Oh great...Our Military has come up with a racial term for Iraqis

[Khephra]

"Hadjis"

In the Arab world it is considered a word of respect.

1 - "One who has made a pilgrimage to Mecca."

2 - "Often used as a form of address for one who has made such a pilgrimage."

Now we're using it during beatings of Iraqis, and obviously using it as a racial term of contempt (according to this reporter) so we're perverting it in their eyes.

From CNN LIVE just now (10:30 PM ET) from a Newsweek reporter.

[Cleita]

1. What's that Kephra?

Haj or Haji? Our military is good at that. I remember once talking to the daughter of a friend of mine, who was in the army and on leave. While she described what she was doing she casually threw out the word Gooks referring to the Vietnamese boat people that were being brought to the United States then.

[Khephra]

4. Haji ...I'm pretty sure. I only heard him say it.

I only could type a bit of it up, but I'm going to have to remember to post the entire segment. They actually were letting some nasty truths out about how our men our treating Iraqi civilians. It was pretty shocking to hear negative info about our troops on CNN.

[La_Serpiente]

2. This is as bad

as gooks or japs. Begeezers.

[Khephra]

6. The reporter said they were using just like we had used

"Charlies". NOT good in the slightest.

[lovedems]

3. And dumbya wonders why the rest of the world

thinks this a war on Muslims instead of a war on terra! I don't blame the soldiers, I blame the people they are getting their orders from and I am sure they are being brainwashed into thinking all Muslims are terrists! With each passing day this misadministration ruins whats left of our image.

[gratuitous]

5. Sounds like a riff on Jonny Quest

His Indian companion was Haji, as I recall. Bet a nickel.

[Khephra]

7. I know the millitary was calling some of the looters

"Ali Babbas" (sp?), but that was just the looters.

The point of no return has hit. Our men and women overseas are forgetting that we are supposed to be LIBERATING these people, not subjugating them.

[The Magistrate]

8. Sounds Like We Are Settling In For The Long Haul, Mr. Khephra

[Khephra]

9. Damn us history readers!

Sigh...

:hi: Sir!

[Kinkistyle]

10. Not just on Iraqi's

All brown-skinned folks living in the general area. Afghanis, Pakistanis etc..

[Cleita]

11. The British used to call the Middle Eastern and Indian

people, Wogs.

[pink_poodle]

12. That term really meant................

Western Oriental Gentlemen but of course, not with any respect. Arabs were in the "oriental" category as well as Asians....to us Brits anyway.....but that was way back when.....

[ComerPerro]

16. Hell, its the same now

One of my friends is Indian (India, not Native American) and a lot of people think he is Arabic or muslim.

[mitchtv]

13. when I was in Bolivia , I met some one I know

in the Peace Corps, they were calling them 'Blips'

[Tinoire]

14. What happened to "Sand Niggers"

That was the common, most widely-used, term when I was in.

Heart-breaking... all of this.

[ComerPerro]

17. I am sure it is still widely popular

I have heard conservatives here in the US say it.

[_Jumper_]

18. True

That is why I am so intrigued by Jindal's nomination by the GOP in Lousiana for governor.

[_Jumper_]

15. Is this widespread?

?