Use of the word "Haboobs" has got them people in Arizona stompin' mad!!!

[underpants]

Use of the term “haboob,” which is what such storms have long been called in the Middle East, has rubbed some Arizona residents the wrong way.

“I am insulted that local TV news crews are now calling this kind of storm a haboob,” Don Yonts, a resident of Gilbert, Ariz., wrote to The Arizona Republic after a particularly fierce, mile-high dust storm swept through the state on July 5. “How do they think our soldiers feel coming back to Arizona and hearing some Middle Eastern term?”

“Excuse me, Mr. Weatherman!” she said in a letter to the editor. “Who gave you the right to use the word ‘haboob’ in describing our recent dust storm? While you may think there are similarities, don’t forget that in these parts our dust is mixed with the whoop of the Indian’s dance, the progression of the cattle herd and warning of the rattlesnake as it lifts its head to strike.”



“Meteorologists in the Southwest have used the term for decades,” said Randy Cerveny, a climatologist at Arizona State University. “The media usually avoid it because they don’t think anyone will understand it.”

Not everyone was put out by the use of the term. David Wilson of Goodyear, Ariz., said those who wanted to avoid Arabic terms should steer clear of algebra, zero, pajamas and khaki, as well. “Let’s not become so ‘xenophobic’ that we forget to remember that we are citizens of the world, nor fail to recognize the contributions of all cultures to the richness of our language,” he wrote.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/22/us/22haboob.html?hp#

[blueamy66]

1. I live in AZ

and haven't heard anyone say that they have a problem with the term.

[KarenS]

30. Hey there,,,, I live in Arizona too and

my Dad in Mesa was just talking about some folks (in an old folks subdivision) complaining about the use of the word,,,,

I laughed and told him that I was going to be saying "haboob" alot now :)

[blueamy66]

43. I can understand that older folks in Mesa

would complain about the use of the term.

:-)

[SaveAmerica]

64. Please pronounce it Hey Boob!

[awoke_in_2003]

87. Na na na na...

Hey Boob

[immoderate]

85. You should sing the song to them...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPVgKoruWdA

If you like haboobs a lot...


--imm

[underpants]

2. Now who can argue with that?

“Excuse me, Mr. Weatherman!” she said in a letter to the editor. “Who gave you the right to use the word ‘haboob’ in describing our recent dust storm? While you may think there are similarities, don’t forget that in these parts our dust is mixed with the whoop of the Indian’s dance, the progression of the cattle herd and warning of the rattlesnake as it lifts its head to strike.”







Now who can argue with that? I think we're all indebt to Gabby Johnson for stating what needed to be said. I am particulary glad that these lovely children are here today to hear that speech. Not only was it authentic frontier gibberish, it expressed the courage little seen in this day and age.

[Kolesar]

4. So, pull your kids of of Algebra class, then

Love your tribute to Blazing Saddles

[WinkyDink]

9. Not to mention don't let them touch ALcohol!

The word alcohol appears in English in the 16th century, loaned via French from medical Latin, ultimately from the Arabic الكحل (al-kuḥl, "the kohl, a powder used as an eyeliner").

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol

[sarge43]

25. Or coffee. n/t

[underpants]

18. Yeah! and no healthcare either!!!

at the beginning of the Crusades Western Europe only "bathed" when crossing a stream and "hospitals" were simply the place that poor people went to die....slowly.

Oh and all that math and zero and agriculture - just those things

[Kolesar]

29. Europeans wore "Elizabethan" high collars to keep the body odor in

They had visible gobs of bacteria hanging from their armpit hairs.

[underpants]

32. WOW

thanks. Did not know that.

I just lost my appetite

[Kolesar]

66. Backpackers discuss these things on their message boards...eom

[gvstn]

54. Wow, again!

I didn't realize bathing was a custom which was learnt.

[awoke_in_2003]

90. I was reading about the first lady...

eating a cheeseburger just a minute ago, and was hungry. Thanks for fixing that :hi:

[calimary]

76. And astronomy.

[CBGLuthier]

13. rehra

[underpants]

23. I wash born here, an I wash raished here, and dad gum it,...

I wash born here, an I wash raished here, and dad gum it, I am gonna die here, an no sidewindin' bushwackin', hornswagglin' cracker croaker is gonna rouin me bishen cutter.








Governor William J. Le Petomane: I didn't get a "harrumph" out of that guy!
Hedley Lamarr: Give the Governor harrumph!
Politician: Harrumph!
Governor William J. Le Petomane: You watch your ass.

[sarge43]

33. "You know ... morons." n/t

[Blue_Tires]

34. awesome...

[Iggo]

37. LOL...exactly!

:applause:

[fishwax]

57. lol

:rofl:

[Ignis]

71. Underpants Johnson is right about Gabby Johnson being right!

Rrghrh!

[rbixby]

78. I would have never guessed that the right to say that

has to be granted.

[awoke_in_2003]

89. I love authentic frontier gibberish...

:)

[WinkyDink]

3. I think it's not been used in the media because of the second syllable!

[Iggo]

40. Reminds me of the time I sneezed on some poor woman's cleavage.

Ha...ha...ha....ha-BOOBS!

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Let me respond . . .

“How do they think our soldiers feel coming back to Arizona and hearing some Middle Eastern term?”

1. Shish kabob
2. Falafal
3. Baklawa
4. Pita
5. Phyllo pastries
6. Hummus

A variety of terms from countries throughout the Middle East have already been incorporated into our common parlance.

But then again, maybe this woman only eats good ole "American" hamburgers, hot dogs, and Mom's apple pie and isn't familiar with these foods.

[WinkyDink]

6. Mmm....hummus....mmmmmmmmm.

[awoke_in_2003]

91. lost me at the hummus. nt

[malaise]

11. Maybe they should reject organized

agriculture as well. Stupid fucks!

[underpants]

17. and healthcare

at the beginning of the Crusades Western Europe only "bathed" when crossing a stream and "hospitals" were simply the place that poor people went to die....slowly.

Oh and all that math and zero and as you say agriculture

[malaise]

24. Seriously can you believe these stupid fucks?

Their love of ignorance is breath-taking.

[awoke_in_2003]

92. I live in Texas...

and no, I cannot believe these stupid fucks.

[underpants]

20. HAMBURGER!?!?!?

How do you think our boys coming home from the War to End All Wars would feel hearing that?

No no no keep that dirty Hun food away from us!!

[no_hypocrisy]

28. Actually the Germanophobia around WWI was pre-9/11 with changing terms.

Hamburgers were called Salisbury Steak.
Frankfurters were called Coney Islands.
Sauerkraut was called Liberty Cabbage.

[underpants]

31. I had heard of Liberty Cabbage

:wow:

[sarge43]

35. Those labels stayed around for a long time.

I remember my mother calling burgers Salisbury Steak well into the 50's.

[Iggo]

38. ...and don't forget the freedom fries. (n/t)

:patriot:

[WinkyDink]

7. From the Arizona DOT: HABOOBS:

http://www.azdot.gov/CCPartnerships/haboob/index.asp

Blinding, blowing dust storms, frequent in Arizona during the summer, cause reduced visibility to near zero, creating unexpected and unsafe conditions for motorists. How you react in a dust storm can save your life and the life of others, prevent injuries, and reduce property damage.

Also called a "HABOOB," dust storms are most common between May and September in Maricopa and Pima County.

[Orrex]

8. If they're not careful, they'll get their asses kicked by a simoom.

They've been warned.

[rfranklin]

10. Let's call them "The Winds of Freedom"

Have another Freedom Fry!

[marions ghost]

14. ha ha --ditto

I didn't read your post before posting mine...re Freedom Fries...

[WinkyDink]

15. Democracy DustStorm!

[calimary]

77. DemocraDust?

Freedom Dust? How 'bout Ameri-boob for some of these folks?

[awoke_in_2003]

93. please do not associate...

these people with boobs. Boobs are nice things.

[KurtNYC]

39. and if they are strong: "The Breaking Winds of Freedom" n/t

[Liberalynn]

44. Omg

:spray: :rofl:

Seriously some of these people are not only dumb as a rock but mental too! Goody for them all they have to worry about is what a weather effect is called.

[myrna minx]

48. LOL.

:rofl:

[ensho]

50. lol

nt

[Solly Mack]

58. LMAO Perfect!!

[marions ghost]

12. The same people

who ate the Freedom Fries...

[anarch]

16. I think these people should stop using any words that came from other languages.

Any.

[mwb970]

19. My goodness, what shallow, unworldly people wingnuts are.

It's like they've never left their house! What word is the opposite of "sophisticated" and "cosmopolitan"? "Provincial"? Whatever the word is, it describes these rubes perfectly.

[LeftinOH]

21. I'm wondering what term(s) the native Americans have used for 'haboob'; there are probably

a few obscure terms in Hopi, Navajo, etc. which haven't been considered.

[Iggo]

42. According to that letter writer, I think it was "Whoop!" (n/t)

[JHB]

Is this a tsunami of linguistic bigotry?

Pass me the salt, ketchup, and Freedom Fries while I watch.

[bullwinkle428]

45. BINGO - the equivalent claim would be "Using the term 'Tsunami' is an insult to those

who died at Pearl Harbor!!1!"

:crazy: :crazy: :crazy:

[LaurenG]

22. Ignorant, uneducated, teabagging Arizonian

may all your grandchildren be brown and speak several languages that are foreign to you! When your family is finally diverse maybe then you'll get over your bad self.

[Obamanaut]

26. What to do about Arabic (or Hindu-Arabic) numerals? What a dilemma! nt

[RagAss]

27. Here's a word for them....CRETIN !

[distantearlywarning]

36. People this stupid...

I am ashamed to be living in the same country as these maroons. And also, they all need to get a job or something, because obviously they don't have enough real problems in their life to worry about right now. This kind of stupidity is what you get when right-wing wackos have too much free time on their hands.

[krispos42]

41. Okay, then, find and use the English equivilent.

I'll wait.

[pipi_k]

46. Maybe "Haboobs" is just too high-classed a word for them...how about

"Ha-teats" instead...

[hootinholler]

47. I thought a Haboob was someone in the tea party

Because every time I see them I think HA! BOOB!

Learn something new every day ;)

-Hoot

[Faryn Balyncd]

61. It's the Republican caucus.

[ellie]

49. Goddamned bunch of loons.

[sinkingfeeling]

51. Wow, can Americans get any more petty and stupid? It's the 'American fries' all over again. Can't

say any word that might have an Arabic origin?

[Bill McBlueState]

52. argh

I remember thinking, "Oh, they're going to complain about that." But I wasn't serious!

[FreakinDJ]

53. Fucking Freakazoids

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

55. So: No weather words of foreign origin?

Then we can't use chinook, foehn, tsunami, tornado, El Nino, monsoon, or typhoon.

Of course the real problem for these knuckle-draggers is they don't want to use none o' them Mooslimy, Araby words, nosiree, we're real Americans. So therefore, we can't use any words that were originally Arabic: admiral, albatross, alcohol, algebra, apricot, arsenal, assassin, azimuth, azure, borax, camphor, candy, check, coffee, cotton, gauze, gerbil, ghoul, giraffe, harem, jar, jasmine, lacquer, lemon, lime, magazine, mattress, mohair, monsoon, mummy, nadir, orange, racquet, safari, saffron, sash, sequin, soda, sofa, spinach, sugar, syrup, tangerine, tariff, zenith or zero.

Morons.

[dixiegrrrrl]

56. No wonder those storms are so bad, being mixed with "progression of the cattle herds"

sort of a windy stampede, eh?

[Orrex]

59. Any chance to get the word "boob" into the conversation gets the thumbs up from me.

haboob
haboob
haboob

:thumbsup:

[Gold Metal Flake]

60. 2 nutbags = millions of ordinary people who don't care.

That is today's "liberal" media.

[WinkyDink]

62. There's a PHOTO!!

[underpants]

94. Hey! You're standing on my tail!

[SaveAmerica]

63. Only a nabob would be offended by a Haboob

[pnwest]

65. oh, gimme a fuggin' break

The use of the word haboob has ONE person in Arizona mad, not all "them people"...one fuggin' idiot nutbag. I can tell you we have been using the name Haboob forever, and any soldier returning from Iraq to Arizona already knew the term long before he got there. Sweet Cheezus, some people will look for anything to get fuggin' worked up about. There's a lot of idiots in AZ, just like there's a lot of idiots everywhere else. But I've never, not once ever, heard anyone around here get upset over the word Haboob.

[otohara]

67. Tsunami

If there was whiter sounding name for Tsunami, they'd use it

[ThoughtCriminal]

68. "Do do they think returning soldiers feel?"

Clearly spoken by somebody who would have no clue how a soldier would feel.

Pretty sure they can handle it - Soldiers came back from WW-2 and ate plenty of hamburgers without writing a letter to the editor to whine about it.

[progressoid]

69. That much stupid should hurt.

[hifiguy]

70. Teh stoopid runs uncommon strong in these people

This kind of idiocy should be preserved in a museum and not allowed to run loose. :crazy:

[AsahinaKimi]

72. Next time I go to Arizona I will be sure not to

Ask if they serve Hummus and Falafals. Omg, that stuff is so good!

[libodem]

73. God hates Arizona

Especially Maricopia Country.

[WCGreen]

74. Ha Boob....

Sounds like a Russ Meyers movie...

[KamaAina]

75. 'Pajamas' is actually Persian, via Hindustani

but close enough. :eyes:

[KamaAina]

79. I wish I'd known the word "Haboob"

back in the heyday of neocon stooge Philip Habib. :eyes:

[MilesColtrane]

80. I assume that Mr. Yonts and Ms. Robinson will do their part...

in helping our returning troops feel welcome by refusing to use the Arabic numeral system.

"Roman numerals were good enough for Jayzus!!"

[Gidney N Cloyd]

81. When you think about 'haboob,' it's really not so bad...

It's got "boob," which is good. And "Ha!" in front of it. "Ha!-boob." It's actually pretty refreshing.

[undeterred]

82. Haboob: Arabic bra manufacturer

Well, it ought to be.

[Rex]

83. Some people were born to be socially ignorant and like to stay that way.

Morans.

[Faryn Balyncd]

84. A cross between a hayseed and a boob?

[spanone]

86. another barometer on how fucking stupid americans are

[DFab420]

88. I thought republicans, of all people, loved Boobs?

nt