Haven for the Human Amoeba

Is there anyone who is in (or is able and willing to get to) the UK, who has reasonable organizational and time management skills, lots of patience, doesn't smoke, is interested in autism, and would like to attend Autscape (www.autscape.org) for free, in return for being my support person? The support person I had lined up has just canceled due to a family emergency. The plane tickets (which I already paid for) are non-transferable, so I can't use them to provide transportation from the US for a new support person. That's why I'm looking for someone who's already in the UK, or at least in Europe and able to get to the UK, without needing airfare.

Dates are August 1-4. Ideally I'd like some help getting presentation and training materials organized after arriving at the venue on July 31. I'm doing some organizer training on August 1, and presenting on August 2. I don't expect to need much help at all on August 3, so if the support person wanted to go off sightseeing that day, it would be fine.

Anyone interested, please contact me off-list for more information.

Jim Sinclair jisincla@... www.jimsinclair.org

Asexual marriage bothers highly-educated women www.chinaview.cn 2006-07-12 11:18:28 "Asexual marriage is not a sin but the couple should face it with a positive attitude." (File Photo) BEIJING, July 12 -- A website on asexual marriage was recently launched in Chongqing municipality. After it was opened, many people logged onto the website. In just ten days, 400 people registered as subscribers on the website, 60% of them women. Last Sunday, 20 people considered as belonging to the asexual group gathered in Tieshanping, in Jiangbei district of Chongqing. Most of them were married. Among these people, 30% were couples that came together. At the gathering, the organizer invited psychological doctors to teach them how to maintain their marriage in asexual status. The most active members at the meeting were not those unmarried people who came there looking for partners, but the couple themselves. "From appearance, they look just the same as any couples. They talk and chat, and even have some intimate behaviors," said the organizer. The website was created by a person surnamed Peng who works in the psychological field. He said that apart from physical, psychological defects, and a dull relationship between husband and wife, asexual marriages were mainly caused by too much work pressure for the husband and wife to devote their time to maintaining their marriage. "Asexual marriage is not a sin but the couple should face it with a positive attitude. If they don't communicate with each other, misunderstanding will arise between the couple and overnight romance will come about," said Peng. By launching the website, Peng said that he hoped that more people involved in asexual marriage would be able to find their suitable marriage partner and couples could shake off the asexual status as soon as possible. At present, most people that have asexual marriage fall in the highly educated group. Among them are teachers, officials, and white collar workers. For many, their asexual marriages are caused by post-natal factors instead of physical defects or a sudden incident. According to sociologists, apart from diseases or sudden changes, couples that do not have any sexual relationships with each other for a month are involved in an asexual marriage relationship.

(Source: chinanews.cn)

Editor: Nie Peng Copyright 2003 Xinhua News Agency. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-07/12/content_4821448.htm

I read an article in the Washington Post on Friday. It had girls talking about the first time (for intercourse). It stated that it can feel like death if it is with the wrong person. Wow, close to what I feel all the time when I do it. Sex always feels like death to me. I have heard the bullshit about how it is life affirming, it did give me my two children. One has attempted suicide, so the life affirming crap only goes so far.

Karin

i'm new here, glad to meet you!

I felt the same way the first time. It wasn't painful like it would be for a woman, but repulsive. So much hype on being a man when your young. You know, your not a man until you have sex. I felt so disgusted the next day. Its been 7 years now since I quit for good! I sometimes tell people I'm Asexual and they're like, "Oh your gay!" lol! Ahh..no! Blacks seem the ones who can't understand this the most. They seem to live the stereotype about sex and manliness. Usually I get a lot of snickers and eye-rolls from them. Not that I really care, tho I find it sometimes bothers me. I guess its instinct...

China's 'asexual marriage' matchmaking site thrives

Online marriage brokers are common in China, but a young Chinese Web site is thriving by turning the traditional idea of marriage on its head. Called Marriage for Asexuals, the site claims to be the first and biggest online marriage broker for "asexual" people in China. It says it has attracted 7,000 members since it was launched last year.

Its success helps illustrates the expansion of the Internet in China, the increasingly permissive nature of Chinese society--and the way small but growing minorities of people are stepping away from traditions that have dominated culture for thousands of years.

"I came up with the idea to help a friend, who lost his sexual abilities after an accident," said the 33-year-old founder of the Web site, who works full-time for an information technology company in the remote southern province of Guangxi. A Communist Party member and a volunteer social worker, the founder was willing to identify himself only by his Internet name Lin Hai. He chose not to tell his parents and co-workers about the site because he worried about their reactions. "At the beginning, I couldn't believe so many people from all over China were drawn to my Web site," said Lin.

Sixty percent of the site's customers are people who cannot have sex, Lin said. The rest are "comrades," the Chinese nickname for homosexuals, who sign on in search of an opposite-sex spouse, often to relieve social and family pressure.

New forms of marriage

The site is particularly daring in Chinese society because of the culture's strong emphasis on heterosexual marriage and child-bearing. Confucius taught that not having children was the height of filial impiety. Under Chairman Mao, a person's "work unit" or employer often acted as matchmaker.

But the Marriage for Asexuals Web site is an example of the way in which the institution of marriage is being modified and adapted, mostly in China's cities, by breakneck economic and social development.

#textCarousel { width: 140px; border-color: #630; border-width: 2px; border-style: solid; padding: 10px; float: right; margin: 15px 0 15px 15px; background-image: url(/i/ne05/fmwk/greyfadeback.jpg); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position: -150px top; } #textCarousel li { font-size: 95%; line-height: 1em; margin-bottom: 10px; } #textCarousel h4 { margin: 0 0 5px 0; font-size: 110%; } So-called "Dink" marriages, standing for "double income, no kids"--it is fashionable in China to use the American acronym--have become popular among young urban professionals. Such arrangements wouldn't raise an eyebrow in the West, but in China they are still viewed as something of a radical lifestyle choice.

"I have no time to raise kids, or even to go through pregnancy," said a manager in her late 30s at a company in Shanghai. "I'd rather save the money and time to live more happily with my husband."

Underlining the still-controversial nature of her choice, the manager was willing to give her name only as "Ms. Liu." (Liu is a popular last name in China, akin to Smith in the U.S.)

Another marital alternative is "marriage on weekends," where couples deliberately live apart on weekdays to maintain their independence.

"There is much more space for unconventional marriages, as the government gradually withdrew from people's private lives after 1978," said sociologist Sun Zhongxin of Fudan University.

The Chinese government does not hesitate to block or censor things on the Internet that it does not like, but Lin said he had not received any official criticism or warnings over "Marriage for Asexuals".

Mixed tones

The Web site features traditional Chinese music and a romantic picture of a Western man and woman at the top of the home page. It includes discussions of asexual marriage as well as a contacts section through which people can meet each other. It is free of charge, but accepts donations.

"I want a Beijing boy who is outspoken, upright and who treats my parents well," wrote "Beijing Girl" in a typical posting. "I am a translator, tall and slim, and I earn 2,000 ($250) to 3,500 yuan per month."

The tone of some other postings is more tragic in a country where homosexuality was listed as a mental disorder until 2001 (about 30 years longer than in the United States), and where it remains stigmatized in many places.

"My parents threatened to never see me again or even to commit double-suicide if I do not have a baby soon," said a Mr. Wu in a posting.

"Many co-workers look at me like a jerk, an impotent, or a sick person, just because I've been married for 10 years and have no child yet."

Story Copyright 2006 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

http://news.com.com/Chinas+asexual+marriage+matchmaking+site+thrives/2100-1038_3-6097459.html

I felt the same way the first time. It wasn't painful like it would be for a woman, but repulsive. So much hype on being a man when your young. You know, your not a man until you have sex. I felt so disgusted the next day. Its been 7 years now since I quit for good! I sometimes tell people I'm Asexual and they're like, "Oh your gay!" lol! Ahh..no! Blacks seem the ones who can't understand this the most.

What!! I am the moderator of this group and I happen to be "Black" So obviously, not ALL Blacks are representative of the stereotypical comment you posted!!

They seem to live the stereotype about sex and manliness. Usually I get a lot of snickers and eye-rolls from them. Not that I really care, tho I find it sometimes bothers me. I guess its instinct...

.

Harvard Applicants May Now Declare Third "Gender"

By Terry Vanderheyden

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, July 26, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Harvard Business School has introduced a change to its application--prospective students are now asked to describe their gender as "male", "female", or "transgender" in an online profile they are required to fill out.

Concerned Women for America's Culture and Family Institute (CFI) director Bob Knight criticized the move to introduce and legitimize the third so-called "gender." "I'm not surprised it's coming out of Harvard," he said, as reported by Agape Press. "Because they've flirted with the idea that, in terms of sexuality, anything goes." He also expressed his concern that this was only the beginning of something that could become much larger: "They've given intellectual respectability to it. That kind of thing trickles down to other institutions."

Knight explained, "The foundation of the transgender movement is the homosexual activist movement because their interest lies in getting rid of the traditional morality of God-given division into two sexes, the uniting of those two sexes in marriage."

Traditional morality that defines marriage as exclusively the union of a man and woman, according to homosexual and transgender activists, is "old, taboo, superstitious," Knight added. According to its adherents, "we have to get rid of that, and everybody can be whoever they want to be."

Agape Press' report on Harvard's third "gender" came on the same day that the Scotsman reported on a Chinese website that is catering to what is increasingly being referred to as a new sexual orientation--"asexuality".

All content copyright 1997-2006 LifeSiteNews.com, http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/jul/06072605.html

Dennis,

I just took a look in the groups photo section and was impressed by the size of the gator you got to see, touch and take pictures of. That must have been one exciting day for all involved.

Thanks for sharing what must have been a wonderful adventure with us.

Ken,

I just looked in the photo section of the group and saw the wonderful photos you posted. How long were you in Texas, and what cities did you visit? Was it hot?? Is gas really cheaper there than in other parts of the country?

Thanks for sharing the photos of your trip to Texas with us.

Well at least he didn't use the term "African-American". I really hate that phrase because its such a misnomer and degrading. The term is not accurate, not even in America.

I had a teacher in college who was an African-American. Yet, he was a purebred white man! He was born in South Africa and had immigrated to the US. That makes him an African-American in the truest sense.

In Africa itself, blacks are simple called "people" and whites are called "Europeans". I don't know what balcks are called in Europe, but it would be interesting to find out. Somehow, I doubt they are called "African-Americans".

Dennis.

lol! Ahh..no! Blacks seem the ones who can't understand this the most.

---

What!! I am the moderator of this group and I happen to be "Black" So obviously, not ALL Blacks are representative of the stereotypical comment you posted!!

---

Well at least he didn't use the term "African-American". I really hate that phrase because its such a misnomer and degrading. The term is not accurate, not even in America.

I had a teacher in college who was an African-American. Yet, he was a purebred white man! He was born in South Africa and had immigrated to the US. That makes him an African-American in the truest sense.

In Africa itself, blacks are simple called "people" and whites are called "Europeans". I don't know what balcks are called in Europe, but it would be interesting to find out. Somehow, I doubt they are called "African-Americans".

Dennis.

On 27 Jul 2005, 13:27 +00:00, Contemplative One said:

lol! Ahh..no! Blacks seem the ones who can't understand this the most.

---

What!! I am the moderator of this group and I happen to be "Black" So obviously, not ALL Blacks are representative of the stereotypical comment you posted!!

---

Greetings from Europe! I haven`t introduced myself yet, so, this is Gunhild from Flensburg, a very old and very beautiful city on the border between Germany and Denmark. Of course, the expression "African European" isn`t existing and since I`m German I can`t talk for the British or French or whoever, but I think most of us have in common, that we aren`t 100% sure which term is the best bet when it comes to political correctness.In Germany or Denmark it isn`t such a problem, because the majority of the black/coloured p. who live here actually ARE Africans, so they simply are...Africans.Or people from Ghana, or Kenia or Liberia and so on. When you want to generalize it`s : black.Coulored is o.k. for a mixed-race child, but it sounds a bit old fashioned to European ears.We have expressions like "Germans of African origin"and,YES, "African Germans", especially for kids of black american soldiers, but that`s written language in the best case. Black Germans is preferrable, mixed-race child ("Mischling" in German)is closer to the truth, the "kid with the black/African/ Liba- rian mum or dad" IS the truth. Or plainly a "German-Liberian"(or "Liberian-German") as in "Danish-German" or "German-Dane". ( I went online 31 month ago, but this is my debut when it comes to chatrooms or forums and the like, so all (or most) of you should be flattered !!!)

gunhild

Thanks everyone (those with positive and healthy comments!:)). We have agreed to seperate and divorce. I found a cheap apt I can afford. Its no frills but it will be mine and my son's. I am excited about finally being free to be just me- not having to pretend or just lay there anymore. Whewwwwwwwwwwww. Its about time. Its not going to be easy. I am scared. I am 32 and have never literally been on my own. But its all good. Thanks again. I'll be looking for some friends. I got an apartment about 5 minutes from the austin airport, 15 minutes outside manor...

I have probably mentioned this before in a previous email but I live in AUSTIN and have a friend who lives by the the airport off of Riverside. For the most part he enjoys watching the planes take off and land but I would have a major fear of airplaines flying that close to my home.

Anyways from one Austinite to another I hope you enjoy your new environment and hope you and your child get through this ordeal.

Thanks everyone (those with positive and healthy comments!:)). We have agreed to seperate and divorce. I found a cheap apt I can afford. Its no frills but it will be mine and my son's. I am excited about finally being free to be just me- not having to pretend or just lay there anymore. Whewwwwwwwwwwww. Its about time. Its not going to be easy. I am scared. I am 32 and have never literally been on my own. But its all good. Thanks again. I'll be looking for some friends. I got an apartment about 5 minutes from the austin airport, 15 minutes outside manor...

Asexuality From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Redirected from Asexual)

This article is about human beings who do not have interest in, or inclination towards, sexual behavior. For the form of reproduction, see asexual reproduction. Asexuality is a general term or self-designation for people who find sexual behavior unappealing, or who feel indifferent towards it. There is debate as to whether this is a sexual dysfunction or an actual sexual orientation; furthermore, there is disagreement over the exact definition of the word. The term is also sometimes used as a gender identity by those who believe their lack of sexual attraction places them outside the standard definitions of gender. There has been little research done on asexuality, but those studies that have been conducted suggest that, if it is a sexual orientation, it is among the least common.

Debate There is continuing disagreement over whether asexuality is a legitimate sexual orientation. Some argue that it falls under the heading of hypoactive sexual disorder or sexual aversion disorder. Among those who do not believe it to be an orientation, other suggested causes include past sexual abuse, sexual repression (of homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality), hormonal problems, delayed development, sublimation of sexuality for personal, religious or cultural reasons, or simply not having met the right person.

Many self-identified asexuals, however, do not believe that such diagnoses apply to them. Others argue that because their asexuality does not cause them distress it should not be viewed as a medical or emotional disorder; in the past, similar things were said about homosexuality and bisexuality, and these have now reached wide acceptance as legitimate orientations. It is conjectured that asexuality may be a natural orientation that, appearing at such a low incidence, has simply never been documented or researched.

Because of this lack of research on the subject, there is little documented evidence in favor of either side of the debate.

Research A study done on rams found that about 2% to 3% of the individuals being studied had no apparent interest in mating with either sex. Another study was done on rats and gerbils, in which up to 12% of the males showed no interest in females. Their interactions with other males were not measured, however, so the study is of limited use when it comes to asexuality.

A UK survey of sexuality included a question on sexual attraction, and 1% of respondents replied that they had "never felt sexually attracted to anyone at all." The Kinsey Institute conducted a small survey on the topic, which concluded that "asexuals appear to be better characterized by low sexual desire and sexual excitation than by low levels of sexual behavior or high sexual inhibition" That study also mentions a conflict regarding the definition of "asexual": the researchers found four different definitions in the literature, and stated that it was unclear whether those identifying as asexual were referring to an orientation.

Variations There are differences among people who identify as asexual, chiefly among them the presence or absence of a sex drive or romantic attraction. Some experience only one of these, while others experience both, and still others neither. There is disagreement as to which of these configurations can genuinely be described as asexual. While a number of people believe all four variations qualify, many others believe that to be asexual, one must lack a sex drive, romantic attraction, or both. The sex drive of those asexuals who have one is usually not directed at anything, and is only an urge for sexual stimulation or release; one exception is those asexuals who are also fetishists, whose sex drive is focused on the fetish object rather than a person (though many fetishists do not identify themselves as asexual). In either case, the level of sex drive can range from weak to strong, and from rare to frequent. As mentioned above, some identify as asexual yet feel sexual attraction, though some would argue that they are not asexual. Some asexuals may experience sexual feelings, but have an aversion to sex or no desire to act on them, while others seek sexual release through sexual contact. For those asexuals who experience feelings of romantic attraction, it can be directed towards any sex or sexes. These asexuals generally desire romantic relationships (ranging from casual liaisons to marriage) with their preferred sex or sexes, but often do not want these relationships to include sexual activity. Because of their romantic orientation, some asexuals describe themselves as gay, bisexual, or straight asexuals; this is related to the concept of affectional orientation.

Those asexuals who do want romantic relationships are in a difficult position, as the majority of people are not asexual. Asexuals able to tolerate sex can pair up with non-asexuals, but even then their lack of attraction or desire can be psychologically distressing to their partner, making a long-term romance difficult. Asexuals who cannot tolerate sex must either compromise with their partners and have a certain amount anyway, give their partners permission to seek sex elsewhere, have sexless relationships with those few who are willing, date only other asexuals, or stay single.

Some asexuals use a classification system developed (and then retired) by the founder of the Asexual Visibility and Education Network, one of the major online asexual communities (abbreviated as AVEN). In this system, asexuals are divided into types A through D: a Type A asexual has a sex drive but no romantic attraction, a Type B has romantic attraction but no sex drive, a Type C has both, and a Type D neither. The categories are not meant to be entirely discrete or set in stone; one's type can change, or one can be on the border between two types. Note that AVEN itself no longer uses this system, on the basis that it is too exclusive, but a number of asexuals still feel it is a useful tool for explaining their orientation.

Note that asexuality is not the same as celibacy, which is the deliberate abstention from sexual activity; many asexuals do have sex, and most celibates are not asexual.

Asexuality and religion Currently, asexuality faces little religious condemnation. Several religions or religious sects believe that asexuality is a spiritually superior condition, and some asexuals believe that their lack of "base desires" allows them to feel a deeper spirituality, although other asexuals consider that an elitist attitude. For example, it is likely that in past centuries, many Catholic priests, popes, monks, and nuns were asexuals, including many canonized saints.

In other creeds, children are considered a gift from God that should not be refused, a means of spreading religion, or both, though some asexuals do have children, and some religions have praised both asexuality and children. Furthermore, according to some religious beliefs, sexuality itself is sacred or a divine gift; certain varieties of Tantra involve sex, for example, and some types of neopaganism and New Age include the concept of sacred sexuality.

In a research piece on the subject, Anthony F. Bogaert found that asexuals may exhibit higher rates of religiosity than sexuals. He takes this as support for his hypothesis that some asexuals may have internalized religious attitudes regarding sexual prohibition and abstinence "to such a degree that they may not admit to arousal, or at least not label it as sexual attraction". However, informal polls on the AVEN site show that their membership is far less religious than the general public, suggesting religion cannot explain the tendency towards asexuality in general, even if it might be a deciding factor in some individuals.

Asexuality in fiction Perhaps the earliest example of an asexual character can be found in Hippolytus, who shuns all women and devotes his life to chastity. In fiction, John Braine's novel The Jealous God (1964) is a good example of sex mainly seen as a sin. On the other hand, in his science fiction novel Distress (1995), Greg Egan imagines a 22nd century world where "asex" is one out of seven acknowledged gender settings. To quote from Distress:

"Asex was really nothing but an umbrella term for a broad group of philosophies, styles of dress, cosmetic-surgical changes, and deep-biological alterations. The only thing that one asex person necessarily had in common with another was the view that vis gender parameters (neural, endocrine, chromosomal and genital) were the business of no one but verself, usually (but not always) vis lovers, probably vis doctor, and sometimes a few close friends. What a person actually did in response to that attitude could range from as little as ticking the 'A' box on census forms, to choosing an asex name, to breast or body-hair reduction, voice timbre adjustment, facial resculpting, empouchment (surgery to render the male genitals retractable), all the way to full physical and/or neural asexuality, hermaphroditism, or exoticism." (Distress, paperback ed., p. 45) Aghora, one of Alejandro Jodorowsky's Metabarons, was an asexual transman.

Samuel R. Delany's 1969 short story "Aye, and Gomorrah..." depicts a society where astronauts become sexless because cosmic radiation renders their reproductive organs useless.

Ryan A. Morgan's 1997 novel John-Jack Christian tells about a teenager struggling to deal with his asexuality in a normal teenage environment, before resorting to bodybuilding to keep himself sane. In the original Doctor Who television series (19631989), the Doctor was almost always depicted as asexual despite his regular stream of attractive young female companions. Since the First Doctor's initial companion, Susan Foreman, was introduced as his granddaughter, it is often assumed, but never confirmed, that the Doctor had had at one time in his early life a partner of the opposite sex with whom he had at least one child. The 1996 Doctor Who television movie caused some controversy among Doctor Who fans by having the Eighth Doctor passionately kiss, more than once, his companion Grace. In the new series (2005), the Doctor is occasionally flirtatious, and has a romantically tinged relationship with his companion Rose Tyler. See also The Doctor and romance.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes is often regarded as another quintessentially asexual character. While his friend Doctor Watson is portrayed as charming and very much attracted to and, in the manner of a stereotypical Victorian gentleman, gallant towards various female characters, and indeed marries at least once, the detective dismisses dealings with women outside of his specific business as 'Your department, Watson' and even once sneeringly tells the doctor that 'the most winning woman' he ever knew committed infanticide for the insurance money. The story A Scandal in Bohemia (first published in the Strand Magazine in July 1891), however, introduces a female character whom Holmes admires excessively (she outwits him), and it opens with a frank explanation of the character's asexuality as it is seen by the narrator as (almost) always, Doctor John Watson:

"To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They were admirable things for the observer excellent for drawing the veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a nature such as his." In the long-running Granada television series starring Jeremy Brett as Holmes, one feature-length episode, The Master Blackmailer (1992) expanded from Conan Doyle's short story The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton had the detective seemingly developing feelings for a woman for once, but only while in character: disguised as a working man in order to infiltrate the household of the blackmailer, Milverton. Embarrassed and uncomfortable, he is nevertheless prepared to go as far as engagement in pursuit of the villain. Once out of the disguise, though, he reverts to normal and is dismissive of the poor girl.

In the K. Sandra Fuhr's online strips Boy Meets Boy (ended) and Friendly Hostility (ongoing), the cynical Collin Sri'Vastra claims to be asexual. He later forms a relationship with his best friend Kailen "Fox" Maharassa, but his romantic/affectionate levels appear to be rather low, at least at the beginning.

One of the central characters of Isabel Allende's The House of Spirits, Clara, could be construed as asexual. In her later years, she expresses a lack of interest in coitus, commenting that it only makes her bones ache.

The eponymous central character in Kurt Vonnegut's Deadeye Dick is asexual due to childhood trauma.

Many fans of Neon Genesis Evangelion believe that Rei Ayanami is asexual, since she never shows any signs of having a sex drive, the closest thing she comes to doing so is her platonic love for Shinji Ikari. Another Evangelion character, Shigeru Aoba, is strongly implied to be asexual in The End of Evangelion.

Jughead Jones is perhaps the only character of the Archie gang who is not romantically interested in the opposite sex.

In Ian Fleming's From Russia With Love, Red Grant is described as being an asexual. However, it is unclear whether or not this trait is passed over into the film version

Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asexual

Gunhild,

Hello and welcome to the Haven for the Human Amoeba.

Thank you so much for your timely and informative post to the group, it is much appreciated.

Here in the United States, Black Americans have not always had the privilege of being able to determine what they were referred to by the dominant population. Although it is common knowledge that most Blacks in the United States are of African descent, all history/knowledge of the countries from which the Blacks came from in Africa (over 400 years ago) has been long forgotten.

Just as White Americans of European descent make distinctions of heritage with such names as Irish American, German American, or even the generic European American, I feel (as do other Black Americans) that it is quite legitimate for Blacks to claim Africa as the continent from which they are descendants. So the term "African American" DOES and should apply to Black Americans because they ARE of African descent, just as most of the White Americans that live in the United States are of European descent.

Once again Gunhild, thank you for the wonderful introduction and for your timely reply to this post here in the Haven.

Well at least he didn't use the term "African-American". I really hate that phrase because its such a misnomer and degrading. The term is not accurate, not even in America.

I had a teacher in college who was an African-American. Yet, he was a purebred white man! He was born in South Africa and had immigrated to the US. That makes him an African-American in the truest sense.

In Africa itself, blacks are simple called "people" and whites are called "Europeans". I don't know what balcks are called in Europe, but it would be interesting to find out. Somehow, I doubt they are called "African-Americans".

Dennis.

On 27 Jul 2005, 13:27 +00:00, Contemplative One said:

lol! Ahh..no! Blacks seem the ones who can't understand this the most.

---

What!! I am the moderator of this group and I happen to be "Black" So obviously, not ALL Blacks are representative of the stereotypical comment you posted!!

---

Greetings from Europe! I haven`t introduced myself yet, so, this is Gunhild from Flensburg, a very old and very beautiful city on the border between Germany and Denmark. Of course, the expression "African European" isn`t existing and since I`m German I can`t talk for the British or French or whoever, but I think most of us have in common, that we aren`t 100% sure which term is the best bet when it comes to political correctness.In Germany or Denmark it isn`t such a problem, because the majority of the black/coloured p. who live here actually ARE Africans, so they simply are...Africans.Or people from Ghana, or Kenia or Liberia and so on. When you want to generalize it`s : black.Coulored is o.k. for a mixed-race child, but it sounds a bit old fashioned to European ears.We have expressions like "Germans of African origin"and,YES, "African Germans", especially for kids of black american soldiers, but that`s written language in the best case. Black Germans is preferrable, mixed-race child ("Mischling" in German)is closer to the truth, the "kid with the black/African/ Liba- rian mum or dad" IS the truth. Or plainly a "German-Liberian"(or "Liberian-German") as in "Danish-German" or "German-Dane". ( I went online 31 month ago, but this is my debut when it comes to chatrooms or forums and the like, so all (or most) of you should be flattered !!!)

gunhild

.

Maybe you could shoot him my email address.....I could have at least 1 pal in Texas! LOL. Thanks for your support. Really, I appreciate the comforting words. Austin is truly the friendliest place in the US so far for me. Debra

DEBRA MALARAE WOODS

I have found it useful though to distinguish between my

American African American friends and my African African American friends.

American Negros, American Blacks, (American) African Americans, Afro-American, etc through their own ingenuity really did carve out and build culture that is qualitatively different than West African culture in many ways. If you get these two groups together and put them in a room together there is major culture shock between the two.

I liked that story "Roots" by Alex Haley. He is a Black American and because his family had a strong tradition of passing on oral history, he traced his roots straight back to the west coast of Africa. In his family's story, they said, "Kunte Kinte went out to get materials for a drum. He was kidnapped, etc. Haley found a villiage in West Africa where the story went, "Kunte Kinte went out to get materials for a drum. He disappeared and we never saw him again."

Nicole

Sorry, my first email on this didn't seem to get through well.... try again

I love pen pals! I make a great one. I live in the Philadelphia area. (29 yr old straight female). Please email me if you'd like to exchange mailing addresses. Another cool place to meet friends is http://www.meetup.com that is a site that has lots of social clubs. Cooking clubs, vegetarian clubs, I-love-my-pug clubs, gardening clubs, bible study, astronomy clubs, whatever you could possibly be into. The clubs coordinate online but meet in person locally. So you meet real humans. So far, no major sex obsessed people when I go there.

Nic

email is dwoods012174@... thanks, Debra 32

From what I have heard, the term "African American" was originally coined by racist, anti- black groups and was intended to be a derrogatory term implying "Not a true American". Under no circumstances should a racist term be used to describe people.

Furthermore, when you refer to someone as "Some other nationality-American", you are always referring to their immigrant status. Africa is not a country. Do you see the difference?

Lastly, the fact that most blacks in the US have origins in Africa is irrelavent given that there has been too many generations after that to still count. You are allowing the fact that you are still black to cause you to jump to he conclusion that you are still African. For that matter, everyone in the world is of African descent - that's where Scientists claim that Adam and Eve lived.

So therefore, I don't use the term African-American because it is disrespectful. I think others should avoid that term as well. The term "Black-American" or simply just "people" is much more respectful.

Dennis.

Gunhild,

Hello and welcome to the Haven for the Human Amoeba.

Thank you so much for your timely and informative post to the group, it is much appreciated.

Here in the United States, Black Americans have not always had the privilege of being able to determine what they were referred to by the dominant population. Although it is common knowledge that most Blacks in the United States are of African descent, all history/knowledge of the countries from which the Blacks came from in Africa (over 400 years ago) has been long forgotten.

Just as White Americans of European descent make distinctions of heritage with such names as Irish American, German American, or even the generic European American, I feel (as do other Black Americans) that it is quite legitimate for Blacks to claim Africa asthecontinent from which they are descendants. So the term "African American" DOES and should apply to Black Americans because they ARE of African descent, just as most of the White Americans that live in the United States are of European descent.

Once again Gunhild, thank you for the wonderful introduction and for your timely reply to this post here in the Haven.