groups and his seeming inability or unwillingness to change that use makes him a much less attractive presidential model.
