I'm not racist but I just have to ask?

Question

I really am not racist, this is a genuine question so please answer sensibly as I really don't understand.
Why is that people call Scottish people Scot's, British people Brits, Australian people Aussie's ETC and it is not deemed racist at all. However if you shorten Pakistan and call them that word I'm not supposed to say why is that racist? Surely it's just the same? If not then why isn't it?

Miss Ann Thrope - why should I be proud or not proud of an attack happening that was nothing to do with me? Are you indicating that because it was a white person that committed the crime that I should somehow be held responsible just because I am white? Please answer this because I'd really like to know

Felicity O - please don't be suspicious. I went home to Wales a few weeks ago and got chatting with my aunt about my family history. She told me that the family had romanie ancesters and that some romani people were from Pakistan. Some of her sisters (my other aunts) were called Paki in school because they are quite dark. It was for that reason why I asked the question. Just curiosity.

Answer 1

"The abbreviation Paki acquired offensive connotations in the 1960s when used by British tabloids to refer to subjects of former colony states in a derogatory and racist manner. In modern British usage "Paki" is typically used in a derogatory way as a label for all South Asians, including Indians and Bangladeshis."

From here:
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Paki

So, basically, it is because some people used it in a deragatory way and it has since held the deragatory connotation. Hope this helps!

Answer 2

First of all, let me say that I am always suspicious of people who start a sentence with 'I'm not a racist, but...'
When I was working with asylum seekers, a Turkish asylum seeker, during the entry formalities said, 'I'm not racist. You can put me in a room with Tamils, Blacks, Indians, but not with Kurds.'
With the passage of time words take on special meanings. For example 'gay', 'queer', 'liberal'. That's the problem with 'Paki'. You can call a person from Afghanistan an 'Afghani', someone from Uzbekistan an 'Uzbek', but Paki has become pejorative.
I must say that, one time in England, staying with relatives, I asked where I could buy beer or wine. The answer was, 'The Pakis just down the road are open til 10.00 p.m.' 'Muslims selling alcohol?' 'Uuh?.'
Anyway, I went to the shop and bought a bottle of wine. When I got back, I said, 'They're not Pakistanis, they're Sikhs.'
Total incomprehension. Same colour, what the hell!
It's only acceptable when there is no racist connotation. I can call a Kiwi (New Zealand) a Kiwi in Aussie-land, as long as I'm not implying that they are somehow inferior.

Answer 3

Some Pakistanis don't see it that way and that should be enough for you. Everything need not be understood.

Unfortunately some people use the P word while mistreating people from Pakistan and since you cannot tell a racist by sight, you have to rely on words and actions because a "good person" would never use a racial slur (in their eyes at least). Cultures clash and even though they may be living in your country and should technically adopt your culture (including pop culture) and all the nuances that come with it, unfortunately it is not the case because culture is something you have to be born into to fully understand. To try to understand a persons point of view, you must walk a mile in his or her shoes.

Answer 4

Thew name Paki Chink etc are to often used in a derogatory fashion. I also object to being called a Euro. I'm English or British and will never ever regard myself as European. It is with increasing horror that I find our politicians elected to look after Britain has sold out and are selling out to something which will in the long run be an occupying power until ultimately it fails due to the over ambition of politicians.

It is notable that those quislings who have sold us out the most are the ones who get the European jobs

Answer 5

ok... so what is it that "people of ethnic origin" call white people??? white trash... etc etc etc etc... difference is white people dont have a bee in their bonet everytime someone calls them a scot, brit, white trash, aussie, yank etc etc etc....

personally i think the race card is used WAY too often by these people to try and get their own way, to push their beliefs onto people and their customs into countries that dont live in the way they want them to.
none white people have their own words for white people that are racist towards white people, but they know they can use them freeley cos dare a white person complain then that person is told they are the ones being racist and should do everything the non white person wants!!

its a screwed up land we live in right now... and the backlash will undoubtly come at somepoint, it has already started, face it, the islams and muslims say we are an unclean race etc and they want to take over the world and make the world live to their way.....

Answer 6

Because it is used in a non specific and often intentionally derogatory way. One of my friends at school who was born in London, who's mother was 1/2 Scottish and father Indian was regularly called a Paki (and she did not appreciate it). It's a lazy way used to describe people of southern Asian decent.

Answer 7

The problem with that description is that a lot of people use it to describe all people from the Indian Sub-Continent rather than those from Pakistan.
One example of this is that of Prince Naseem Ahmed who was consistently called a P**** when in reality he was from Yemen. It is when you use it as a general description for all those from the Indian Sub-Continent that it becomes an insult.

Answer 8

Bugaboo has got it right.

A few years ago a Pakistani woman bought the private reg plate PAK1, she was stopped by the police and made to remove it because it was deemed offensive even through it was a legal DVLA released plate.

If a pakistani women can't call herself a paki then something is surely wrong.

Answer 9

Of forgoodness sake Miss Ann Thorpe- kinda over reacting are you not! It was a simple question! It is that kind of behaviour that makes this whole politically corect saga go on and on. I agree with the question it does seem daft but i also understand it is beecause of the negative way the word has been used. You are pathetic to react like that to a question though!

Answer 10

paki would not be a racist thing to say if it wasn't used in a derogatory manner.

the England cricket team often used to refer to playing the pakis...in this context it was unmistakably a label of affection. i don't think the same can be said of the attitude of other respondents of this question.