Terms And Phrases Deemed Offensive

Have you noticed that there are now certain terms and phrases that are being banned or frowned upon because they supposedly conjure up negative connotations and are being considered and coined as offensive? Who dreams this stuff up? I say be careful about what you listen to, you may be getting brainwashed without knowing it. 

It seems that here in Utah we are now being associated with the Confederate South. In St. George, we have a university here named Dixie State University! Some are saying that with all the recent focus on the Confederate Flag that now might be the right time for Utah to reconsider its "unfortunate" association with the confederate south. Never mind that 80% of the community members in a recent survey say they want the name to stay and that they like it.  
 When Mormon settlers came to St. George, they called the area Dixie because it was hot and grew cotton, like in the south. But now many connect the word to slavery and the Civil War.

Here is what one person thinks about the name 'Dixie'.

"Dixie" is a horribly offensive and racist word! As a young child, I was forced to drink Kool-Aid from a Dixie Cup. I found it so incredibly derogatory and offensive. To this day, I can't bring myself to drink Kool-Aid, as it leaves such a bitter taste in my mouth.
Then there was the time I played trumpet in the high school band. My band director made us play Dixie music during Mardi Gras. I was so offended by it that I lost my embouchure. My band director and the word dixie is responsible for the millions of dollars in potential income I would have earned as a professional trumpeter.

At about this same time, I became an avid Journey fan. The albums were epic: Evolution, Infinity, Departure...then I bought the live album, 'Captured' and heard for the first time, a live track entitled, "Dixie Highway". All sense of right and wrong left me. Racial harmony no longer had any meaning in my life. My favorite band of all time was nothing but a bunch of racist bigots. I couldn't believe it! I didn't want to Stop Believin' but the proof was right there, in the track! Not long afterwards, I realized the "Dixie Highway" wasn't just a song. It was actually the name of a real highway in the United States. IN THE U.S. of all things! Yeah, a highway that runs from Detroit all the way down to Florida, 1, 385 miles of racist, offensive bigoted highway. How could my government allow that?
To this day, I blame every evil, every shortcoming, every disadvantage I've ever had in life on the word "Dixie."
--name withheld


This is a good point. There are so many things with the name 'Dixie'. Does that now mean we want to get rid of every mention of that name? 

Another great way to think about this:

"Let's try an experiment with this use of logic. Southern Utah is associated with Dixie because of cotton. Cotton was originally harvested by slaves, therefore we should equate cotton production and products with slavery. We all should boycott cotton...and no longer wear blue-jeans as a protest against slavery!
Utah's Dixie did not have slaves. Those that settled Utah's Dixie did not practice slavery--even when it was legal; settlers of Utah's Dixie were openly opposed to slavery, these settlers considered slavery evil, actively supported & espoused its abolishment, and did not permit its practice in any of their settlements...well before such laws were passed elsewhere and a generation before the 14th amendment. The settlers of Utah's Dixie did NOT afford black men (AND women even before national suffrage) only part of a vote in local elections--as was the predominate practice elsewhere. I would think from an abolitionist viewpoint that we should celebrate Southern Utah settlers and the fact that Utah's Dixie demonstrated conclusively that slave were NOT necessary to profitably produce cotton products...well before either the US abolished slavery or the advent of the cotton-gin." ---Doug Van Duker

I feel that many terms or phrases, such as "dixie"  are coming under attack for ridiculous reasons. But for right now, can we just leave Dixie out of the progressive brain washing conversation? It's designed to take away freedom of speech, one phrase or term at a time.