O/T:- The Dam Busters!

[queenslandpie]

I had never heard anyone use "coon" to describe native aussies prior to that campaign, and thought it was downright weird to change the company's name after all these decades. But, whatever.

As for "wog" I had definitely heard that used as derogatory toward mediterranean descended folk.

Edit: And for the actual change of the dog's name in a film, good. It doesn't change the history one iota and will remove a distracting element from an otherwise good old film.

I have only used it in the same way someone may say "bloody poms" for example. So perhaps pom is also racist. I had never ever heard of the c word being used here but I did find it weird being British by birth that the cheese was called that. Most people here would have no clue. I probably agree with you in regards to the film though. However I now have a near neighbor who has decided to call the substantial ( and beautiful) garden near his house " black mans gully" ( I kid you not) he is obviously a 65+ year old white Australian male Queenslander. His choice I guess but probably not the best choice. And people wonder why Australians are accused of casual racism a lot.

[Another one]

I have only used it in the same way someone may say "bloody poms" for example. So perhaps pom is also racist.

What I don't get is that abbreviated versions of Japanese and Pakistani are somehow racist and yet Pom is still allowed? Obviously can't complain about it and reinforce another stereotype.

I had never ever heard of the c word being used here but I did find it weird being British by birth that the cheese was called that. Most people here would have no clue.

I well remember seeing Coon cheese in a Sydney supermarket on my first trip over there in 1986. Couldn't believe it. Led to a lifetimes interest in visiting supermarkets in overseas countries to see what other delights they have. I recall sitting on the floor laughing at dog food in rolls in the supermarket fridge in NZ, although at the time I was very, very drunk.

Back on topic, I don't think you should whitewash history, if I can still use the term. Things happened, some weren't nice, but to bury them away is to alter our very history. By all means have warnings etc, blank the word out if you really must but don't change it to something else. Someone mentioned Dixie. How long until re-runs of the Dukes of Hazard are banned?