Comments on: Illiterate Peasants… http://www.sanspretense.com/2008/04/27/59/ Brutally Honest to a Fault Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:00:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: davonwf http://www.sanspretense.com/2008/04/27/59/#comment-14 davonwf Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:59:44 +0000 http://www.sanspretense.com/?p=59#comment-14 Yea, that's what I was trying to get at with the whole connotation part. You did a much better job of explaining it when you tied it into class. But that's my point, too: The way the system is set-up now, we're basically importing cheap labor in such a way as to keep them as cheap labor - i.e., bringing "illiterate peasants" in and not setting up a means for them to become like the rest of us "uppity townsfolk." At least it's legal peasantry, though. Yea, that’s what I was trying to get at with the whole connotation part. You did a much better job of explaining it when you tied it into class. But that’s my point, too: The way the system is set-up now, we’re basically importing cheap labor in such a way as to keep them as cheap labor - i.e., bringing “illiterate peasants” in and not setting up a means for them to become like the rest of us “uppity townsfolk.” At least it’s legal peasantry, though.

]]> By: Sam http://www.sanspretense.com/2008/04/27/59/#comment-13 Sam Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:30:07 +0000 http://www.sanspretense.com/?p=59#comment-13 Let me start off with saying that although I heard of this story, I didn't really pay much attention to it because I figured it was just the media blowing someone's comments out of proportion (again). I read the quote and followed the link from your blog, and I read your response to it (good blog by the way). Mostly, I agree that "technically" Mr. Bruce didn't say anything wrong -the people he was referring to are farm workers and most likely uneducated. What I have a problem with is that aside from the technical definition, the words he chose were meant to denote class (and in my opinion denote his superiority). We are not in the friggin Medieval times here...we don't refer to human beings as peasants...and in doing so establish our "kingship" over them. Even if it is "technically" true...it doesn't make it right. I am sure he could have found a better way to say what he meant. Of course, there's always the chance that he does think himself superior and stated what he meant very well. Human dignity is human dignity...here in the US, or in Mexico or wherever you can think of in this world. It is never right to think that one person is somehow superior...this is how we get in trouble (just ask Adolf about it). So anyway, I understand what you're saying, and I know very well that sometimes people only cry out because society is concerned about being PC, but in this case I do take offense to his statement. Not as any particular group, but as a human being who is tired of class always being thrown around, as if we are all born with the same privileges and therefore have control of what kind of social status we can achieve (granted that we have more control in this day and age, than before). Just as an aside...check out this cool Middle Ages website: www.themiddleages.net - "The word peasant is sometimes used as an insult by those townsfolk who consider themselves superior to rural labourers." And just to clarify...I'm not technically pissed off at his comments, I think the word annoyed is appropriate - technically. Let me start off with saying that although I heard of this story, I didn’t really pay much attention to it because I figured it was just the media blowing someone’s comments out of proportion (again).

I read the quote and followed the link from your blog, and I read your response to it (good blog by the way).

Mostly, I agree that “technically” Mr. Bruce didn’t say anything wrong -the people he was referring to are farm workers and most likely uneducated.

What I have a problem with is that aside from the technical definition, the words he chose were meant to denote class (and in my opinion denote his superiority). We are not in the friggin Medieval times here…we don’t refer to human beings as peasants…and in doing so establish our “kingship” over them.

Even if it is “technically” true…it doesn’t make it right. I am sure he could have found a better way to say what he meant. Of course, there’s always the chance that he does think himself superior and stated what he meant very well.

Human dignity is human dignity…here in the US, or in Mexico or wherever you can think of in this world. It is never right to think that one person is somehow superior…this is how we get in trouble (just ask Adolf about it).

So anyway, I understand what you’re saying, and I know very well that sometimes people only cry out because society is concerned about being PC, but in this case I do take offense to his statement. Not as any particular group, but as a human being who is tired of class always being thrown around, as if we are all born with the same privileges and therefore have control of what kind of social status we can achieve (granted that we have more control in this day and age, than before).

Just as an aside…check out this cool Middle Ages website:
http://www.themiddleages.net -

“The word peasant is sometimes used as an insult by those townsfolk who consider themselves superior to rural labourers.”

And just to clarify…I’m not technically pissed off at his comments, I think the word annoyed is appropriate - technically.

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